What is nourishing also needs to be determined according to the dominant need. Organismic Self-Regulation Human regulation may be organismic, based on a relatively accurate knowledge of what is, or 'shouldistic', based on an arbitrary imposition of what others think. This applies to the regulation of interpersonal relationships, to intrapsychic regulation and to the regulation of social groups. In organismic self-regulation, choosing and learning happen with a natural integration of mind and body, thought and feeling, i.e. holistically. In shouldistic regulation cognition is in the driving seat and there is a separation of mind and body.
Awareness is of a self in the environment, in dialogue with the environment.
From the perspective of Gestalt psychotherapy the Self is formed at the contact boundary. Our sense of self is therefore relational and continuously evolving. Change does not take place through coercion but takes place if a person takes the time and effort to become who they are. When awareness of what IS does not emerge then Gestalt psychotherapy is one way of increasing awareness and hence, choice and responsibly. In classical Gestalt psychotherapy the goal is awareness.