One might say that individuality is my self, and personality is the sum total of all my changing opinions about myself. This gives much insight to John the Baptist's highly symbolic statement quoted here: "He must increase (individuality), but I must decrease (personality, opinions about myself)." Similar insight may come to us from Jesus' teaching that man must "... deny himself ... and follow me." Who is this "himself" which Jesus asks us to deny? It may be that he meant something which needs to be released in regard to one's sense of self. It may well be that he meant the sense of self which claims to be the whole thing, or the self that believes there is nothing higher than itself. This is called selfishness or exaggerated self-centeredness. Surely this must be denied if one is to become aware of higher levels of being.
One might say that individuality is my self, and personality is the sum total of all my changing opinions about myself. This gives much insight to John the Baptist's highly symbolic statement quoted here: "He must increase (individuality), but I must decrease (personality, opinions about myself)." Similar insight may come to us from Jesus' teaching that man must "... deny himself ... and follow me." Who is this "himself" which Jesus asks us to deny? It may be that he meant something which needs to be released in regard to one's sense of self. It may well be that he meant the sense of self which claims to be the whole thing, or the self that believes there is nothing higher than itself. This is called selfishness or exaggerated self-centeredness. Surely this must be denied if one is to become aware of higher levels of being.
Ed Rabel - Metaphysics 1, Personality and Individuality, Personality