On Becoming More Myself - A Talk by Dr. Alfried Längle - Feb 2014

[@robertburatt]

Drastically underestimated in virtually all current psychology theory and practice is the degree of dependence upon one's own society for our personal growth, that is, to realize unidentified potentialities and to further develop those identified potentialities~in the service of maintaining and furthering a true democratic society~which is the only society that is oriented on this fundamental premise. The roles one assumes gets identified with the person~who is unique~but the roles are not; they are convention. Who am "I"?~I am "I" in everything I do, everything I say, think, and act on. I am "I" in what I believe and value, I am "I" in every "job" I take and in everything I eat, who I love and what I hate~and in my own death~I am "I". Young children know this. This question arises when there are discrepancies in our inner dialogue, often unconscious, between who I am and who I am not that brings about inner conflicts that emerge as "symptoms": anxiety, depression, frustration, boredom, feelings of helplessness, worthlessness, hopelessness. All such "symptoms point to a loss of meaning to our existence. Therefore, "I" am NOT "a psychologist" or "footballer", or "doctor" or "student", etc. I WORK as a psychologist, I play football, I work as a student in university, etc, but "I" am NOT any of these things but I am present in all of them but I am NOT those things in themselves! Compulsive use of social media is an example of the absence of any inner dialogue. There is no "I" outside of the society I live in, hence the natural and organic dependence on society, and why the kind of society "I" live in will determine whether this question ever arises. Prolonged living in a different society with different culture, language, and customs~this question will likely arise.

[@artandculture5262]

Academic deconstruction isn’t any more real, or less a role fulfillment, than anything else. Spirited people aren’t bowing to intellectual collectives.

[@asalettulaz2417]

Like some people in the audience I also found her conclusion unconvincingly early. It might well be, as she explained, that she thought about that before and already came to a conclusion and she now just needed to 'announce' it publicly so that she can reveal that feeling of guilt towards her colleagues, students who might be in the room. The second possibility is, because guilt is such a strong feeling that overtakes the reason, she might have felt guilty for taking that space, time, with her child and also wanted to give something back to Alfried, she praised him as a therapist and might have wanted to prove that it has been useful for her.. perhaps it has been useful despite all the underlined feelings and possibilities.

[@katyhopkins3910]

Q

[@katyhopkins3910]

I

[@mindtoronto4792]

I did think it would have been helpful to attend to her tears; for reasons I do not understand that was not done and I think that failure pushed her to a premature 'resolution' and thus the sense of a lack of authenticity that followed. She became a good patient and she and the therapist proceeded along that path. Unfortunate.

[@zorkabiljecki7408]

It was so revealing to see a Dr actually bowing to her breastfeeding moments! It's God speaking on Holy Mother, read motherhood, actually!!! Then for God sake, why nobody is mentioning God there?? Since, it is Him Who says:" love God with your whole (read 100 percent) heart". And, believe it or not, it was God screaming in her when she said:"...I don't think I give myself entirely in a given situation.." Well, it is God's commandment speaking in her, but commandment that we are not obeying... myself included.