I offer this
website as one that will give you information about the servant archetype from
its light and dark side. http://www.myss.com/library/contracts/three_archs.asp All archetypes have a light and dark side,
but what we are talking about for the purposes of this lesson will be the more
dysfunctional manifestation of the archetype.
The servant is one who serves others to the exclusion of the self. The servant archetype gets lots of support from society and religion, as there is a belief that service to others builds character. This is absolutely true, but the difference between service to others, and servitude are great. Service is giving time to help others in need, and the reward is the knowledge that you are doing a good thing. Servitude is doing for others in hopes that they will praise and acknowledge you.
The servant often attends to others needs, and neglects their own needs. This archetype is not as dysfunctional as the victim or Martyr, but represents, someone who does a job well but who is neglected and receives little acknowledgement for what they do. A servant does not believe that they deserve praise or thanks for what they do. They are happy for any bone thrown their way; however, healthy relationships acknowledge the contributions each other and all parties concerned.
If you look at the life of a servant, they usually do their job without much recognition that they even exist. There are numerous times that they are ignored as if not present. They are in the background waiting their opportunity so serve others needs.
In the dysfunctional archetype the person is always waiting on others, and performing others wishes without acknowledgement or gratitude. They lack the self-esteem to move on to higher levels of achievement and empowerment. Since they don’t believe that they deserve anything better, they are not capable of empowering themselves, and therefore, always waiting on others to give them what they cannot give themselves. This is a recipe for failure and an unhappy life of servitude to ungrateful recipients. This archetype gives up its personal power and emotional needs in order to win approval and acknowledgement from others. This archetype “projects its power on to others and makes them more powerful than they are, investing them with qualities it would like to express but wouldn’t dare.
To change this archetype we need to learn to empower ourselves, and give acknowledgment to ourselves for jobs well done. If you wait on others to give praise or acknowledgement, you are giving them your personal power. Often servants long for praise for others who are incapable of giving this praise. When this happens the servant needs to give themselves room to evaluate their abilities and performance and give themselves the praise they deserve. They need to distance themselves from the situation or person with whom they are entangled, release its projections of power into the other person and own its worth. It is time to analyze the reason that the praise and acknowledgement is so important to you, and why you have placed yourself in this situation where you aren’t getting what you want.
When the servant lives for acknowledgement and recognition from others they are dependent on them for their well-being and it makes them responsible for their happiness. Thus they stay submissive and dependent on others. The servant needs to know the simple truth that it doesn’t need to do or be anything in order to be loved. They deserve love and consideration simply because they are worthy of it. Their value is not tied to what they do but to who it is.
Some rolls that engender the servant are a housewife who’s only acknowledged roll is to serve their husband and children. Nurses, secretaries, and other auxiliary helpers often fall into this category of service without acknowledgement from those they serve. This does not mean that those in these rolls always manifest this archetype, so long as they receive the acknowledgement they deserve. And of course, this archetype is not gender specific.
One always needs to analyze their situation as regards any situation that is not palatable, and take steps to correct the situation. Abusive situations require removing oneself from the immediate danger, and working to understand what brought you to that situation. This should be done with the aid of professionals.
The servant is one who serves others to the exclusion of the self. The servant archetype gets lots of support from society and religion, as there is a belief that service to others builds character. This is absolutely true, but the difference between service to others, and servitude are great. Service is giving time to help others in need, and the reward is the knowledge that you are doing a good thing. Servitude is doing for others in hopes that they will praise and acknowledge you.
The servant often attends to others needs, and neglects their own needs. This archetype is not as dysfunctional as the victim or Martyr, but represents, someone who does a job well but who is neglected and receives little acknowledgement for what they do. A servant does not believe that they deserve praise or thanks for what they do. They are happy for any bone thrown their way; however, healthy relationships acknowledge the contributions each other and all parties concerned.
If you look at the life of a servant, they usually do their job without much recognition that they even exist. There are numerous times that they are ignored as if not present. They are in the background waiting their opportunity so serve others needs.
In the dysfunctional archetype the person is always waiting on others, and performing others wishes without acknowledgement or gratitude. They lack the self-esteem to move on to higher levels of achievement and empowerment. Since they don’t believe that they deserve anything better, they are not capable of empowering themselves, and therefore, always waiting on others to give them what they cannot give themselves. This is a recipe for failure and an unhappy life of servitude to ungrateful recipients. This archetype gives up its personal power and emotional needs in order to win approval and acknowledgement from others. This archetype “projects its power on to others and makes them more powerful than they are, investing them with qualities it would like to express but wouldn’t dare.
To change this archetype we need to learn to empower ourselves, and give acknowledgment to ourselves for jobs well done. If you wait on others to give praise or acknowledgement, you are giving them your personal power. Often servants long for praise for others who are incapable of giving this praise. When this happens the servant needs to give themselves room to evaluate their abilities and performance and give themselves the praise they deserve. They need to distance themselves from the situation or person with whom they are entangled, release its projections of power into the other person and own its worth. It is time to analyze the reason that the praise and acknowledgement is so important to you, and why you have placed yourself in this situation where you aren’t getting what you want.
When the servant lives for acknowledgement and recognition from others they are dependent on them for their well-being and it makes them responsible for their happiness. Thus they stay submissive and dependent on others. The servant needs to know the simple truth that it doesn’t need to do or be anything in order to be loved. They deserve love and consideration simply because they are worthy of it. Their value is not tied to what they do but to who it is.
Some rolls that engender the servant are a housewife who’s only acknowledged roll is to serve their husband and children. Nurses, secretaries, and other auxiliary helpers often fall into this category of service without acknowledgement from those they serve. This does not mean that those in these rolls always manifest this archetype, so long as they receive the acknowledgement they deserve. And of course, this archetype is not gender specific.
One always needs to analyze their situation as regards any situation that is not palatable, and take steps to correct the situation. Abusive situations require removing oneself from the immediate danger, and working to understand what brought you to that situation. This should be done with the aid of professionals.
Remember to
perform the Golden Warrior Meditation if you find that you relate overmuch with
the archetype. This will help you
reclaim your own power, and praise yourself for jobs well done.
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