I have been reading a bit of James Hillman's work and thought I'd share this timely thought of his with you regarding the problems with psychotherapy:
"It makes every problem a subjective, inner problem. And that's not where the problems come from. They come from the environment, the cities, the economy, the racism. They come from architecture, school systems, capitalism, exploitation. They come from many places that psychotherapy does not address. Psychotherapy theory turns it all on you: you are the one who is wrong. What I'm trying to say is that, if a kid is having trouble or is discouraged, the problem is not just inside the kid; its also in the system, the society."
This strikes me as an important and timely observation for the fact that in all the years psychotherapy has been around, people everywhere seem to be having more trouble with mental disorder, not less. The prevalence of depression is but one such example of this. So, James Hillman's criticism seems apt and fair to me.
Think of the importance of architecture, how particular spaces make us feel that either lends itself to a greater sense of vitality or less. This is important, not just a luxury, but a necessity as well. What would the world look like and feel like to us if greater attention was paid to the building of private homes and public structures?
My favourite architect, Christopher Alexander, has done much to address the significance of this issue, with some very innovative and inspiring results.
Placing the burden of health and well-being entirely on the shoulders of an individual seems opportunistic and cruel, when all these other factors are at work influencing and shaping the condition of the psyche as well. At the same time, however, the one thing we have some measure of control over is ourselves and how we decide to respond to this inequity.
This is why taking a close look at the way we live our lives is important. The choices we make regarding the most mundane aspects of our life are especially so because investing a little more soul here is so achievable--like paying careful attention to the colours that we surround ourselves with, or the feel of the blanket on our bed, the heft of the knife in our hand. All of this counts.
We sense with our whole body the things in our environment, the sounds, smells, texture of things, so why wouldn't we pay attention to this and make an effort to more carefully orchestrate things so that they resonate with the deepest recesses of our being?
We sense with our whole body the things in our environment, the sounds, smells, texture of things, so why wouldn't we pay attention to this and make an effort to more carefully orchestrate things so that they resonate with the deepest recesses of our being?
Living life from a more soulful place is one way we can help to influence and shape the world (relieving the suffering and anxiety that are so currently prevalent) around us by the intuitive re-shaping of the material environment that surrounds us.
The things that are all about us, that we expose ourselves to routinely, have an enormous impact on our psyches (souls), so it is not only sensible, but intelligent as well, to aid in the creation of a world that reflects this truth.
The things that are all about us, that we expose ourselves to routinely, have an enormous impact on our psyches (souls), so it is not only sensible, but intelligent as well, to aid in the creation of a world that reflects this truth.
