The Psychology of Becoming Your True Self – Carl Jung
We often feel as though we are in the driver’s seat of our mind,
driving according to our conscious will.
However, upon introspection,
we realize we are merely following a built-in navigation system
that exceeds our knowledge.
If we do not familiarize ourselves with this system,
we risk aimlessly traveling the world.
Carl Jung, a 20th-century Swiss psychiatrist,
dedicated his life to exploring this internal navigation system
to understand the nature of the psyche.
1. Jung’s Journey: Diverging from Freud
Born in 1875 in Switzerland, Jung was an introverted child
who spent much of his time analyzing the adults in his life.
While he initially found a father figure in Sigmund Freud,
their relationship fractured over fundamental disagreements.
- The Split: Jung had a mystical consideration of the mind, whereas Freud was more reductionist.
- The Breakthrough: After splitting in 1913, Jung experienced a mid-life psychological breakdown where he explored the recesses of his own unconscious, solidifying the theories that would define his legacy.
2. The Structure of the Psyche
Jung’s primary goal was “individuation”—integrating all components
of the psyche to create a unified state of wholeness.
He divided the psyche into three broader dimensions:
Consciousness and the Ego
- Consciousness: The realm of personal awareness where one knowingly identifies with themselves.
- The Ego: Sitting at the center of consciousness, the ego provides a sense of personal distinction and creates the story we tell ourselves.
- The Persona: This is the outward appearance displayed to the world. It is often disjointed from the true self, reflecting what the ego deems appropriate for society rather than who the individual actually is.
The Personal Unconscious
When the ego filters away or represses undesirable experiences,
they are stored here.
These suppressed aspects continue to actively
affect consciousness from beneath the surface.
The Collective Unconscious
Unlike the personal unconscious,
this layer contains universal elements inherited
through the sum total of human history.
- Inherited Memory: Just as we imitate previous generations, we inherit a reservoir of psychological predispositions.
- Archetypes: These are shared motifs and symbols consistent across humanity (found in myths, art, and dreams) that form the basis of personality.
3. The Shadow, Anima, and Self
To achieve wholeness,
one must confront the deeper structures of the mind.
- The Shadow: This consists of all the repressed, denied, and unknown content that the ego does not want to identify with. It is the “dark side” of human nature.
- The Anima/Animus: Nested within the shadow, these refer to the suppressed feminine qualities in a male (Anima) and the suppressed masculine qualities in a female (Animus).
- The Self: This is the center of the psyche—the combined authentic totality of the unconscious and conscious. It represents who the individual actually is, what they truly desire, and what they are capable of.
4. The Path to Individuation
The goal of life, according to Jung,
is to move the Ego as close to the Self as possible.
- Radical Self-Acceptance: You must admit that you are not always who you hope you are. You must confront your potential faults and “wickedness”.
- Integrating the Shadow: One cannot outrun their shadow. Ignoring it only makes it darker. Integrating it is an act of healing, allowing one to manage it appropriately.
Conclusion
To truly accept your downfalls, weaknesses,
and potential evils is a task that shakes the core of the psyche.
However, it is essential for a fulfilled life.
By gaining access to the “controls” of our internal navigation system,
we can better input the destination coordinates according
to where we actually want to go.
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