Member-only story
Are You Stuck on the Backside of Your Illusions?
Do you think making a lot of money will make you happy, but you are stuck because you are afraid to try? Do you think being influential will make you feel fulfilled, but you are stuck because you lack the energy and determination to bring this off? Do you think helping others will make you feel great, but you are stuck because you don’t want to take the trouble to get certified as a nurse, teacher, etc.?
Freud defined illusions as unproven understandings of the goals and purposes of life. He thought people ‘live for and must have’ illusions.
These scenarios described above strike terror in the hearts of many strivers and consign them to failure and frustration. It leaves them wallowing in self-consciousness and boredom.
But we can’t live in a state of perpetual doubt, so we make up the best story possible, and we live as if the story were true.
Retirees sometimes think that the best story for them is to live as a volunteer and escape what they want to do, which is something else entirely like writing a book, learning to sing in a choir, or mastering a new language. These challenges may seem too difficult after a lifetime of 9 to 5 labor.
I would love to advocate for living an ideal life of pursuing high benchmarks of self-worth, learning new skills…