This all comes with a sharp price to pay, for too much is left in the dark, too much of our character is denied and a divided self is created. Our true “ self retires into the background and gives place to social recognition” (Carl Jung) and we become a mirror of what we think others want us to be. For when come to believe we are the masks we wear we will have sacrificed all the good of our character that does not align with the trends of conformity upon which our persona was sculpted. Our persona should never define us, it should merely be a role we play at appropriate times. “.a formidable concession to the external world, a genuine self-sacrifice which drives the ego straight into identification with the persona, so that people really do exist who believe they are what they pretend to be.” Carl Jung, Two Essays on Analytical Psychology This is especially true in the modern day, where we tend to rely too much on our social role, or what Jung called the persona, in the building up of our character.
The more negative the attitude of the conscious towards the unconscious, the more dangerous does the latter become.” Carl Jung, Symbols of TransformationĪ further reason for becoming more self-aware, is because the unconscious is not only home to elements of our character which conflict with our self-image and elicit shame, such as our character faults and weaknesses, but it also contains much of what is best about us. “The rejection of the unconscious usually has unfortunate results. The main difference, in other words, between a psychic element that we are aware of and one that is unconscious, is that what exists in consciousness can potentially be controlled, while what exists in the unconscious has an autonomous existence and therefore will often produce effects inimical to our well-being: We repress much about who we are, forget even more, and there even exist, according to Jung, potentialities and instinctual energies of which we may spend our entire life in total ignorance.īut even if we accept that the unconscious contains much that could be integrated into our character is there not a good reason why these things are unconscious in the first place? Is it not better to allow some elements of our personality to reside outside of our awareness? Jung answers this question with an emphatic no and for the simple reason that the elements of our unconscious continue to influence us even though we are unaware of their existence. What we are aware of, or what exists in the field of our consciousness, is only ever a sliver of our total personality. Jung places so much emphasis on the power of the unconscious to transform who we are due to the fact that it is the far larger realm of our total psyche. To become one of the few who exists in a state of harmony and who can state with confidence “ As I am, so I act” we must be willing to look within, to shine a light on the darkness of our unconscious and to integrate what we discover into conscious awareness. “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” Carl Jung, The Philosophical Tree To understand what is necessary a quote from Jung’s essay The Philosophical Tree can point us in the right direction: “.in order to undergo a far-reaching psychological development, neither outstanding intelligence nor any other talent is necessary.” Carl Jung, Two Essays on Analytical Psychology It is not contingent on external success, be it the accumulation of wealth or social status, nor does it require exceptional talents or intellectual abilities, for as Jung put it: To begin it is important to point out that Jung believed the attainment of a great character was something that anyone of us can achieve. The cultivation of a great character is a task of the utmost importance and in this video we will explore some of Jung’s insights on how we can achieve this feat, a feat he referred to as individuation or simply as self-realization.
The blows of fate may be kind or cruel and other people may treat us poorly or well, but our experience of these things and what we do with what we are given is dependent on the state of our character.
For Jung recognized the truth to Heraclitus’ statement that our “character is destiny”. But of all he wrote one topic stands alone as the most important to him and this is the question of how one can cultivate a great character. and he can accept responsibility for himself even though he struggles against it.” Carl Jung, Two Essays on Analytical PsychologyĬarl Jung was a man of eclectic interests and this is reflected in the prolific nature of his writings. “When a man can say of his states and actions, “As I am, so I act,” he can be at one with himself. The following is a transcript of this video.
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