The Last Days of 2007

I'm preparing for a class I will be teaching next semester. I will be teaching counseling theories to students beginning their master's coursework to become counselors. In preparing for this class, I have just finished reading A Primer of Freudian Psychology by C.S. Hall. While I was reading this book, my appreciation for Freud grew. I really want to get across the idea of Freud's groundbreaking, novel ideas to students. I know Freud is probably one of the most criticized persons in history, but to theorize about the mind and personality like he did over a hundred years ago astounds me.

As I was reading about anxiety, frustration, tension, and cathexis, I wondered about my own happiness and what battles my id, ego, and superego were involved in. Freud postulated that for an individual to be using a defense mechanism, this must be unconscious to the individual. So, those of us who say, "well, I'm just projecting" or something similar would actually be wrong (according to psychoanalysis). In order for one to be using a defense mechanism, one is unaware of it. Now, one could become aware of use of defense mechanisms through psychoanalytic work, but this is not done without the help of a psychoanalyst. Most other theories of psychotherapy give more responsibility and ability to the person to be in control of his or her intrapsychic processes.

Allow me some pseudo-free association:

I thought about my happiness. When I was thinking, I reflected that much of my happiness was brought about by doing things. It then led me to think of how I am tricked into believing my happiness comes about from things that I do or accomplish or acquire. I then thought of how I had heard people talk about contentment or joy versus happiness - that the former are states rather than acquisitions. I asked, "Am I content?" or "Am I joyful?" I don't know. I will tell you that I think being happy seems to be more fun - the emotional energy tied to happiness seems greater than that tied to the other two. However, I wonder if I would say that if I had truly experienced the other two.

I hope 2008 brings more contentment and joy. Let's pray for that. I hope each one of you has a blessed end of year and a happy new one.

Thanks for reading.