Everyone has blurted out an insensitive comment, slipped and told a secret we were asked to keep, or completely forgot an important appointment. Why do we do this?
The Johari Window is an excellent model for providing us with immediate insight into why we do what we do.
Named for its creators, Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham - the Johari Window is a useful tool for understanding and integrating misunderstood or unknown parts of ourselves. The Four Panes of the Johari Window represent the four parts of Self.
The First Pane is often called the Public Self or Arena. A self-aware person has a large Public Self crowding out the other panes and making them smaller in comparison. This person understands why she acts the way she does and is genuine and open with others.
The Second Pane is often called The Blind Spot. The "blind" quadrant represents things that you know about me, but that I am unaware of.
The Third Pane represents the Hidden Self and it holds what is known to us but kept hidden from others. This hidden or avoided self represents information and feelings not revealed or kept secret from others.
Lastly, the fourth pane is Unconscious. This area is unseen by everyone, including ourselves. The more we can access here, the less likely we will sabotage our true interests by saying things we don't wish to say or undermining our own value system.
For more details (and a free assessment) read the article on my site.
