Jungian counselling | Brian Collinson

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Jungian Counselling & Self Awareness on the Holidays

December 27th, 2011 · counselling, Jungian, Jungian counselling, Self, self awareness, The Holidays

Yule Log with Snow by Midge Frazel

My Jungian counselling experience has shown me that, once the lead-up to the Holidays is over, there is often a quieter period in which people often come to new kinds of self awareness. This can often lead to new paths on a personal journey towards wholeness, if individuals are willing to walk them.

From a Jungian counselling perspective, there are at least four striking opportunities for self awareness that people might encounter during the Holidays

A Break From the Regular Pattern of Life

The Holidays often offer the opportunity to get outside of the patterns of life that we all find so consuming, just for a while. As we take things at a more leisurely pace, perhaps we begin to examine aspects of our lives, and to ask some really basic questions. The frenetic pace of work, kids’ activities, sports involvements, and so on gives way to a time when we can look at the pattern of our lives, and just be aware.

Connecting with My Earlier Selves

The Holidays can further self-awareness by putting us in mind of our selves at earlier points in our journey. Childhood Christmases, full perhaps of great joy, or, in some cases, great pain and disappointment. Adult Christmases with a new love. “White knuckle Christmases” on your own, perhaps in a strange new city, or possibly after a divorce. All are versions of myself: what do they show me about who I am, right here and right now?

Connecting with Where I am Now

And Jungian counselling is certainly concerned with where I am right at this present, and what the issues are that are coming up for me. What is it right now about myself that is hard for me to look at about myself? What does this have to do with my values, goals, morality, spirituality — yearnings?

The New Year is Coming

The New Year is many things, psychologically, but one of the key dimensions, from a Jungian counselling perspective, is as an opportunity for renewal. Life extends on the other side of the gate to the New Year. Whatever has gone by this year, we have the opportunity in the coming year to live in deeper self awareness, and in our own inner truth, on the singular road of our own journey towards wholeness.

With very best wishes for the holidays, and the coming New Year,

PHOTO: © Some rights reserved by midgefrazel

VIDEO: “The Road Less Travelled”, by awetblackbough

© 2011 Brian Collinson 2238 Constance Drive, Oakville, ON (near Mississauga)

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Jungian Counselling & Finding Your Life Purpose

December 13th, 2011 · Jungian, Jungian counselling, life purpose, purpose

Walking the Ninia Labyrinth

Finding your life purpose is key in individual therapy, and Jungian counselling stresses the need to make a personal search for meaningful direction in life. For many, finding life purpose is an essential journey to make, and Jungian counselling affirms that it’s a journey that we each can make.

A while ago, I posted the short James Hillman video below on the Facebook page for my practice. In it, Hillman raises some very important issues about creativity, work and our sense of life purpose.

Several insights emerge from Hillman’s video. They raise questions about life purpose that are not the type that are easy or quick to answer.

Don’t Settle for “Secondary Reasons”

Hillman talks about all the secondary reasons that people can have for doing what they do: doing it all for their kids, working to get a pension, and so on. His point is that these things are good to work for, but, in and of themselves, they’re not enough. We plainly and simply need something more to sustain us.

What is Really, Fundamentally Meaningful for Me?

That leads us to the question of what it is that fundamentally has meaning. What are the things that so fascinate me, that so grab me (Jung would say that are so “numinous”) that they hold me? The things that make such a claim on me that I could devote all my effort to them, and never tire? They could be religious, or artistic, in some form or other — or they might be something quite different, unique and individual in character. The key thing is: what is it for you?

Can Serving Something be Perfect Freedom?

The church I grew up in used to use a prayer book that had this phrase in it, referring to God: “Whose service is perfect freedom”. I don’t think you need to use this phrase in a specifically religious context to sense its value. What could we devote ourselves to in our lives, that, no matter what the hardships were, the service of it would feel like perfect freedom, and we would still want to devote ourselves to it?

Something That I Have to Do

Hillman explicitly raises a question in the video. What is it that I have to do — that would be my unique contribution? The answer to the question of life purpose stems from who I most fundamentally am.