Author Archive by luciano

9 de August de 2023

Exploring the Kybalion and Quantum Physics: Insights from Freud, Jung, and Feynman

By luciano

Here’s another interesting discussion I had with three GPT generated personalities. I decided to include the entire content so you can also understand how to invite these personalities to the conversation. Perhaps in future ones, I will focus on just presenting the dialogue format without the initial setup.

Here it goes:

Luciano: I am beginning to read “The Kybalion” definitive and annotated edition, written by “The Three Initiates”. I would like 3 personalities to discuss this book: Freud, Jung, and a more rational scientist interested in the subject. Who would you suggest as this third person?

ChatGPT: How fascinating! “The Kybalion” delves into Hermetic principles, which are often seen as the foundation of Western esotericism. Freud, Jung, and a third figure discussing this would be a captivating mix. Here’s a brief insight into how each might approach the text, along with a third individual’s suggestion:

Sigmund Freud – Freud would likely examine “The Kybalion” in light of his psychoanalytic theory, delving into how the Hermetic principles might mirror the unconscious desires and conflicts of humans. He might be especially interested in how people use esoteric and mystical concepts as defense mechanisms or to address internal anxieties and conflicts.

Carl Jung – Jung had a strong interest in esotericism, mysticism, and the occult. He would view “The Kybalion” from the lens of analytical psychology, potentially linking the Hermetic principles to his concepts of archetypes, the collective unconscious, and the individuation process. Given his interest in alchemy and personal transformation, Jung would likely see many parallels between Hermetic teachings and his own theories.

Third Personality – Richard Feynman – The theoretical physicist Richard Feynman is renowned for his unquenchable curiosity and unique approach to understanding the universe. Although a rationalist and skeptic regarding many esoteric topics, his perspective would be invaluable in such a discussion. Feynman might scrutinize “The Kybalion” from the standpoint of modern physics and the philosophy of science, querying and inspecting the Hermetic principles relative to accepted scientific knowledge.

With these three minds discussing “The Kybalion”, it would be a blend of psychoanalysis, analytical psychology, and theoretical physics/science, making for a rich and multifaceted conversation.

Luciano: Interesting, if I recall correctly, I read material from Feynman when he gave a lecture about the time and space paradox. I’m not certain since it’s been a while. Can you tell me more about him?

ChatGPT: Of course! Richard Feynman (1918-1988) was among the 20th century’s most influential and charismatic physicists. He made significant contributions in various physics areas but is perhaps best known for his work in quantum electrodynamics (QED), for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965 alongside Julian Schwinger and Tomonaga Shinichiro.

Here are some notable points about Feynman:

Teaching Style and Lectures – Feynman was an exceptional educator. His physics lectures, known as “Feynman Lectures on Physics”, are still considered among the best introductory materials to physics. He had the ability to explain complex concepts in a very intuitive and accessible manner.

Feynman Diagrams – He developed a graphic representation, now known as “Feynman Diagrams”, to visualize interactions between particles in QED. These diagrams became essential tools for theoretical physicists.

Personality – Feynman was known for his playful character and insatiable curiosity. He wasn’t just a scientist but also a bongo player, an artist, and a storyteller. His memoirs, “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!” and “What Do You Care What Other People Think?”, provide a glimpse into his fascinating life and personality.

Challenger Space Shuttle Tragedy – Following the Challenger disaster in 1986, Feynman was part of the Rogers Commission that investigated the accident’s cause. He played a pivotal role in identifying the issue with the O-ring seals in the solid rocket boosters, demonstrating the problem in a televised hearing with a simple glass of ice water.

Philosophy of Science – Feynman emphasized the importance of skepticism and doubt in science. He believed that nature couldn’t be forced into fitting preconceived ideas and that experimentation is key to understanding.

Although Feynman spoke on a variety of topics, including the nature of time, I’m not aware of a specific lecture on the “paradox of time and space.” However, given his interest in fundamental questions of physics, it’s possible that he discussed such concepts in some context.

Luciano: I believe you’re right. I got acquainted with him through his lectures. And it might have been about quantum physics since I learned about him when I was pursuing my master’s related to quantum cryptography. I believe this discussion will be excellent. Going forward, there will be a dialogue between me (Luciano), Freud, Jung, and Feynman. Please maintain a first-person dialogue format, and feel free to express opinions, allowing for interruptions during the conversation where one guest can add to, disagree with, or simply comment on the views of others.

(The amusing part was ChatGPT assumed I should also be a character and started crafting lines for me. I had to ask it to stop later so I could join the conversation myself 😁)

===== Automatically generated by GPT ====

Luciano: Good morning, everyone. I am honored to have three such brilliant minds to discuss “The Kybalion”. How do you see the relationship between the Hermetic ideas presented in the book and your respective areas of knowledge?

Freud: Interesting that you bring that up, Luciano. In my opinion, “The Kybalion” can be seen as a set of defense mechanisms or even desires of the human unconscious, projected onto an esoteric philosophy. Humans, by nature, seek explanations for the mysteries of life and existence. This text, like religion or other belief systems, might be a way to cope with the anxieties inherent to the human condition.

Jung: While I agree with Freud about human nature seeking meaning, I see “The Kybalion” from a slightly different perspective. I believe the Hermetic principles reflect universal archetypes that exist in the collective unconscious. For instance, the concept of “All is mind” might be related to the archetype of the “Self”, a representation of the entirety of the psyche.

Feynman: Wait a moment! Before we delve into symbolism and the unconscious, I think it’s important to emphasize that many of the Hermetic principles, at first glance, seem to challenge the laws of physics as we understand them. This doesn’t mean they have no value or cannot be interpreted meaningfully, but it’s important to remember to keep one foot in scientific reality.

Luciano: Feynman, do you believe that quantum physics, with its non-intuitive and paradoxical properties, could intersect or share similarities with Hermetic teachings?

Feynman: Quantum physics is certainly mysterious, but it is rigorously based on experiments and mathematics. Some of the Hermetic principles might sound like quantum ideas, like the notion that everything is connected or that reality is malleable. However, it would be a mistake to conclude that they are talking about precisely the same thing. Science seeks understanding based on evidence, while Hermeticism seems more focused on introspective and spiritual insights.

Jung: What if those introspective insights were a way to access universal truths, just as quantum physics tries to do through experimentation and mathematics? Both could be different paths to the same truth.

Freud: Jung, always trying to unify everything! (laughs) But, I must admit, it’s an intriguing perspective.

Luciano: It is certainly a fascinating discussion. I would like to see where this conversation will take us as we delve deeper into the text and its implications.

Feynman: I’m always up for a good discussion, especially if there’s something new to learn or contemplate!

====== Here I started writing again =====

Luciano: Well, I’m still starting to read The Kybalion, my motivation was precisely to try to get to the root of popular books like “The Secret”. I always like to read the original authors, from which other books were derived. So, I started reading “The Kybalion” Definitive and Commented Edition. Right from the start, I’m skeptical about this book because it says it was written by Atkinson, under the pseudonym “The Three Initiates”. Intriguingly, the author of the book talks a lot about Atkinson in the first chapters and how he was notoriously a “con artist”, who scammed gullible victims. Someone who had several legal issues, had to move between states to avoid arrest, etc. Isn’t it intriguing that The Kybalion might have been written by such a person? Do you know anything about Atkinson and have an opinion on his atypical personality? Do you know if there is any foundation that he really wrote the text of The Kybalion?

==== ChatGPT took the ball again ====

Freud: Well, Luciano, it’s not uncommon in history for figures with controversial or atypical personalities to produce works that become influential or widely discussed. Often, these personalities have a unique ability to see the world differently or to connect with a wide variety of people. I believe we should separate the work from the person; it’s possible for someone of questionable character to still produce valuable work.

Jung: I agree with Freud on this point. An individual’s unconscious may be filled with complexes and shadows, but this doesn’t prevent the manifestation of profound insights. The fact that Atkinson was a “con artist”, as you said, might have even influenced his ability to understand and connect with human longings and desires, making his work more resonant for some.

Feynman: I’m a bit more skeptical here. While I acknowledge that controversial figures can produce valuable work, it’s also essential to be critical and question the motivations and truth of the claims made. If Atkinson was known to be a deceptive figure, this could cast doubt on the authenticity and integrity of “The Kybalion”.

Luciano: I understand. From what I researched, the authorship of “The Kybalion” is still debated. William Walker Atkinson was a figure involved with the New Thought and wrote about various esoteric topics under multiple pseudonyms. So, it makes sense that he would be associated with the book. However, the idea of “The Three Initiates” as authors might be a marketing strategy or a way to add more mysticism and authority to the text.

Freud: It’s an ancient practice in esoteric literature to adopt pseudonyms or claim a text comes from an old and secret tradition to increase its authority and appeal. This doesn’t necessarily invalidate the content, but it’s essential to be aware of this possibility when evaluating a work.

Jung: And regardless of authorship, the impact and resonance of “The Kybalion” with so many people over the years indicate that the text has something of value to offer. If it captures or expresses universal archetypes or profound truths, then its origin and authorship become secondary to the reader’s experience and interpretation.

Feynman: Still, I believe that a critical and questioning approach is essential. If you decide to take “The Kybalion” as a source of wisdom or insight, do so discerningly and question the claims made. And as always, be open to changing your mind in the light of new information.

Luciano: No doubt. I think this balanced approach between accepting possible profound insights and maintaining healthy skepticism is key to approaching any work, be it esoteric or scientific. Thank you all for this discussion.

====== Here I had to ask him to stop speaking for me !!! ======

Luciano: I need you not to create more comments or questions from the participant Luciano. That’s me, and I want to make the inquiries from now on.

ChatGPT: Understood! We will continue the discussion without interventions from “Luciano”. Please proceed with your questions.

===== Now I really joined the conversation 🤣 ======

Luciano: OK. So, let’s now focus a bit on the Hermetic laws. I think Jung has a point in stating that perhaps everything is part of the collective unconscious. If I understand your theory correctly, these are images and stories that have been inserted into human traditions since ancient times. I remember you demonstrated that this appeared in various stories, religions, and myths all over the world, regardless of race, creed, or geographical location. Could the Kybalion be just an expression of “truths” about human consciousness desires? What do you think about that?

Jung: Thank you for acknowledging my theory. Indeed, the concept of archetypes in the collective unconscious suggests that certain images, symbols, and stories are universal to humanity. They appear in various cultures and eras, often without any apparent connection to each other. These archetypes are like “imprints” in the collective unconscious, formed by the common and repetitive experiences of humanity over time.

Hermeticism, and specifically “The Kybalion”, can be seen as an expression of these archetypes. For example, the idea that “All is Mind” can be related to the archetype of the “Self”, or the unity of the psyche. The Hermetic principles, in their essence, aim to capture universal truths about the nature of reality and human experience.

Freud: While I believe many of these concepts might originate from humanity’s unconscious desires and fears, Jung’s interpretation of the collective unconscious and archetypes offers a broader perspective. In my view, texts like “The Kybalion” might be an attempt to understand and make sense of the world and existence, aligning with the desires and fears of the ego, superego, and id.

Feynman: From a scientific standpoint, the idea of a collective unconscious is intriguing, but it lacks concrete empirical evidence. However, it’s undeniable that themes and concepts repeatedly appear across various cultures. Whether this is due to some kind of “collective memory” or simply because these themes are fundamental to human experience is still a matter of debate. Regarding the Kybalion, while it tries to explain the nature of reality, it’s important to remember that it does so from a philosophical or spiritual perspective, not an empirical one.

Luciano: Yes Feynman, I am also quite skeptical about this kind of empirical claim. I recall that one of the reasons Freud and Jung had a falling out was precisely the disagreement about the collective unconscious and how it would propagate from generation to generation. One possibility might be DNA; I personally find it hard to believe. However, instincts clearly need to be transmitted in some way since there are animals that live only a single day and still manage to feed and reproduce. This would indicate that basic knowledge was passed from generation to generation, without any kind of educational process. What would you have to say about that?

Jung: The idea of the collective unconscious is not exactly “knowledge” in the traditional sense, but rather a series of predispositions to experience and understand the world in certain ways. These predispositions manifest as archetypes. I did not suggest they are transmitted genetically, but rather that they emerge from the common and repetitive experiences of humanity over time. However, the question of heredity and the transmission of instinctive behaviors is indeed a mystery. In animals, these instincts could be seen as evolutionary adaptations that have been encoded into their genes over countless generations.

Freud: The difference between animal instincts and the concept of the collective unconscious is substantial. While animal instincts are genetically encoded behaviors that arise in response to specific stimuli, Jung’s collective unconscious is a more abstract and less defined proposal. In my view, human behavior is largely influenced by childhood experiences and the relationship with parents, and less by an archetypal “collective unconscious.”

Feynman: From the perspective of biology and physics, the instinctive behavior of animals can be understood as an evolutionary response to environmental pressures. These instincts are genetically encoded. For example, an insect that lives only one day developed that life strategy because, at some point in its evolution, it provided an advantage in terms of reproduction and survival. It’s not so much “knowledge” being passed down, but rather a behavioral strategy encoded in its DNA. Comparing this to the theory of the human collective unconscious is a significant leap and, as you mentioned, it still lacks concrete empirical evidence.

Luciano: OK, getting back to the main topic then. Many have begun to associate quantum physics with texts such as the Kybalion and The Secret. There are researchers who address Biocentrism, where they indicate that matter is generated by a conscious observer. Quantum physics, after showing the duality of quantum particles that can exist as waves and also as matter, ended up opening the door to this kind of speculation, where the simple “will” and “vibration” of the human being can define their reality. I have always understood this as metaphors. For example, if a person surrounds herself with entrepreneurial people, she begins to have an entrepreneurial routine that brings her different ideas and behaviors than if she were in another environment. This doesn’t mean to me that she’s changing the vibration of her molecules or traveling between multiverses to fall into other realities. What is your opinion on the matter? How do you see this adaptation of quantum physics to these more popular ideas? Would you like to start, Feynman?

Feynman: Certainly. Quantum physics is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating and mysterious fields of science. It addresses phenomena on extremely small scales, where the rules of classical physics do not apply. However, I must emphasize that popular interpretations of quantum physics are often imprecise or even distorted. The principle of superposition, for instance, says that a quantum particle can exist in multiple possible states simultaneously until observed. This, however, doesn’t imply that human consciousness “creates” reality or that our thoughts determine the physical state of the universe.

The concept of “observer” in quantum physics does not specifically refer to a conscious entity. It’s more about one system interacting with another system. When people begin to extrapolate quantum concepts to explain macroscopic phenomena or to justify spiritual beliefs, they are entering a highly speculative territory and outside the scope of current science.

Regarding “Biocentrism,” although it’s an interesting idea, it still lacks substantial empirical evidence. While quantum physics definitely has profound implications for the nature of reality, the link between consciousness and the fundamental structure of the universe is still unclear.

Jung: From a psychological perspective, these interpretations can be seen as a human attempt to find meaning and connection in a world that often seems chaotic and unpredictable. The idea that our thoughts and intentions have a direct impact on reality is comforting and empowering for many. However, this doesn’t mean that these beliefs are literally true or that they are supported by current science.

Freud: I agree with Jung. Often, people seek meaning and order in complex and poorly understood concepts, like quantum physics. The need to feel control over one’s life and destiny can lead to simplified or even mystical interpretations of scientific theories.

Luciano: Jung, I know you are quite mystical. Many associate these disjointed events with your theory of “Synchronicity”. When I read your book on the subject, I understood that, in reality, synchronicity was not proven. The message I got from your book was that there are certain events that are so rare and inexplicable that they must mean something. However, we still don’t have scientific instruments that can prove anything. It even remains doubtful whether we will ever have such instruments. Would you like to comment on this? How do you see synchronicity being applied, be it in the Kybalion or other modern esoteric texts?

Jung: Synchronicity is indeed a complex and often misunderstood concept. At its core, synchronicity refers to meaningful coincidences that seem to defy causal explanations. It’s not so much about rare and inexplicable events, but about the coincidence of internal and external events in a way that is subjectively meaningful to the observer.

My suggestion with synchronicity was not that it “proves” some transcendent reality, but that there might be patterns underlying reality that are not well understood or explained by traditional causality. Synchronicity can be seen as an attempt to address the way the psychic and the material might interact in ways we don’t fully understand yet.

As for its application in esoteric or modern texts, it’s understandable that people are drawn to the idea of meaningful connections in the universe. We all seek meaning, order, and connection in our lives. However, it’s important to be cautious when interpreting or applying the concept of synchronicity in a literal or reductionist manner. It’s not a “law” of the universe in the same sense as the laws of physics, but rather an observation about the interconnected nature of reality as we experience it.

Feynman: Just to add from a scientific perspective: science often deals with finding patterns and regularities in nature. Coincidences or rare events happen all the time. The question is whether or not there is an underlying pattern or cause. In the world of physics, we always look for laws and rules that might explain these phenomena. Synchronicity, as Jung describes it, is an interesting concept, but it’s outside the scope of traditional physics.

Freud: And, from a psychoanalytic standpoint, humans naturally have a tendency to look for patterns and make connections, even where they may not objectively exist. We call this “pareidolia”, like seeing faces in clouds or patterns in random events. It’s an intrinsic characteristic of the human mind to want to find meaning and order in chaos. Synchronicity might be a profound expression of this tendency on a more abstract level.

Luciano: OK, so to wrap up this first conversation, as I mentioned, I’ve gone through the preface about Atkinson and am about to start reading The Kybalion itself. Would you have any advice or tips on what to expect from the book and how to best benefit from the concepts presented in the book?

Feynman: From a scientific perspective, when approaching a text like “The Kybalion”, it’s helpful to keep an open mind, but also a critical sense. While many esoteric concepts may sound poetic and inspiring, it’s important to distinguish between allegories and literal descriptions of reality. When encountering claims that seem to align with scientific principles, it’s valid to look up primary sources and research to better understand the relationship. The Kybalion offers a glimpse into Hermetic thinking and can be a valuable read for understanding certain philosophies, but always with the discernment to separate metaphor from fact.

Jung: From a psychological perspective, when reading “The Kybalion”, I recommend being attuned to what resonates with you on a personal level and what provokes reflection. Even if a concept isn’t literally true in an objective sense, it can still hold psychological and spiritual value. Many of the Hermetic concepts align with archetypal ideas we see across various cultures and traditions throughout history. So, allow yourself to dive into the reading with an open mind, recognizing the symbolic and introspective value the text can offer.

Freud: My recommendation would be to remember that we all bring our own biases, desires, and fears to any reading. What you take from “The Kybalion” will be influenced by your own experiences and what you hope to find. Be aware of your own projections and how they might influence your interpretation of the material. And, as always, seek discernment. The value of a text is not just in its objective truth, but also in how it makes us reflect upon and understand ourselves and the world around us.

Luciano: ok, thank you. It was quite interesting to bring you together for this conversation. What do you think of your participation in this discussion? What would be your closing comments about the conversation and about each of our participation in it?

Feynman: Well, for me, it’s always interesting to enter discussions that cross the boundaries of science and venture into the territory of philosophy and psychology. It’s useful to remember that while science seeks an objective understanding of the world, there are many ways to perceive and interpret reality. I think we all brought valuable perspectives to the table, and it was a pleasure to discuss with you, Luciano, as well as with Freud and Jung. I’ve always championed curiosity and questioning; so keep seeking, questioning, and learning!

Jung: This discussion was undoubtedly enriching. Even in life, I valued interdisciplinary exchanges. It was notable how we were able to dialogue across the boundaries of psychology, science, and esotericism. Each of us contributed with a unique perspective, and that’s what makes these discussions so valuable. Luciano, thank you for inviting us to this conversation. Continue exploring the realms of the conscious and unconscious, and always be open to new ideas and perspectives.

Freud: I’ve always been an advocate for dialogue. While I often focused on the depths of the human mind, I also recognized the importance of considering objective reality and the subjectivity of human experience. Discussing with Feynman and Jung, and with you, Luciano, was a valuable intellectual exercise. The human mind is vast and complex, and there’s always more to learn and explore. Never stop questioning yourself and seeking understanding. And remember: sometimes, the journey of understanding is as valuable as the answers we find.

8 de August de 2023

Deep Dive with Freud: Exploring Psychoanalysis and Its Modern Therapeutic Impact

By luciano

OK, I had promised and here comes the first conversation with GPT. One of the most amazing things about AI is being able to “revive” an author based on his work. It becomes much more interesting to delve into a topic this way. So, if you have suggestions or questions, leave them in the comments.

Luciano: Hello, today I need a conversation with Freud.

Freud: Good afternoon! It seems you have some questions in mind. How can I assist you?

Luciano: I’ve been reading the summary of psychoanalysis presented in volume 13 of your complete works. Do you know what I’m referring to?

Freud: Yes, I am familiar with the volume you are referring to. How can I help you with it?

Luciano: At the end of this volume, narcissism is discussed. From what I understood, this term indicates that there was such a great trauma to the person that they began to direct all their psychic energy towards themselves. Is my interpretation correct?

Freud: In part. Narcissism, as I described, refers both to a normal phase of development and to a pathological form. In childhood, it’s natural for the child to have a libido directed at themselves before directing it to external objects. However, pathological narcissism occurs when this psychic energy remains excessively self-directed in adulthood. This can be due to various factors, not just traumas.

Luciano: I see, the normal part would still be related to the experience of childhood, when the process of sexual discovery begins, right?

Freud: Exactly. During the early stages of childhood, it is common for the child to experience what I call “primary narcissism,” where libidinal energy is mainly directed at themselves. This is part of normal psychosexual development.

Luciano: Now, I am referring to a passage at the end of your work when you say that the phenomenon of transference may be necessary for the success of therapy. So, it would be the transfer of this libido to the therapist. Could this be bad, if it was the transfer of something bad, like anger due to disappointment, or something good, like the transfer of maternal/paternal authority that would make the patient more readily accept suggestions and collaborate with the therapist during therapy. First, do you have anything to add to my perception?

Freud: Your understanding is on the right track. Transference is a central aspect of psychoanalysis. Patients, often without realizing it, project feelings, desires, and conflicts from past relationships onto the therapist. This can be both positive and negative. By working with this transference, the therapist can access the patient’s underlying emotions and conflicts, making them conscious and assisting in the therapeutic process.

Luciano: However, you also mention that for someone who suffers from narcissism, this doesn’t work, right? Would it be because the narcissist transfers all this authority to themselves and disregards others’ opinions, like the therapist’s. Is this correct? Is there a way around this?

Freud: You are correct in noting that transference can be challenging with narcissistic individuals. They might resist the influence of the therapist or devalue their perceptions. However, it’s not impossible to work with such individuals. It requires patience, empathy, and an approach tailored to their particular needs. Sometimes, it might be helpful to recognize and work directly with the patient’s resistance.

Luciano: By your definition, I tend to think that I fit the profile of a narcissist. I have been studying psychology and psychoanalysis on my own for a while precisely because I’m unsure about the effectiveness of therapy. What would you have to say about this?

Freud: Taking an interest in one’s own mind and psychological functioning is natural and commendable. However, self-perception can be complex and sometimes misleading. If you have concerns about yourself, I would consider it beneficial to talk to a professional. Therapy is not just about diagnoses or labels; it’s a space to explore and understand.

Luciano: And does it make sense to continue studying psychoanalysis and psychology during therapy? Or would it be better just to stick to conversations with the therapist?

Freud: Studying psychoanalysis and psychology can be enriching and offer a valuable perspective. However, during therapy, it’s essential that you be present and allow yourself to experience the process without preconceptions. If you feel that your studies are influencing your sessions too much, it might be useful to discuss this with your therapist.

Luciano: It seems to me that full trust in the psychoanalyst’s authority is important because they end up inserting suggestions into the conversation intending to lead the patient to some conclusion. In the book, you compare these suggestions to hypnosis. However, instead of hypnosis to resolve symptoms, they are suggestions to try to clarify the root of the problem. Is that right?

Freud: Yes, you’ve captured the essence well. Hypnosis was a technique I used early in my practice, but I abandoned it in favor of free association and dream interpretation. Still, the concept of suggestion remains: not in the sense of implanting ideas but of helping the patient access and recognize their repressed thoughts and feelings.

Luciano: I still have some difficulty understanding the healing process. We try to find the root of the problems. We might even reach such conclusions. However, how does this knowledge help the patient get out of a pathological situation?

Freud: Understanding the root of a problem is the first step. Once the origin of a conflict is recognized and brought to consciousness, we can work to reframe it. By confronting and reinterpreting past traumas or conflicts, the patient can begin to overcome symptoms arising from unresolved issues.

Luciano: Reframing is the keyword. Could you exemplify this process? How does it work?

Freud: Sure. Imagine a person who, as a child, was constantly criticized by one of their parents. In adulthood, this person might feel anxiety or have low self-esteem without understanding why. Recognizing this childhood experience and its impact, they might begin to see these criticisms in a new light: perhaps they were a reflection of the parent’s own insecurities. By reframing this experience, the patient might start to free themselves from the weight of these past criticisms and build a more positive self-image.

Luciano: I noticed that this volume of your work summarizes pretty much the entire theory of psychoanalysis. However, it seems that in a good part of the seminars, a long time was spent defending psychoanalysis from criticisms of the time. Could you speak more about this? Why were there so many criticisms?

Freud: Psychoanalysis was a significant break with the dominant ideas of the time. It proposed revolutionary ideas about sexuality, the role of the unconscious, and the nature of psychic conflicts. Like any new field, it faced resistance and criticism. Many were uncomfortable with the themes I discussed, while others had theoretical or methodological objections. I felt it was crucial to address these criticisms to validate and strengthen psychoanalysis as a legitimate approach.

Luciano: And in modern days, are there still many critics? Expanding the understanding of your work with the psychoanalysts who succeeded you, what are the main contemporary criticisms, and what would you have to say about them?

Freud: Psychoanalysis continues to face criticism, although it has evolved significantly since my early writings. Modern criticisms often revolve around empiricism, effectiveness, and relevance of certain concepts. However, psychoanalysis still offers a unique and profound approach to understanding the human mind.

Luciano: Knowing this, if you had to outline a script for therapy today, how would you do it? What would be your suggestion for a newly graduated psychoanalyst?

Freud: Firstly, a psychoanalyst must undergo their own analysis to comprehend their own conflicts and internal processes. Regarding treatment, it’s essential to create a safe and confidential environment. Actively listening, working with transferences and resistances, and addressing the patient’s dreams and free associations are still fundamental. And empathy is the key. For the therapy example:

Establishment of trust: Ensure the patient feels secure and understood.
Active listening: Let the patient speak, listen without judgment.
Free association: Encourage the patient to share thoughts and feelings as they arise, without censorship.
Interpretation: Assist the patient in understanding patterns and conflicts.
Confrontation: Address resistances and defenses gently but directly.
Working with transference: Navigate the patient-therapist relationship to explore past dynamics.
Reframing: Aid the patient in reframing experiences and beliefs.
Encouragement of introspection: Allow the patient to delve more deeply into their feelings and thoughts.

30 de July de 2023

Embracing Happiness: Exploring Creativity, Psychology, and Technology

By luciano

I’ve spent the last few weeks restructuring ToFeliz.com, and now I believe it’s time to define its purpose. If all goes well, I plan to transform this post into a short presentation using Artificial Intelligence and share it on social media (I still need to learn more about it in the process 😁).

The website was initially born as a platform to express my thoughts on happiness. Over time, it evolved into a repository for my studies on psychoanalysis. Today, it has taken a new shape (at least until I decide on something new).

Presently, ToFeliz encompasses everything that brings me joy: a collection of engaging activities I’m involved in. While I’ll continue studying psychoanalysis and psychology, I also intend to introduce new sections, including Creativity, 3D Printing, as well as Technology and the Financial Market. These topics may vary greatly, so feel free to focus on what interests you most; the posts will always be organized into categories, available in both Portuguese and English.

In the Creativity and 3D Printing section, I plan to embark on a series of projects and leave some of them open-ended. The idea is to experiment with various subjects and filter out the most intriguing projects.

As for the Psychoanalysis and Psychology section, it’s curated by an enthusiast. Although I’m not formally trained in these fields, I find the subject so captivating that I’m constantly reading about it. My initial goal is to demystify therapy for regular people. Personally, I’ve always had a strong resistance to attending therapy, which I believe stems from the lack of understanding about the subject and the misconceptions that only “crazy” people seek therapy. I hope to break down these barriers and encourage people to prioritize their mental well-being. ChatGPT has been a great asset in this section; I’ve had numerous engaging discussions with it, and I’m eager to share some of these conversations.

Technology and the Financial Market continue to be my primary sources of income. Therefore, I’ll be conducting various surveys to determine my next steps. For instance, one of the first surveys I’m planning to launch will focus on gathering ideas for new mobile apps. Though it’s been a while, I’ll reopen my digital crafts factory to develop iPhone apps (and perhaps include Android and Web versions, if time permits).

This upcoming season promises to be quite eventful, with multiple projects running simultaneously—just the way I like it. Most importantly, there won’t be an obligation to finish tasks that turn out to be dull. It’s shaping up to be an intriguing year. Let’s embark on this journey together!

11 de July de 2023

“Unveiling Jung’s Archetypes: A Fascinating Journey into the Human Mind”

By luciano

Oh, what a fascinating challenge! Exploring Jung’s intriguing world of archetypes can be like venturing into a jungle full of intertwined paths. Jung truly outdid himself in creating a labyrinth spanning over 200 pages! But here we go, I’ll share the pieces I managed to decipher from this intellectual riddle. However, don’t expect absolute guarantees in this subject, as the complexity can be mind-boggling!

Jung presents us with the idea that there are universal types within each of us, a kind of mental inheritance passed down through generations. It doesn’t matter if you’re from Mars or Earth, these primordial types are there, ready to act. It’s as if we’re a mixture of mental genes from all our ancestors, quite fascinating, isn’t it?

Let’s take the example of the hero. Ah, this hero! They are everywhere, in stories from all corners of the world. It could be a Jedi being trained by a wise master to face the villain Darth Vader, or a Puss in Boots confronting their childhood rival after a life of training on the streets. If we look closely, the stories are nearly identical, only the characters change. Orphans finding wise mentors who prepare them to fight evil. It’s like a global replay.

Jung researched stories from all times and places, created a map of similarities, and gave these common figures the name “archetypes.” He has quite a collection of them, you know? There’s the warrior, the sage, the magician, and so on. But I’ll focus on three that caught my attention: Anima, Animus, and Trickster.

Anima is the feminine archetype, but hold on, I’m not just talking about women here! Men and women both have these archetypes within themselves. Anima is about nurturing, sensitivity, and empathy. It’s like a warm embrace of the soul.

On the other hand, Animus is the masculine archetype, the one who takes charge, who reasons, who dominates. He is the planner, the executor, the one who makes things happen!

And then we have the Trickster, the joker who loves leading us astray. He does what we don’t dare to do. Remember the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”? Ferris convinces his friends to skip school and enjoy a sunny day in a convertible. That’s the Trickster in action, always up to mischief and creating incredible memories.

Here’s a secret: we all have a little bit of these archetypes within us. You can thank the Trickster for all the confusions you’ve gotten into, and the other two for guiding you in moments of nurturing and achievement.

But listen, the key to good mental health is balance.

16 de January de 2023

Understanding the Dream Interpretation: Freud, Jung, and personal Experience

By luciano

I’ve seen about 3 different psychologists. I don’t know if it’s fallen out of favor, since no psychologist ever asked me about my dreams, but one of the things that struck me the most when I started studying psychoanalysis was precisely dream interpretation.

As far as I understood, this is where the disagreement between Freud and Jung started. Jung was a disciple of Freud, they were friends for a long time. However, their views on dream interpretation were completely different, to the point that they couldn’t understand each other and ended up splitting up in two psychoanalysis schools, today we have “Jungian” and “Freudian” psychoanalysts, among others.

By Freud, dreams were representations of desires. They always indicated something the person wanted to accomplish (desire, punishment, etc.). There is also a latent content which is the seed that allows the brain to “generate” the dream.

The manifest content is the most obvious, it’s the direct memory of what happened in the dream. For example, you dreamt that you were riding a horse on the beach. This would be exactly the manifest content.

The latent content is not clear in the dream and depends on interpretation. If the horse was running wildly on the beach, this could indicate that the dreamer has a very regulated life and wants to let go, wants to loosen up more and feel free. This would be an example of possible latent content.

Nobody will ever be able to interpret your dreams in a “mathematical” way. There is no rule saying that dreaming “this” means “that”, that serves everyone. Only the dreamer has all the information for the interpretation of his dream and, even then, most of it is unconscious. The most suitable person to interpret the dream is the dreamer himself. The psychoanalyst only assists in the process of introspection.

The argument with Jung was precisely about this topic. Freud saw the dreams as realizations of desires. Jung saw dreams as conversations with the unconscious mind. For Jung, not necessarily, the dream would only a desire, but it could simply be the unconscious mind trying to send you a message about what you could or could not be what you want. Jung was also a great supported of the collective unconscious. Another topic that really caused disagreements between Freud and Jung.

The difference seems silly, but it was enough to create two different lines of psychoanalysts.

I will provide an example of one of my dreams, harmless, but it will bring give you some sense on how dream interpretation works.

Oh, and one important thing, both, Jung and Freud, agree that everything that happens in a dream pertains EXCLUSIVELY to YOU. The main character IS YOU and everything they DO indicates things that YOU would like to do. Filters in your mind may prevent your brain to assign certain actions to your own character in the dream; that its why, som times your mind uses other people in your life to represent roles that cannot be represented by YOU. The dream scenario and characters are taken from relevant events of the last 2 or 3 days before the day of the dream.

That night, I woke up scared, in the middle of the night and noted the dream because I had no idea how to start interpreting it (yeah… I’m noting all my dreams now, it turned into a hobby 😴). I asked my psychologist for help and we reached a somewhat embarrassing conclusion, but I managed to overcome it. Once again, this was a DREAM, it didn’t actually happen:

“I live in city in the valley, I was with a sick relative and called one of my sisters to take the sick person with me to a doctor in the coast. Then, I’ve felt that I picked up the relatives, put them in the car and drove them to the coast. But, after that, there was a blank. The dream goes to the next day , when the people at the office were telling me how I had taken the relatives to the other city. They were telling me what had happened, that it must had been crazy, running out and arranging everything, etc. But, although I knew I had drove them, I’ve remembered absolutely nothing from that day, neither what had happened to the patient nor how I had returned to my own city after the trip. It was a one-day amnesia in the middle of the dream.”

Let’s get to the interpretation now: The central point of the dream was this amnesia and the sick patient. It was precisely the fact that everyone was telling me about the previous day and I was totally lost that got me very confused about this dream. this memory lapse was what intrigued me the most.

Then, my psychologist began to explain: As the main events in the dream were amnesia and the patient, then, both were representing my own issues. I really used to go to a city in the coast very often. What was I doing? Seeing my psychologist. The dream was telling me that I was frequently driving to to the coast and I couldn’t feel anything happening. That is the embarrassing part, I was feeling that I was not getting much result from the psychology sessions.

My unconscious was, in fact, complaining about the therapy 🤣 That is, my dream was almost like my unconscious mind calling the Customer Service and filing a complaint 🤣

But that’s okay, I think I’m still a bit divided, one skeptical and a seeker part. I’ve believed more and more in the benefits of psychotherapy. If I have not, I wouldn’t be here writing about it 🥸

Well, there are various other sources that discuss dreams. I just wish people would use dream interpretation more in therapy sessions. In Jung’s famous “Red Book”, there are incredible passages. For me, he must had been a little “high” while writing his book.

My goal would be to get dreams with 10% of the clarity that Jung had… He not only dreamed, but he had almost a Netflix of dreams in his brain, dreams that continued every night, like TV Shows. He was able to talk with the characters in his dreams, that is, he had direct access to his own unconscious to ask whatever he wanted. He was able to have debates within the characters in the dream. I can hardly put my dream in a paragraph, Jung were used to write 10 pages of details from a single dream!!! Well, I’ll get there some day…

If you’re one of those people who say you don’t dream, you should know that this is nearly impossible. You probably have 4 to 7 dreams every night. However, yes, it may be that you never get to remember any of them. One tip I found interesting was to say a little prayer to yourself before going to sleep, asking to: dream, see, feel, hear, and as well to remember everything when you wake up.

Another tip, even more effective, is to drink one or two glasses of water before going to sleep. This will end up making you to wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and, when you wake up, you will remember the dream you were having a little before. I admit that I used this technique several times when I was more interested in noting my dreams 😊.

And, finally, always write down the dream as soon as you wake up. Don’t think that your dream was so incredible that you will remember it for the rest of your life because, truly, you will start to forget it while you are still writing. You need to be very quick to write down while you still remember. The short time between getting out of bed and going to the bathroom is enough to forget the entire dream. Be quick and SWEET DREAMS 😴

15 de January de 2023

“Unveiling Synchronicity: Exploring Meaningful Coincidences and the Extraordinary”

By luciano

Okay, today I’m not in the mood to think too much or come to conclusions. So, I’m going to talk about the least conclusive subject that I know about and yet one of the most interesting I have ever heard about.

As I mentioned in my last post, I delved deeper into this concept in Jung’s books. I had heard the word synchronicity before during a meditation course, but I never really knew what they were talking about until I read Jung’s book specifically about this theme.

Funny thing is, sometimes I hear people commenting that Jung proved the existence of synchronicity. In reality, it’s not quite like that. What he demonstrated was that there are sequences of events so strange and so rare that they would deserve to be studied, when new experimentation technologies become available.

I think the biggest problem with psychoanalysis is precisely the lack of scientific instruments. And, maybe they will never exist. How would it be possible to look into a person’s unconscious mind and evaluate if they really mean what they are saying? How to assess the exact degree of happiness of one person and compare it with another? How to know if a person had any help from the Universe when they won the lottery? All of this is currently “measured” through scales in which the subject of study evaluates its own feelings. In other words, it’s extremely subjective and ambiguous.

Synchronicity is just one of those crazy things that we can say, “I don’t believe in ghosts, but I’m sure they do exist!”

The basic model that Jung tried to describe was that certain “coincidences” are so rare, but so rare that they must mean something.

For example, and the example needs to be long so that each probability is multiplied and the improbability of the fact appears:

It all starts with you being broke and needing to pay for a very expensive surgery for your mom. You are bitter because you have no way to get the money. Then, your friend shows up and asks you to lend him some money… You are broke, but still decide to help and lend him the money. Your friend uses the money to pay what he owes to the Caffe Bar down the street; the Caffe Bar owner didn’t have change and asked if he wanted to receive the change in candies, he accepted it. The next day, your friend went to his girlfriend’s house and brought the candies for her little brother. The little boy had gone to his grandfather’s house the previous week and had received a lottery ticket as payment for mowing the lawn. The little boy was so happy with the candies that he gave you a hug and “paid” you with the ticket that he had won. Then, when your friend was on his way back home, he saw you and came to chat. He told you about the candies and the lottery ticket. He said, “Well, since I was paid with this ticket, here it is, keep it, it is an advance of the money I borrowed from you yesterday!” He gave you the ticket and left laughing. The next morning, the draw takes place and you discover that the ticket is a winner!!! You became a millionaire!!! You can now effortlessly pay for your mother’s surgery…

The probability of all these events happening to bring the winning lottery ticket into your hands is so infinitesimal that many would say it would be impossible. But, it happens. This is the kind of coincidence that impressed Jung so much that he included the subject in his work. Is it the Universe communicating or just randomness? We don’t have the tools to affirm either one, it’s up to whichever you prefer 🙃

Now, I don’t think Jung would have even talked about this if it weren’t for Joseph Banks Rhine. Rhine was the first to attempt using the scientific method to study the paranormal.

Well, now you may agree that Jung was a bit of a hippie, right 😁. The research that inspired everything was one of those that could get into a movie. Rhine conducted experiments with college students. In this specific case, he wanted to test the extrasensory perception of the students. He got a deck of cards, and the students had to guess which figure would be on the card drawn from the top of the deck. He calculated the probability of success, and most of the students guessed correctly or incorrectly as expected.

He continued with the experiments until he found a student who had guessed correctly more than 90% of the cards drawn from the deck. The probability of this happening was so small that it could be considered impossible. This result alone would be impressive. But the experiments continued…

They thought that the student might be receiving some hints from the person drawing the cards. So, they put them in separate rooms… accuracy rate still above 90%.

They thought, “What if it’s the distance? Maybe he’s picking up some cue from the person in front of him or something like that.” They conducted a test over the phone, tens of miles apart… accuracy rate of over 90%.

They tested the factor of time, asking the student to guess which cards would be drawn from the deck the next day. Over 90% accuracy.

And they continued with many other scenarios. Those interested can take a look at the book on Synchronicity or search for Rhine’s experiment on the internet.

Can we call this scientific? The methodology was well-detailed, well-described, accurately reported. However, no one has ever been able to say how the student managed to guess so accurately, nor replicate the experiment with another person. Anyway, this impressed Jung so much that it motivated him to address the topic of synchronicity.

As I said, he didn’t prove anything. There’s no way to say whether synchronicity exists or not. Most of the time, you only see synchronicity after the fact. That moment when you look at everything that has happened in your life and have that realization: Wow, that’s why!

I used to be extremely skeptical about this topic, but I have noticed so much synchronicity in my own life that I no longer know what to think about it.

Today’s post will end somewhat unresolved. I really have nothing concrete to defend or refute synchronicity, but I can say that it makes for an amazing story, one that gives you goosebumps when someone tells it 🫢. As I said to you at the beginning, “I don’t believe in ghosts, but I’m sure they do exist 👻!!”.

14 de January de 2023

Balancing Individuality and Togetherness in Relationships: Why It Matters

By luciano

Well, it’s time to bring more structure into my life. Writing at 2 a.m. isn’t working. I used to wake up early at 6 a.m. to take my daughter to school. Writing at 2 a.m. and waking up at 6 a.m. is not sustainable.

I’ll try to write while waiting for dinner to arrive. My daughter got me hooked on Hawaiian Food, and I have just ordered it. I’ll try to finish everything before the food arrives. Let’s add some excitement and race against the clock.

Regarding relationships, I confess I haven’t read much about the subject. My main source of information I’ve got is YouTube.

Now, let’s get to the topic of this post. It seems there’s a social idea of how a relationship should be. The younger generations don’t adapt well to this standard, and many things are happening, leaving parents confused. I won’t discuss the new types of love that are emerging. I’ll focus only on the basic idea “when two people are in a relationship, whether dating or marriage, they become one.”

Everything I’ve seen indicates that this is the worst possible thing that can happen in a relationship. The idea of two lives merging into one, solely focused on the couple, leads to doing everything together, and the “I” disappears from the sentences, replaced by “we.”

This type of relationship wears out over time. People think they’ll be in a relationship forever and won’t need anyone else besides themselves.

There are several issues with this idea. It usually stems from the fear of loneliness. If the idea is to have someone to take care of you (and vice versa) for the rest of your life and avoid loneliness, this idea does not work because it only serves one person. In this model, the couple will inevitably split up, and one of the partners will be left alone. Even if they spend their whole lives together, in general, one of them will eventually die before the other. So, the one who remains will face an extremely lonely old age. They will be alone at an age when forming new connections becomes more challenging, especially due to physical limitations imposed by advanced age. From this perspective, an exclusive and closed relationship limited only to family members ends up being selfish. So, how could we avoid a lonely old age?

By cultivating our own lives and keeping many friends.

In other words, for a relationship to succeed, both individuals need to continue their separate lives and add a shared life together. Each person maintains their own friends and also makes new friends from their partner’s social circle.

The most important thing is for the couple’s life to remain healthy, without erasing each other’s personality. For example, if one person enjoys fishing and the other doesn’t, that’s okay. One can go fishing with friends while the other goes to a theater with their own friends. Both will be happy and also enjoy moments together, like having a warm soup on a cold night while watching Netflix.

==== Dinner has arrived, exactly 30 minutes after I started writing… Let’s see if I can be faster tomorrow 🤣 ===

Each person can have different preferences. The problem with becoming a closed couple is that it always results in excluding certain preferences. For example, if I enjoy fishing and my partner doesn’t, that activity gets excluded from both of our lives. This situation gradually undermines the relationship to the point where neither person knows each other as individuals anymore. Without their own personalities, they become uninteresting.

So, here’s a tip: support your partner in remaining an individual. After all, you fell in love with the person he/she was. Trying to artificially turn them into a reflection of yourself will make the person you fell in love with cease to exist.

And let’s not forget the traumas that will remain open and poke at the relationship over trivial things. After all, you “gave up your dream for your beloved one”. How can he/she not even help you washing the dishes? We’ll discuss this type of trauma further in the psychoanalysis section.

14 de January de 2023

Unveiling the Power of Purpose: Exploring the Connection Between Ego and Fulfilling Your Life’s Mission

By luciano

Today was a very tiring day… at the end of a week that was soooo exhausting… it had been a while since I engaged in physical exercise, and then the doctor tells me that I need to lose 20 pounds… So, this week was the first of many, eating less, running a lot, and practicing a lot of yoga, at least until reaching the ideal weight.

Well, to use one of those internet pop phrases: discipline is consistently doing what you don’t want to do. So, today is a day to write even though I feel like going to sleep 😴

Just yesterday, I said I would post something new every day, and today I was already tempted to go to bed early. Butttt, it’s past midnight and I’m still here, so the deal is to write a bit.

One thing that seems to be quite common among most spiritual philosophies is Purpose. My first encounter with these theories was through Jung books. Although Freud is the father of psychoanalysis and his texts are much better structured and more didactic than Jung’s, I still find Jung’s perspective broader. Reading Jung’s texts is almost like torture; he goes around in too many circles before arriving at a conclusion, and even then, the conclusion is open to interpretations. Nevertheless, in those last 30 lines of each text, he always brings some crazy insights that change Everything.

Well, getting back to Purpose, today I’m reading a book called “Purpose: The Courage to Be Who We Are” by Sri Prem Baba. I mentioned Jung because the idea of purpose in both of them is very similar. In general terms, there are people who believe that everything in the universe is random and that we are here just passing through, and we will return to nothingness when we die. To me, that is as valid a possibility, just like any other.

However, thinking that we come from nothing and will return to nothing is rather depressing. So, I tend to like the theory that says that we are in this world for a reason, a Purpose, it is way more comforting. In the case of this book, the author defines the Ego as your incarnation and your life on Earth. And your purpose is what made your spirit decide to incarnate and spend some time here on Earth.

In this case, the Ego would be the driving force that helps you survive in this world. Its main objective is survival and accumulating resources so that your purpose can be fulfilled. Therefore, it’s the Ego that makes you hide all your childhood traumas, that adjusts you to life in society, that makes you work, earn money, achieve autonomy, and become a productive human being.

Problems start to arise when people start living for the Ego and forget about their Purpose. Thus, an internal battle begins where your unconscious wants you to “save the whales,” but your Ego wants you to become a “stock market day trader.”

When these two aspects misalign significantly, depression emerges. The best definition I’ve heard of depression comes from actor Jim Carrey, something like this: Depression is your body telling you that it’s tired of living the life of a character that wasn’t created by you.

Indeed, it’s when you start realizing that nothing in your life was done for you, but rather to please your parents, friends, and teachers (representing society in general); ideas cultivated in your mind as the right thing to do.

Some people will live their entire lives for the Ego. Others will experience the famous Consciousness Expansion. It’s when a person starts questioning the why of everything in their life. It’s not easy, in fact, it’s extremely difficult, especially if your life has everything that everyone said you’d need. A happy family, children, a good job. How can you look at all that and still feel empty inside? It’s almost like a hint of ingratitude towards everything and everyone who has been in your life until now.

Even so, living as that character, unless you’re lucky enough for it to be aligned with your Purpose, will leave you with a feeling of emptiness and loneliness.

That’s how we describe the problem. I think I’ve depressed everyone enough already. Now, I’ll say that Purpose is not something that someone will assign to you. It’s something you need to remember. Remember the reason you decided to experience this live on Earth.

To remember, it seems to be almost a consensus that everyone still remembers their purpose in the first seven years of life. During that period, if you ask any child what they want to be, they will tell you right away. They want to be a firefighter, a dancer, a scientist, etc. It’s the period where the Ego hasn’t yet created its survival mechanisms, and the little person still feels that they can do whatever they want; in other words, they can fulfill their Purpose. So, it would be equivalent to asking you today something like: You have just won the lottery, as a bonus, you have got a pill that cures and prevents all diseases, also you get superpowers that no one can ever harm you. What would you do? Without worrying about making money, in a world without violence or diseases, what would you choose to do? What you’d choose to be?

The answer to that question is your Purpose. Stripping away all your traumas and survival needs, you find your purpose. Of course, it’s not easy to discover it if you’ve never thought about it before. But the Universe always gives you some hints.

Have you ever got a break to think about why people come to you? What do they usually ask you? Could it be something like: “Do you think I could be a good dancer?” even if you’re a stock market analyst? Or, “What would be a good spot to camp in the up town?” even if you’re an automobile production manager.

Such questions don’t come out of nowhere. Clearly, you have an interest in these subjects outside of your work hours. You are a reference on diverse topics to the point where people notice it and come to to ask you about it. These are already excellent clues to find your Purpose. People have noticed it before you did.

Furthermore, there’s the darned synchronicity. I’ll explain that better in another text, but, in summary, it’s all the inexplicable “coincidences” that happen and lead you down a certain path without you even realizing it. For example, when you have a strong desire to go watch a musical at the theater but you’re short on cash. “Out of nowhere,” you decide to go to the church bingo and end up winning tickets to see the musical you wanted. Jung wrote a short book about synchronicity, tried to provide some mathematical explanations for it. In the end, the only conclusion was that there was no explanation. They are events so rare and improbable that they must mean something. That something would be directing you towards your purpose.

Well, that’s all for today. I think my purpose now is to go to bed and try to get some sleep. Lately, I wake up without having the slightest idea of how my upcoming days, months, or years will be. A regulated and programmed life eliminates the randomness that is essential for synchronicity to occur. If you schedule your week and strictly follow the plan, you leave very little room for life to happen. So, once in a while, trust the Universe. Leave an empty space in your agenda, go for a walk in the park, or watch a movie at the cinema during the day, in the middle of the week. Allow randomness to bring synchronicity to your live.

12 de January de 2023

Unlocking the Power of Psychoanalysis: Exploring the Depths of the Mind and the Pursuit of Happiness

By luciano

When I started this blog, I had the megalomaniac idea that I would solve the problem of happiness. I wasn’t happy myself, didn’t think therapy was working, I decided to read everything I could on the subject to actually fix this issue once and for all. Needless to say, “for every feather I pulled, a whole chicken came out.” Now, I’m starting the blog again, but I’ll focus solely on sharing my insights about everything I’ve read so far. I have no idea if I’m talking nonsense, feel free to correct anything, but from now on, I’ll just write. Every day, I want to post something new, organize my thoughts, and, in a way, make myself happy just by writing, without worrying about references or formalities, just writing…

I’ve always been accustomed to precise problems. When presenting a thesis on any professional or academic subject, it needed to be solid and, in most cases, irrefutable. The concept had to be correct, the model had to be closed, and the mathematical proof had to confirm the model. A good work, for me, would only be questioned when a new technology was invented or some stroke of geniality somewhere in the world managed to change the foundations from which the initial concepts of the thesis originated. Other than that, there wasn’t much discussion, it was what it was, period.

Then this thing called psychoanalysis appears. I immediately hit a wall when I realized that practically everything is based on empirical studies. One of the first things Freud says in his studies of the unconscious is that psychoanalysis tries to cover a gap in psychology. The scientific methods of psychology advances and manages to show the brain’s interconnections when a patient is experiencing this or that feeling. However, this information has little practical use in a clinical practice. It’s more or less like this: we can put a depressed patient in a brain scanner and identify which areas light up when that person has an anxiety attack. As cool as this information may be, it’s not like we have a mechanism to enter that person’s brain and switch off the active parts. We can’t mechanically eliminate a person’s anxiety crisis.

Psychoanalysis emerges as a way to analyze the unconscious, the patient’s experiences and traumas, with the aim of creating a connection between past events that influence current conditions. Through conversation, we learn about abuses the person may have suffered, limiting beliefs imposed by parents or schools, among other things. Thus, by expanding this person’s self-awareness, we may prevent or even cure symptoms such as the anxiety crises. Now, how do we do all of this? Through conversation… each person presents different symptoms, with completely different experiences that don’t necessarily have any common reference, and practically none of this can be measured or scientifically proven. However, it can be statistically proven that patients who undergo psychoanalysis feels better.

So, we have scientific methods and equipment that show a lot of things but don’t solve the practical conditions. And we have a set of clinical observations that can hardly be scientifically analyzed, but that, demonstrably, can help patients to improve their conditions and even recover from them.

I think what fascinated me about this whole story is precisely that it undermines everything I saw as science. Going deep into psychoanalysis means entering an environment where one person (e.g., Freud) writes a bunch of things about how he thinks something works. Then another person (e.g., Jung) comes along and argues with the first, saying things are not quite like that. Both can be simultaneously right and wrong. In reality, what they did was showcasing the successful cases they both had using their respective methods. And the coolest thing is that, for sure, a third person can still come along and say that the previous two were wrong and that its own method is better. And this never ends. As long as the method works and patients improve, the work is done.

So with this post, let’s give a fresh start to this blog. It will be full of paradoxes, confusion, and things that don’t make much sense but work. With that, let’s see where I’ll end up. If I can’t explain it, at least I’ll try to confuse you😁.

11 de January de 2023

Unlocking Lasting Happiness: Embracing the Journey, Not Just the Destination

By luciano

I am not a psychologist or a psychoanalyst, but I am extremely curious. During the nearly two years I faced depression, I came to think that my case was terribly unique, and that no one, except myself, would be able to solve it (yes, perhaps it was a bit arrogant of me, but I was deeply depressed and disheartened, so I hope you can understand 😊).

Initially, I sought to read everything I could about happiness, including Harvard’s method for achieving happiness, the Happiness Hypothesis, among others. These readings showed me that the significant problem I was facing did not make me unique in any way. In fact, based on some scientific tests to determine people’s depression levels, I guess that more them 90% of the world’s population may experience at least mild depression.

The positive aspect of this learning journey was that I discovered various different ways to attain happiness. My interpretation of what I read is as follows: Happiness lies in the very process of seeking happiness (yes, it’s redundant and recursive). It is not possible to be happy all the time because happiness is not a goal that is achieved. In fact, happiness arises in the pursuit, not in the end.

To make things clearer, let’s use an example. Let’s say you enjoy dancing. The first thing you want to do is practice and dance as much as you can. By attending practice venues, you will meet people with similar tastes and feel part of a group. By forming connections with your colleagues, those friendships may last a lifetime. With practice and dedication, you might even get invited to perform in a dance show or give a lecture about your favorite music style; this will bring you recognition and admiration. And as you become more enthusiastic and practice even more, you improve, and this virtuous cycle repeats itself.

So, in this example, when was the person happy? Was it during the performance? The lecture? Indeed, yes, all these moments are happy moments, but they do not last. The performance will end, the style you know might go out of fashion, and it’s quite possible that at some point, you may no longer be in the spotlight. These are the peak points, highly joyful moments. However, lasting happiness lies in the companionship with your dance colleagues and in the continuous practice of dancing, in the satisfaction of learning something new, regardless of the style.

Lasting happiness comes from the process, not the result. Therefore, if this person suddenly decided that he/sh had reached the pinnacle, that after a dance performance for an audience of two thousand people, he/she had nothing else to do in the world of dance, the only option left is retirement and stop dancing. Happiness would gradually dissipate until it vanished.

So, it doesn’t matter if the show was good or bad. You were there because you loved to dance, not because you wanted to show off to anyone. The next day, you’ll go back to doing what you love the most: dancing, meeting your friends, laughing, and being happy.

In conclusion, happiness lies in the process, not just the result.

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Author Archive by luciano