Elements of the self

Most dictionaries, agree at describing the self as the union of elements that constitute the individuality and identity of something.
However there are many interesting differences in the use of the concept. For instance, think in what do we mean when we say, self-organization, self-induced, self-knowledge, self-control or self-construction. What are the differences between these concepts and what do they have in common?
All of them have an entity with borders. Within the borders, there is the “self”. You would easily agree that it is not possible the existence of an entity within borders without what is outside of the limits.
Another characteristics that distinguish the previous concepts is “action”. There is a self doing an action. The self organizes, controls, knowledges, induces, etc…
Now a simple question come out from the commons: Why the entity within borders do an action? I can’t give an answer to this question without thinking in what is outside of the borders. If I take into account what is outside the borders many answers jump to my fingers. But if that is the case, the self is not alone. (I am thinking here in the beauty of the self-doing something)
Let me describe one example that come out of this short deconstruction. If I study self-organization, what should be my guide? If the system self-organize to an external event, there are two elements. First, the principle that coordinate the entity to organize itself and the different type of external event. Of course, far more interesting the first element.
It suggest to me, that an entity has a very stable dynamic equilibria. If you try to move it out of the equilibrium, the entity adjust the system to return to another equilibria, which if functional with what is outside the borders.
I should try to build up very simple machines with the capacity to self-organize to something.