Introduction to Jungian Psychology

What is Jungian Psychology? 

Jung’s psychology is about living an authentic life and ‘becoming who you truly are’.

Throughout our lives we learn about ourselves and our true nature. We continuously learn new things about ourselves and what it means to be human. We learn about ourselves not only by paying attention to what wants to emerge in the present, but also by looking back. Looking back on our life path so far, we might see that in certain situations we were driven by forces outside our awareness. Maybe we were driven by fear, or by an unconscious wish to prove something to our parents or to protect ourselves from pain and suffering. In other situations, we see that our life magically unfolded in a way as if we were being guided through the plots of our own life stories.

Carl Jung said that it is up to us to live our life in line with our true essence, our unique core that continues to unfold as we age. This essence is often experienced as if it is guiding us through life and is aiming at full expression. At times it can even feel as if we are being used by something larger that wants to engage with the world through our own body and movements. Jung called this process of personal development and unfolding the individuation process.

Early on in life we adapt to the demands of our surroundings, our parents, teachers and later our peers. We develop a ‘persona’, the mask we wear to go through life. We only show certain parts of ourselves to others. As we age, we come to see that those adaptive behaviors which may have served us well are also limiting us. Sometimes the main obstacle to our natural growth is the person we’ve become through all our adaptations.

For example, we may have learned at an early age to adapt to other people’s wishes, and so we are focused on making other people happy. This social strategy pays off as we notice that we’ve been accepted, and we feel secure because we belong. With this learned social behavior it’s  easy to go to new places, people will like us, friends and colleagues will find us ‘easy’ to be with. But over time, something inside of us starts to object to this one-sided way of showing up in the world in which the other is the central figure. Something inside of us longs for a fuller expression of our own voice, feelings and views. In this example, our psyche wants us to be nice not only to others but also to ourselves. Putting our own needs or views  in the foreground might require us  to develop skills that we haven’t used before. We may have to learn how to speak  up for our own wishes and needs, and how to set healthy boundaries. Our new task will be finding how  to navigate the tension  that might arise between others and ourselves. Instead of automatically tipping the attention toward the other person, the new challenge will be how to let our own light shine as well as the other person’s. 

It is good to ask ourselves:

• What do I typically do to gain acceptance in the world?
• Which behaviors have I developed to fit in?
• How are these behaviors serving me today?
• Which character traits have I disowned or denied in the course of fitting in?

Jungian psychology is more than ‘just’ broadening our sense of self, by consciously acknowledging our repressed and unused traits and skills. Essential to Jungian psychology is the connection to the guiding force in our psyche. In old traditions this force is referred to as the genius, the daimon or guardian angel. Jung called this the Self. When we live a life connected to this force, we experience a sense of meaning. It feels as if we are answering our calling and living a purposeful life. 

Essential questions to ask ourselves are:

• What is  the Self asking of me at this moment in my life?
• In which directions is it guiding me?
• What does it want me  to pay conscious attention to?
• What am I being  invited to grow toward ?
• What life wants to come into the world through me?

Becoming who we truly are is a task of a lifetime. It requires that we live our life connected to our potential and to facilitate the Self’s desire to fully express itself in our lives. Carl Jung showed us by example that each individual must walk this path with his or her own feet. With luck we may have companions on the path, but we are ultimately moved by the Self into the place that is ours and only ours.

If you are interested in learning more about Jungian Psychology, join master teacher and Jungian Analyst, James Hollis in the course Introduction to Jungian Psychology. It is one of the best introductions available to the fundamental principles of Jungian Psychology. He will not only cover the theoretical aspects, but will also enable you to apply these insights in your day-to-day life and grow psychologically. Learn More Here.