Jungian Symbols, Art of Living, The Story of Your Life
Existential Espresso Vol. Existential Espresso Vol. 88
What I’ve been reading:
Man and His Symbols - Carl Jung, Marie-Louise von Franz, Joseph L. Henderson, Aniela Jaffé, and Jolande Jacobi
Only Jung’s book that was intended for the general population and the last project he took on before his death. In fact, he died in the same week that the book was finished.
Precisely because he decided to have a book that would explain his life’s work in a way that was accessible to the general population, he decided to have one chapter written by him and the rest by his most trusted associates, while he would oversee the writing process.
It goes without saying that, besides some great introductions to Jungian psychology written by other authors (Jung’s Map of the Soul by Murray Stein being one of the best), this is the most accessible book if you’re looking to start studying this titan of psychology.
What I’ve watched:
Alain De Botton on the Diary of a CEO podcast
Alain De Botton is a British author and philosopher, but you might know him as the founder of the YouTube channel and educational company, The School of Life.
His book, The Consolations of Philosophy, is one of the most engaging books that I have read in a while. It can benefit both those in search of a book to kickstart their philosophy journey and those who’ve been on it for a while and need a break from the pretentiousness of today’s academics. What I mean by that is that De Botton treats philosophy the way the Ancients did—as the art of living. And, equally important, he isn’t writing with the intention of sounding smart by being difficult to understand.
Don’t expect to agree with everything he says in this podcast, but do expect a conversation that deals with some of the most important aspects of being human.
What I’ve been thinking about:
Lately, both my journaling and conversations with other people keep arriving at the same point: you have to view your life as a story.
It’s the only way to make sense of and be at peace with your past, as well as create a vision for your future. As Richard Rohr said,
“If we don't learn to mythologize our lives, inevitably we will pathologize them.”
Yesterday, I wrote a short piece on this topic, Why You Should Think Creatively, Not Positively.
Thank you for reading.
Stay strong, love life, and never feel sorry for yourself.
Free Resources:
My free ebook: The Lost Art of Reading
Paid Resources:
The Art of Showing Up: A Clear and Practical Method for Mastering Consistency
The Gold Pill: Timeless Ideas for a Life Worth Living
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