How to Stop Wasting Your Life - Carl Jung as Therapist

Summary

This video script explores Carl Jung's perspective on treating psychological disorders like anxiety and depression without drugs. Jung believed that life's difficulties are necessary for mental health and that confronting one's 'shadow'—unacknowledged aspects of personality—is crucial for self-improvement. He emphasized the importance of finding meaning in life to avoid the suffering that comes from living a purposeless existence, suggesting that individuals must discover their role in the 'divine drama of life' for a fulfilling existence.

Takeaways

• 💊 The script critiques the over-reliance on psychotropic drugs for treating anxiety and depression, suggesting they often serve as crutches rather than cures.
• 🌟 It highlights Carl Jung as a prominent psychiatrist offering alternative, drug-free approaches to psychological healing.
• 🧠 Jung believed that anxiety and depression often stem from a faulty lifestyle rather than brain malfunction, emphasizing the need for a change in life approach.
• 🔍 The first step in Jung's treatment method involves gaining psychological insight into life's difficulties and the necessity of character strengthening.
• 🙅‍♂️ Jung challenges the belief that life should be easy, asserting that difficulties are necessary for personal growth and health.
• 🎯 Accepting life's inherent challenges is positioned as a foundation for initiating change and personal development.
• 👤 Jung introduces the concept of the 'shadow' — the repressed aspects of personality that can be both weaknesses and unrecognized strengths.
• 🤝 Becoming aware of the shadow allows for control over these aspects, reducing their negative impact and potentially harnessing their positive traits.
• 👀 Observing reactions to others' traits and self-reflection on actions and motives are suggested as ways to uncover one's shadow.
• 🌐 Jung emphasizes the importance of finding meaning in life as a critical component of overcoming depression and anxiety.
• 🌅 He illustrates this with the example of the Pueblo tribe, who see their daily actions as part of a meaningful, divine drama, contrasting with the aimlessness of modern Western life.
• 💡 The script concludes by suggesting that individuals must discover their own meaningful role in life to escape the cycle of suffering and compulsive seeking.

Q & A

What is the main risk that Carl Jung suggests modern man may face?

Jung suggests that the main risk modern man may face is waking up one day to find that he has missed half his life due to not addressing the deeper psychological issues.

Why does the script imply that psychotropic drugs may not be the best solution for anxiety disorders and depression?

The script implies that psychotropic drugs are not the best solution because they often become crutches and do not address the root causes of psychological disorders, potentially leading to lifelong dependency.

What alternative approach to treating anxiety and depression does Carl Jung advocate for?

Carl Jung advocates for a drug-free approach that involves gaining psychological insight, understanding life's difficulties, and confronting one's shadow to address the root causes of anxiety and depression.

What does Jung believe about the origin of anxiety and depression?

Jung believes that most cases of anxiety and depression originate from a faulty way of life rather than a faulty brain.

How does Jung define 'shadow' in the context of psychological treatment?

Jung defines 'shadow' as the aspects of our character that we deny and force into the unconscious due to shame, insecurity, or societal censure, which includes both weaknesses and repressed strengths.

What is the significance of acknowledging one's shadow according to Jung?

Acknowledging one's shadow is significant because it allows for control over the expression of character flaws and provides access to repressed strengths that can vitalize and embellish one's existence.

How does Jung suggest we can become more conscious of our shadow?

Jung suggests becoming more conscious of our shadow by observing the weaknesses, flaws, and insecurities of those close to us, reflecting on the motives for our actions, and being open to self-criticism.

What role does finding meaning in life play in Jung's method of treatment for psychological disorders?

In Jung's method, finding meaning in life is crucial as it helps individuals to justify their existence and feel that they are playing a meaningful role in the divine drama of life, which can alleviate anxiety and depression.

What example does Jung use to illustrate the importance of having a meaningful life?

Jung uses the example of the Pueblo tribe, whose members believe they are helping the sun rise daily, giving them a sense of purpose and protecting them from neuroses, anxiety disorders, and depression.

How does Jung contrast the life of the Pueblo tribe with that of a Western woman he encountered?

Jung contrasts the meaningful and purpose-driven life of the Pueblo tribe with the Western woman's life, which is described as compulsive, banal, and lacking in meaning, leading to a sense of emptiness and constant seeking.

What is the ultimate goal of Jung's treatment method for individuals suffering from anxiety or depression?

The ultimate goal of Jung's treatment method is for individuals to discover a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives, which can lead to a fulfilling life and freedom from anxiety or depression.

Outlines

00:00

💊 The Limitations of Psychotropic Drugs

Carl Jung emphasizes the limitations of psychotropic drugs as a treatment for anxiety and depression, suggesting they often serve as crutches rather than cures, leading to lifelong dependency. Jung advocates for alternative, drug-free methods of treatment, focusing on psychological insight into life's difficulties and the importance of character strength. He challenges the prevailing medical opinion that psychological disorders are purely physical, proposing instead that they often stem from an unsatisfactory lifestyle.

05:06

🌞 Embracing Life's Difficulties for Growth

Jung posits that life's inherent difficulties are essential for personal growth and health. He argues against the common belief that life should be easy and that suffering should be minimized. Instead, he encourages acceptance of life's challenges as a foundation for change and self-improvement. Jung stresses the importance of developing a strong character to navigate life's inevitable hardships, rather than seeking an unrealistically easy existence.

10:09

🔍 Confronting the Shadow for Self-Understanding

Jung introduces the concept of the 'shadow'—the unconscious aspects of one's personality that are often denied and hidden due to shame or insecurity. He believes that acknowledging and integrating the shadow is vital for self-improvement, as it prevents these traits from emerging uncontrollably and destructively. Jung also notes that the shadow contains repressed strengths that, when recognized, can enrich one's life. He suggests observing the traits we project onto others and engaging in self-reflection and criticism to uncover and address our own shadow.

🌟 Discovering Life's Purpose for Mental Well-being

Jung underscores the importance of finding meaning in life as a key to overcoming anxiety and depression. He contrasts the fulfilling lives of the Pueblo tribe, who see themselves as part of a divine drama with a clear purpose, with the aimless seeking of many in the Western world. Jung suggests that a meaningful life, whether through religious belief, social contribution, or creative expression, provides a sense of purpose and continuity that contributes to mental health and peace. He challenges the modern individual to find their own meaningful role in life to avoid a fate of suffering and emptiness.

Keywords

💡Psychotropic drugs

Psychotropic drugs are medications that affect a person's mood, emotions, and behavior, commonly used to treat mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. In the video script, these drugs are criticized for not effectively curing individuals but instead serving as crutches that may lead to lifelong dependency. The script implies that reliance on such drugs can hinder the development of psychological resilience and self-improvement.

💡Anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders refer to a group of mental health conditions characterized by excessive and persistent worry, fear, or nervousness that interferes with daily life. The script suggests that these disorders are not solely a result of brain chemistry but are also deeply rooted in one's lifestyle and approach to handling life's difficulties, indicating a need for more than just a pharmacological solution.

💡Depression

Depression is a common mental health disorder marked by persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, and a feeling of hopelessness. The video script posits that depression, like anxiety, is not merely a physical ailment but also a reflection of one's life choices and psychological state, implying that addressing the root causes requires more than just medication.

💡Psychological insight

Psychological insight refers to a deep understanding of one's own mental processes and emotional responses. The script emphasizes the importance of gaining psychological insight as a foundational step in Carl Jung's approach to treating mental health issues, suggesting that self-awareness is crucial for initiating personal change and growth.

💡Shadow

In Jungian psychology, the 'shadow' represents the unconscious aspects of the personality that are hidden due to societal or personal disapproval. The script explains that acknowledging and integrating the shadow is essential for personal development, as it contains both weaknesses and unrecognized strengths that, when confronted, can lead to a more balanced and authentic self.

💡Self-change

Self-change involves the process of personal transformation and growth, often necessitated by a recognition of one's flaws or shortcomings. The video script suggests that self-change is a critical component of overcoming psychological disorders, as it involves confronting and integrating one's shadow, leading to a more whole and functional personality.

💡Meaning of life

The 'meaning of life' is a philosophical concept that explores the purpose or significance of human existence. The script discusses the importance of finding a meaningful role in life to combat feelings of emptiness and despair, suggesting that a sense of purpose can provide a powerful antidote to anxiety and depression.

💡Projection

Projection is a psychological defense mechanism where one attributes their own undesired traits or emotions onto others. The script mentions projection as a way in which individuals may become aware of their own shadow by recognizing the traits in others that bother them, thus providing a pathway to self-awareness and growth.

💡Self-criticism

Self-criticism involves the process of objectively evaluating one's own actions or character, often with the intent of self-improvement. The video script highlights the importance of being open to self-criticism as a means of identifying and addressing one's shadow, thereby fostering personal growth and maturity.

💡Divine drama of life

The 'divine drama of life' is a metaphor used by Carl Jung to describe the meaningful narrative that each individual plays a part in. The script uses this concept to illustrate the idea that individuals who perceive their lives as having a significant role in a larger, meaningful story are less likely to suffer from psychological disorders, as they find purpose and fulfillment in their existence.

💡Compulsive seeking

Compulsive seeking refers to the relentless pursuit of goals or experiences in an attempt to fill a perceived void or achieve a sense of satisfaction. The script describes how many in the Western world engage in compulsive seeking as a misguided attempt to escape the emptiness of a life perceived as meaningless, highlighting the contrast with individuals who find fulfillment in their roles within the 'divine drama of life'.

Highlights

Modern man risks missing half his life due to a disconnect with psychological needs.

Psychotropic drugs are common but often insufficient for curing anxiety and depression.

Alternative, drug-free treatments for psychological disorders are available, inspired by Carl Jung's insights.

Jung challenges the medical dogma that psychological disorders originate from brain alterations.

Jung suggests that faulty lifestyles, rather than brains, are often the cause of anxiety and depression.

Psychological insight, not drugs, is the first step in Jung's treatment method.

Jung emphasizes that life's difficulties are necessary for mental health and personal growth.

Accepting life's hardships is essential for initiating change and personal development.

Jung warns against the illusion that life should be easy, which can hinder character strengthening.

The 'shadow' represents the denied aspects of one's character that are forced into the unconscious.

Confronting the shadow is vital for self-improvement and gaining control over repressed traits.

The shadow contains both weaknesses and repressed strengths that can enrich one's life.

Observing others can reveal aspects of one's own shadow and lead to self-awareness.

Self-reflection and openness to criticism are key to recognizing and understanding one's shadow.

Finding meaning in life is crucial for overcoming depression and anxiety according to Jung.

Jung contrasts the meaningful lives of the Pueblo tribe with the aimless seeking of modern Western individuals.

Jung suggests that a fulfilling life comes from playing a meaningful role in the 'divine drama of life'.

Individuals must discover their own sense of purpose to avoid a life of suffering and emptiness.

Transcripts

“This is precisely the risk modern man runs: he may wake up one day to find that he has

missed half his life.”

Carl Jung, Practice of Psychotherapy Psychotropic drugs have become one of the

most common forms of treatment for anxiety disorders and depression.

But these drugs are not very good at curing people and often they just become crutches

for lifelong psychological cripples.

Fortunately, there are alternative ways to treat anxiety and depression.

In this video we are going to turn to Carl Jung, one of history’s greatest psychiatrists,

for drug-free advice on how to find a cure to these psychological disorders.

“. . . the elite still cling firmly to the notion that [anxiety] disorders originate

in alterations within the brain.

Unfortunately many run-of-the-mill doctors still swear by this gospel to the detriment

of their patients, whom our age produces in swarms.

Nearly all these patients have been convinced by the medical dogma that their sickness is

of a physical nature.”

Carl Jung, The Symbolic Life Jung believed that most cases of anxiety and

depression are not the product of a faulty brain, but of a faulty way of life.

The first step in Jung’s method of treatment, therefore, was not a drug prescription, but

a dose of psychological insight – insight regarding what to expect from life and insight

into what it takes to change.

With respect to the former, Jung noted that many people believe that life should be easy,

suffering kept to a minimum and difficulties avoided.

But Jung would be blunt with his patients telling them that life is not easy, and comfort

and peace are not our natural state.

Or as Jung wrote:

“In the last resort it is highly improbable that there could ever be a therapy that got

rid of all difficulties.

Man needs difficulty; they are necessary for health.

What concerns us here is only an excessive amount of them.”

Carl Jung, Structure and Dynamics of the Psyche Accepting that difficulties are inevitable

and nothing worth achieving comes easy, places us on the firm ground of reality from which

to change.

For when we accept that life is hard, we will also realize that only through a strengthened

character do we have any chance of living a good life.

If, on the other hand, we remain caught in the delusion that life should be easy, we

will be less motivated to overcome a weak character, as we will falsely hope that if

we just give it time life will get easier.

“Life is a battleground.

It always has been, and always will be; and if it were not so, existence would come to

an end.”

Carl Jung, Man and His Symbols There is another piece of psychological insight

that Jung saw as crucial for his patients to understand – namely, that our problems

exist in the present and that present problems are not solved by digging into our past.

Many people like to believe that only when they have determined why they are the way

they are, can they move forward in life.

But Jung believed that an excessive fixation on the past was merely an avoidance tactic

used to evade the difficult task of facing up to what needs to be done now.

“People should know that not only the neurotic, but everyone, naturally prefers never to seek

the causes of any inconvenience in himself, but to push them as far away from himself

as possible in space and time.

Otherwise he would run the risk of having to make a change for the better.

Compared with this odious risk it seems infinitely more advantageous either to put the blame

on to somebody else, or, if the fault lies undeniably with oneself, at least to assume

that it somehow arose of its own accord in early infancy.”

(V7)

Carl Jung, Two Essays on Analytical Psychology With these doses of psychological insight,

Jung would turn to the first actionable step in his method of treatment; and this was to

help his patients face up to what he called the shadow, for as he writes:

“. . .the first requisite of any thorough psychological method, [is] for consciousness

to confront its shadow.”

Carl Jung, Mysterium Coniunctionis The shadow is Jung’s term for the elements

of our character that we deny, and force into the unconscious, due to shame, insecurity,

or censure.

It is, in other words, the side of our personality we wish to hide from others, as well as from

ourselves.

“…there can be no doubt that man is, on the whole, less good than he imagines himself

or wants to be.

Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious

life, the blacker and denser it is.”

Carl Jung, Psychology and Religion Jung believed that facing up to the shadow

was crucial in the process of self-change for several reasons.

Firstly, we do ourselves no favours by denying the inferior parts of our personality, we

merely lose control of how, and when, these traits emerge.

If, on the other, hand we acknowledge a character flaw we can learn how to control its expression

and so minimize the damage it does in our life, or as Jung explains:

“Anything conscious can be corrected, but anything that slips away into the unconscious

is beyond the reach of correction and, its rank growth undisturbed, is subject to increasing

degeneration.

Happily, nature sees to it that the unconscious contents will irrupt into consciousness sooner

or later and create the necessary confusion.”

Carl Jung, Mysterium Coniunctionis But the shadow is not only made up of weakness,

rather some elements of it are strengths which we repressed in our youth because our peers,

family members, or society at large, gave us the false impression that these traits

were bad.

Some people, for example, repress the ability to express anger or the ability to stand up

for themselves.

Another benefit of becoming conscious of the shadow, therefore, is that we gain access

to life-promoting character traits, or as Jung writes:

“. . .the shadow is merely somewhat inferior, primitive, unadapted, and awkward; not wholly

bad.

It even contains . . .qualities which would in a way vitalize and embellish human existence,

but convention forbids!”

Carl Jung, Psychology and Religion One way to become conscious of the shadow

is to observe the weaknesses, flaws, and insecurities of those close to us.

For not only do most of us repress similar character traits, but we also tend to project

elements of our shadow onto other people.

If, therefore, we pay attention to which character traits of our friends and family bother us,

we may also gain a glimpse of our own shadow.

In addition to observing others, another way to bring the shadow into the light of consciousness

is to reflect on the motives for our actions, especially actions we are ashamed of, and

to be open to self-criticism when it is warranted.

For as Jung notes, often the only thing that is preventing us from seeing our shadow is

the ability to be honest with ourselves: “With a little self-criticism one can see through

the shadow” (Carl Jung Aion).

Along with becoming more conscious of the shadow, another integral aspect of Jung’s

method of treatment was helping his patients find a meaning to their lives.

For Jung believed that when stuck in a deep depression, or consumed by an anxiety disorder,

to be cured necessitates discovering a “role as one of the actors in the divine drama of

life” (Carl Jung, The Symbolic Life).

To understand what was meant by this we can turn to an encounter Jung had with a chief

of the Pueblo tribe in the first half of the 20th century.

Jung was discussing with this man the traditions of his tribe when the chief made the following

remark:

“Yes, we are a small tribe, and these Americans, they want to interfere with our religion.

They should not do it, because we are the sons of the Father, the Sun.

He who goes there”; (pointing to the sun) – “that is our Father.

We must help him daily to rise over the horizon and to walk over Heaven.

And we don’t do it for ourselves only: we do it for America, we do it for the whole

world.”

(V18)

Carl Jung, The Symbolic Life Jung understood that to many in the modern

day this statement would sound crazy and archaic.

But as he further notes the members of this tribe did not suffer like we suffer.

They were not infected by neuroses, anxiety disorders, or depression.

They did not fill themselves with pills each day, and they were not debilitated by addictions.

Rather this tribe was composed of highly functioning individuals who saw themselves as fulfilling

their duty as an actor in the divine drama of life, and their lives were rich in meaning

and purpose.

Or as Jung wrote:

“These people have no problems.

They have their daily life, their symbolic life.

They get up in the morning with a feeling of their great and divine responsibility:

they are the sons of the Sun, the Father, and their daily duty is to help the Father

over the horizon – not for themselves alone, but for the whole world.

You should see these fellows: they have a natural fulfilled dignity.”

Carl Jung, The Symbolic Life Jung contrasts this way of life, with a Western

woman he met.

This lady, as Jung notes, was a compulsive traveller, always running from one place to

the next, always seeking, but never really finding what she was looking for.

“I was amazed when I looked into her eyes – the eyes of a hunted, a cornered animal

– seeking, seeking, always in the hope of something.

. . She is possessed . . .And why is she possessed?

Because she does not live the life that makes sense.

Hers is a life utterly, grotesquely banal. . .with no point in it at all.

If she dies today, nothing has happened, nothing has vanished – because she was nothing!”

Carl Jung, The Symbolic Life This compulsive seeking infects many in the

Western world.

Some run from one destination to another, some chase romantic partners, others are compulsive

seekers of money, prestige, fame, or recognition on social media.

But whatever the outward form it takes, the underlying motivation is the same – the

seeker is trying to run away from the banality of their existence.

They are seeking to fill the void of emptiness that comes from living a meaningless life.

But as Jung explains this void cannot be filled with things, or even experiences, what fills

this void is knowing that we are living in a way that makes a difference, or as he writes

concerning the woman he met:

“But if she could say, “I am the daughter of the Moon.

Every night I must help the Moon, my Mother, over the horizon” – ah, that is something

else!

Then she lives, then her life makes sense, and makes sense in all continuity, and for

the whole of humanity.

That gives peace, when people feel that they are living [as] actors in the divine drama.

That gives the only meaning to human life; everything else is banal and you can dismiss

it.

A career, producing of children, are all maya compared with that one thing, that your life

is meaningful.”

Carl Jung, The Symbolic Life Jung was not suggesting that we all adopt

the Puebloan mythology, rather his point is that many people suffer because their life

makes no sense.

And the task for those who want to be free of anxiety or depression is to discover this

sense.

We must, in other words, find a way to justify our existence, so that we, like the Puebloan,

can believe that our life is meaningful.

For some this can be accomplished through religion, for others by contributing in a

substantial way to the promotion of values such as justice, freedom, or community, while

others will find it through the creative act.

But for those of us in the modern West, where we lack a dominant mythology, it is up to

us, and us alone, to discover how we can play a meaningful role in the divine drama of life.

For the few who accomplish this task, a fulfilling life will define their future, for the many

who don’t, years or decades of pointless suffering and compulsive seeking will be their

fate.

“I am only concerned with the fulfilment of that which is in every individual, . .That

is the whole problem; that is the problem of the true Pueblo: that I do today everything

that is necessary so that my father can rise over the horizon.”

Carl Jung, The Symbolic Life