"Something else, too, came to me from my illness. I might formulate it as an affirmation of things as they are: an unconscious "yes" to that which is, without subjective protests - acceptance of the conditions of existence as I see them and understand them, acceptance of my own nature, as I happen to be.
At the beginning of the illness I had the feeling that there was something wrong with my attitude, and that I was to some extend responsible for the mishap. But when one follows the path of individuation, when one lives one's own life, one must take mistakes into the bargain; life would not be complete without them.
There is no guarantee - not for a single moment - that we will not fall into error or stumble into deadly peril. We may think that there is a sure road. But that would be the road of death. Then nothing happens any longer - at any rate, not the right things. Anyone who takes the sure road is as good as dead.
It was only after the illness that I understood how important it is to affirm one's destiny. In this way we forge an ego that does not break down when incomprehensible things happen; an ego that endures, that endures the truth, and that is capable of coping with the world and with fate. Then, to experience defeat is also to experience victory.
Nothing is disturbed - neither inwardly or outwardly, for one's own continuity has withstood the current of life and of time. But that can come to pass only when one does not meddle inquisitively with the workings of fate.
I have also realised that one must accept the thoughts that go on within oneself of their own accord as part of one's reality. The categories of true and false are, of course, always present; but because they are not binding they take second place. The presence of thoughts is more important than our subjective judgment of them.
But neither must these judgments be suppressed, for they are also existent thoughts which are part of our wholeness."
C. G. Jung - Memories, Dreams, Reflections
6 comments:
Your truth is so beautiful
Very interesting! It's an interesting balance between objective reality and subjective truth. One of my issues with most western philosophies is that subjective truth is considered on par with objective reality - which leads to a lot of craving, disappointment and misery.
I wonder how Jung would balance that. :)
i just love your life in photos. it's a treasure to behold.
hele--have you read any murakami? actually, as i'm writing this, i'm remembering you mentioning the wind-up bird chronicle.
this reminded me somehow of murakami. i never thought about him in conjunction with jung. it might be very interesting to do so.
anyway, back to murakami...you should read his dance, dance, dance if you haven't. he's pondering reality and truth there as well...
you wrote: But that can come to pass only when one does not meddle inquisitively with the workings of fate.
and to that i say amen.
Its that last line that got me. And that last photo. How he has grown.....
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