Managers and Firefighters

According to IFS therapy (Internal Family System), the mind is made up of a system composed of Parts, which we can divide into two groups: the Exiles and the Protectors, who in turn are divided into Managers and Firefighters.

Managers are proactive and inhibitory parts, which, to avoid the emergence of the Exiles, push us to work hard, to excel, to be vigilant, to criticize ourselves, to remind us of past failures; they are projected into the future and their motto is "never again".

Firefighters are reactive parts, who live in the present and whose purpose is to quickly distract from memories, emotions, traumatic or negative sensations that emerged from the past. Addictions, for example, are an expression of the activity of the Firefighters.

Do you also have a part that criticizes you or another that diverts your attention from particularly negative thoughts?