This image was captured at sunset at the top of a mountain in Cambodia late one afternoon after a long trek in questionable shoes!

The image captures the peaceful monk, in stillness, evoking a sense of being fully present – grounded in a mindful pause where nothing needs to be changed or resisted. This quiet awareness mirrors the idea of “Self” in Internal Family Systems (IFS), as developed by Richard C. Schwartz. In IFS, the Self is the calm, compassionate core of a person that can observe thoughts and emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them. Like the monk’s serene presence, the Self embodies clarity, curiosity, and inner peace, creating a space where all parts of the psyche can be acknowledged and held with understanding rather than judgment.