Master of His Soul

“A man likes to believe he is master of his soul. But as long as he is unable to control his moods and emotions, or to be conscious of the myriad secret ways in which unconscious factors insinuate themselves into his arrangements and decisions, he is certainly not his own master.” — Carl Jung

We like to think we’re in control of ourselves. Jung starts with what we like to believe, then shows us how thin that belief is. As long as our unconscious is quietly steering our decisions, we’re not actually in charge…. we only think we are.

Most of us settle for the easier question, “Can I stay calm when I’m angry?” but that’s management, not understanding. It’s what we reach for after the emotion has already arrived. The harder question goes further back, “Why did I become angry in the first place? What actually got triggered? What old story just got confirmed in my mind?”

We spend a lot of time trying to manage our reactions, but Jung invites us to understand them instead. Understanding doesn’t eliminate emotion, but it does loosen its grip. When we can see what’s driving us, it no longer gets to decide for us.

This week, when something pulls us sideways, whether it’s irritation or the need to be right, let’s not just react. Let’s search for where it’s coming from. Maybe that’s the mastery Jung was talking about.

#MotivationMonday