Exploring Life Positions: How Your View of Yourself and Others Affects Your Life

Introduction In Transactional Analysis, life positions represent fundamental beliefs about oneself and others, which profoundly impact our interactions and overall life experience. Eric Berne identified four life positions that shape our worldview and influence how we navigate relationships.

The Four Life Positions

• I'm OK, You're OK: This position reflects a healthy, balanced view where individuals see themselves and others positively. It fosters mutual respect and effective communication.

• I'm OK, You're Not OK: Here, individuals feel confident in themselves but view others negatively. This can lead to superiority complexes and interpersonal conflicts.

• I'm Not OK, You're OK: In this position, individuals feel inadequate while seeing others as superior. It can result in low self-esteem and dependency on others.

• I'm Not OK, You're Not OK: This position denotes a negative outlook on both oneself and others, often leading to feelings of hopelessness and withdrawal.

Conclusion Understanding your life position can provide valuable insights into your behaviors and relationships. By striving to adopt a more balanced position, such as "I'm OK, You're OK," you can improve your self-perception and enhance your interactions with others.