⎵②③⎵

The construction function contains the most thought provoking, changeable, reflective and inconsistent part of the ego. The block pair contained within is what one believes can always be deliberated upon. There are never enough options and possibilities to discover or communicate within this function, which can manifest both positively and negatively. This function represents the part of our lives that feels like an endless exploration of the unknown. Things can always become better or worse as an end point is not valued as important. The two blocks below work together to continuously construct hypotheticals and speculate about how things may unfold within the two aspects that create the blocks. This function is responsible for idea generation, rumination, anxiety, transmission of information, and constant construction of how we perceive reality.

Rumination Block
2➔3

Automating Force: This block is what drives an individual to think deeply and explore the possible paths that may manifest from the concept held within. The rumination block is responsible for the feeling of vast endlessness which can result in a sense of being lost. There is often a vacillation between excitement and anxiety but the main concept driving this vacillation is the suspicion of the unknown. The individual uses this block as a way to deal with the unknown by attempting to subvert negativity and insecurity through intense exploration of the concept. This concept is what appears as the most energetic and neurotic from an outside perspective.

Flooding Block
3➔2

Restrained Force: This block is what feels like an insurmountable obstacle in our own psyche. We often believe that the concept held within takes massive amounts of mental energy to overcome and therefore we must make excuses as to why it must be ignored or subverted to something more manageable. Once this block stops being ignored and is instead welcomed, the individual tends to feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety and fear. This block must be carefully attended to because the experience can lead to long term anxiety if the individual takes on too much of the aspect at once.

Trap
Foreboding

The ”trap” of the construction function is activated when the rumination block becomes disconnected from the flooding block. The individual starts to believe that every possible avenue of their lives is worth considering because one can never be sure of how things could go wrong. Positive outcomes start to be spoiled by the idea that they will never be good enough and reality can turn into a nihilistic blur of “nothing matters, so therefore I will do nothing”. Inaction is the main problem and all outside suggestions are redirected towards negative results that will continue looping into a spiral of anxiety. The third attitude poisons the second attitude and they work in tandem to imagine all worst case scenarios while doing nothing about it. This foreboding often pulls others in who are attempting to help the individual, which will be met with criticism or further questioning of the advice given. The problem with this trap is that the individual forgets that they are in control of their own lives which means they also have the key to solve the problem at hand.

Gift
Serenity

The ”gift” of the construction function is activated when both blocks in the function work together to recognize that personal action and acceptance of the most difficult and frightening parts of our own mind is what leads us to overcoming our insecurities. When the individual lets themselves carefully be flooded by the anxieties that they are resisting while taking actionable steps to resolve problems bit by bit, they can attain peace and serenity on the other side. The more that we learn to accept our anxious and insecure moments as innately human, then the easier it becomes to stay present in the bad moments. Resistance creates further avoidance mechanisms and can turn us towards runaway fear, anger, rage, shame, manipulation, and narcissism. The gift of the construction function is building our tolerances bit by bit through raw exposure to the visceral feelings that accompany insecurity and anxiety. However, this should be done carefully because any quick and careless movements can lead us right back down the path of foreboding when we take on more than we can conceivably handle.