So much of self-help and [spirituality](Spirituality) encourages us to be more mindful, compassionate, creative, confident, focused, ethical, patient, calm, and so on. But these qualities and capabilities that we're encouraged to attain are actually inherent to us: [[You are what you seek]]. It's just a matter of removing the constraints that block our access to them. See also: [[You don't need to train your mind, concentration, morality, or wisdom to awaken]]. The constraints that prevent us from living an awakened life are the wounds and conditioning of our [parts](Parts), both within our own internal systems and within the external systems of others. [[IFS helps us release burdens and constraints]]. And [[The constraints held by burdened parts prevent us from reaching our potential]].