There are so many parts to the self. Often we have aspects that seem to be direct opposites. The responsible self and the carefree one, the introverted, quiet self and the extraverted, expressive self, the strong and the vulnerable. None of the selves are better or worse than others although we often judge them so.

While visiting the island of Santorini, in Greece - one of my most favorite places in the world - my friend; an artist, entertainer and visionary decided to take the name Apollo for his own. With that decision he seemed to gain strength and confidence. It was as if he remembered a part of himself he had forgotten about.

On the adventure of personal empowerment we reclaim aspects of ourselves and learn to manage and balance the many varied energies inside of us. It's an awesome undertaking. Through understanding our own multi-facetted nature we have greater capacity for understanding others as well.

Here is a quick exercise to learn more about your own inner selves. Read over the following brief descriptions of the Greek Gods and Goddesses and ask yourself this question. Which part of me would like more expression in my life right now?

Choose one Greek God for your masculine nature and one Goddess for your feminine nature. Trust your intuition as you make your choices.

THE GODDESSES:

Aphrodite: The Goddess of Sensual Love. Venus, passion, eroticism, charm, beauty, joy of physical love, sensuality, passion, generosity, all forms of partnerships and relationships, affection, fertility, continued creation, renewal.?
Athena: The Goddess of Knowledge. wisdom, the arts, refinement, elegance, education, renewal, peace?
Hera: Goddess of Self-Power, strength, authority, societal influence, prestige, control

Terra: The Goddess of Inner Creativity. Nurturing, maternal, caring, protective, family-oriented, earthy?
Persephone: Goddess of Subconscious Emotional Forces. Esoteric, mystical, magical, metaphysical, healing?
Dianna: The Goddess of Independence. Non- conformist, wild, adventurous, nature loving, untamed

THE GODS: ?
Apollo: God of the Sun. law, philosophy, and the arts.?
Ares: God of War. God of creative assertiveness. God of Courage.?
Dionysus: God of Celebration, Pleasure. ?
Hermes: God of Communication. ?
Poseidon: God of the Sea. Earth Shaker.

Zeus: Chief of the Gods. Ruler of heaven and earth.

While you might not live out the full meaning of these characters your choices will provide you with insight. They will signal areas within yourself where you might want to stretch. We are not static creatures. Over the course of our lives we express many sides of our nature.

How might you reclaim and express more of your self today? Just asking the question might stimulate some ideas. If you are keeping yourself in too tight a box you might be missing some wonderful experiences.