Are You a 'Twice-Born Soul'? Here's What the Father of American Psychology Says
The Psychology of the Complex Self
If you're anything like me, you're baffled by (and sometimes envy) people whose personalities are straightforward.
There are some people for whom life is a tidy, single-file line of ducklings merrily floating in the same direction: Their personalities are melodically predictable, goals are generally in line with each other, and thoughts form an arrow-like path from departure point to destination, as they bob gently along a placid lake of inner harmony.
There are others of us, on the other, for whom life is a roaring rapid in which the current is simultaneously upstream and downstream, flowing at a trickle and a gush: Our personalities are a hodgepodge of contradictory qualities, goals are treacherously at odds with each other, and thoughts clumsily crash into each other at atomic speeds.
“Some people are born with an inner constitution which is harmonious and well balanced from the outset... Others are oppositely constituted; and are so in degrees which may vary from something so slight as to result in a merely odd or whimsical inconsistency, to a discordancy of which the consequences may be inconvenient in the extreme.” —William James
In other words, some of us are really rather complicated.
The late psychologist and Father of American Psychology, William James, believed in the pluralistic nature of the self: The idea that individuals may have contradictory or conflicting emotions, desires, and beliefs, and that this diversity can lead to a rich and fruitful human experience. That said, he also recognized — being a highly complex human himself — the extraordinary discomfort caused by an "oppositely constituted" personality.
For instance, the contradictory self may be:
Responsible and impulsive
Peaceful and inflammatory
Hobbit-like and social
Serious and playful
Compassionate and judgmental
Independent and submissive
Intellectual and mystical
Unconventional and norm-upholding
Wise and childlike
Esteemed and provocative
Candid and mysterious
In fact, William James had a name for these individuals: Twice-Born Souls.
Twice-Born Souls are those of us who experience perpetual inner rug-burn. The complexities and seeming contradictions of our internal worlds are in constant friction with each other, leading to internal combustions that can cause confusion at best or crisis at worst. Unlike James' Once-Born Souls who are steady and conventional, rarely suffering from more than a blip on life's psychospiritual radar, Twice-Born Souls regularly confront awakenings, transformations, and ugly growth provoked by their own turbulent seas.
But, as a Twice-Born Soul himself, James acknowledged that this rocky road was not without its rewards. In fact, he believed it's the Twice-Born Soul who has "most of a destiny." While the constant rubbing of sharp, jagged edges in ones psyche is indeed painful, it leads to more sparks than not. This friction kindles the flames of breakthroughs, epiphanies, and creations of tremendous depth and impact. These crises or periods of inner turmoil, James believed, are not an inhibitor to growth, but its very catalyst.
Anecdotal evidence supports the idea that highly complicated people change the world.
While there's no research (that I'm aware of) that correlates "Twice-Born Soul-ness" with impact or success, a simple scan of innovators, humanitarians, philosophers, psychologists, artists, and the like renders an obvious conclusion: There are few, if any, Once-Borns to be found. Changing the world requires an inner-momentum akin to a nuclear reactor: This energy is rarely found in the simplistic and the orderly, but instead in the chaotic, unpredictable, and weighty depths of the human psyche.
In this sense, the case can be made that Twice-Born Souls have a competitive advantage when it comes to creative, entrepreneurial, and otherwise world-changing work. Their inner contradiction is a source of energetic motivation and value-led inspiration that propels the generation of authentic, meaningful, and impactful work. A Jamesian view would be that their familiarly with turmoil is not an obstacle to, but an instigator of, creative power.
“The Twice-Born process is one of redemption, not of mere reversion to natural health, and the sufferer, when saved, is saved by what seems to him a second birth, a deeper kind of conscious being than he could enjoy before.” —William James
How can Twice-Born Souls support our well-being as we grow and create?
While James left us tantalizingly few suggestions for Twice-Born self-care, here are three suggestions inspired by his other work and writings.
Embrace, Understand & Harness Your Potential: We can maximize our potential and reduce our propensity for inner collisions by adopting a compassionate and accepting view of ourselves. By engaging in self-reflection, therapy, and psychospiritual exercises (James was big on the spiritual), we can deepen our understanding of our power, purpose, and potential, and reduce unnecessary tension that arises from fighting with the way we are wired.
Seek Meaning & Purpose By Contributing to the Greater Good: It seems as though Twice-Born Souls rarely find solace until they feel as though they're helping, healing, or contributing to the greater good. Whether this good comes through your work, relationships, or other activities, like volunteering or advocacy, a humanitarian outlet can be a uniquely healing balm to the inflamed Twice-Born Soul.
Share Personal Stories for Connection & Healing: James believed it was very important to share one's personal narrative, not only to inspire and connect with those who face similar struggles, but to give a deeper purpose to one's own life. Fortunately, we live in an era when it's common and celebrated to share one's story through creative mediums, like writing, podcasting, art, and the like, so consider taking up a practice that feels most natural for you.