The commonly asked question, “How are you feeling?” is often replied with the somewhat obligatory “Good, thanks, and you?” However, Jungian author James Hollis suggested that, “Feeling good may be a very poor measure of the worth of one’s life.” He furthered queried, “Think of the people you truly admire or inspire you. How much […]
Mid-life & Beyond: Senex & Crone
Since 1991, the United Nations has designated October 1 as International Day of Older Persons. Canada has named this date, National Seniors Day. The day honours the contributions of seniors and draws attention to the increasing greying or aging of the population. From a psychological perspective, being a senior marks a shift from mid-life, usually […]
How Do You Handle Adversity?
Have you heard the story about the carrot, egg and coffee bean? A mother placed a carrot, an egg and a coffee bean each in a pot of water. After twenty minutes of boiling she showed her young daughter the results. She explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity, boiling water, […]
“Dreams are the Royal Road to the Unconscious”
Many people believe dreams are created by the brain randomly throwing together memories and recently experienced material. From a psychological perspective, dreams are created by the soul or psyche as a way of communicating to the dreamer. It was Sigmund Freud who stated, “Dreams are the royal road to the unconscious.” Jung felt that, “The […]
Letting Go of Perfection
In the film, Black Swan, the ballet director challenged Nina, the featured dancer played by Natalie Portman, by stating, “I never see you lose your self.” He further explained, “Perfection is not just about control. It’s also about letting go. Surprise yourself so you can surprise the audience.” One explanation for the need for perfection […]
What animal speaks to your soul?
What is your favourite animal? Do you tend to dream or encounter in your waking life particular animals more than others? As with any resonating person or situation, animals can be looked upon as a source of personal insight with the thought, “Why this certain animal now?” James Hillman suggested, “Animals wake up the imagination. […]
