What is persona work?

Persona work, also known as parts work, is a method aimed at developing self-awareness by acknowledging and engaging with the different aspects or 'characters' within oneself. According to Shane Parrish and his guest Diana Chapman, this concept views the personality as a collection of varying parts, each with their own unique functions, strengths (or superpowers), and weaknesses (or shadows). These elements, which have developed over time typically to protect the individual, include facets of our identity that we might not always appreciate or accept.

The underlying goal of persona work is to recognize these parts, name them, and integrate them consciously into our lives. By doing so, one can 'play with them'—meaning, interact in a way that is both constructive and fun—rather than being dominated by them. For example, instead of suppressing a quality deemed undesirable, like aggressiveness (referred to metaphorically as the 'bitch'), persona work suggests acknowledging and understanding its potential protective benefits, thereby reducing reactive or uncontrolled expressions of that trait. This approach promises greater internal harmony and a more fully realized self-awareness 1 .