The importance of self-knowledge.

The importance of self-knowledge.
Posted on 18-03-2022

Why is it important to know your own deep aspects?

Self-knowledge is an extremely necessary tool without which we lose access to essential parts of our psyche, and consequently, of who we are.

It is not possible to fully know oneself. That is why the motto "know thyself" can be led to something superfluous and illusory.

True self-knowledge involves confronting unconscious aspects that are usually not pleasant. It implies a commitment to investigate and raise awareness of aspects of personal and collective history. "The dark night of the soul" that many authors speak of represents that journey of connection with hidden or shadowy aspects. It is a true feat, from which one comes out transformed if it is carried out properly.

The journey through a therapeutic treatment, if you work with the unconscious, usually gives rise to this process. Entering the unknown is the only way to generate change.

If we ignore issues of our personal life and the history of humanity, we leave in the shadows a knowledge that can help us in the individuation process, to build a more authentic path, being able to more easily discern what unites us and what separates us from others. the others.

Carl Jung said: "People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own soul."

This phrase accounts for an avoidant tendency in general to face the most difficult aspects of oneself and to confront who one really is. To avoid it, all the energy is placed outside, at work, in achievements, in material goods. Or it connects with "softened" aspects, that "knowing oneself" that never goes deep enough.

Self-knowledge initially implies pain. The anguish generated by the encounter or re-encounter with aspects that are difficult to assimilate has to be dealt with. Taking responsibility for who we are is hard work. But you can only achieve a transformation if you go through it. And in this, there are no possible shortcuts.

In order to avoid this work, many actions are taken. Many of them seem to convince the person that she is working on herself. They can be activities of self-knowledge or multiple alternative therapies, but without a center, and without a real confrontation.

These therapies, which are extremely valuable if they are complemented by deep work, can be left in the air or used as a way to avoid it.

Self-knowledge is essential to be able to choose more consciously. If we don't, everything that remains inaccessible generates effects from the unconscious, leading us down paths that we sometimes consider inevitable. And this happens on a personal level but also on a collective level. And today more than ever we experience what is happening and that is beyond our control, but that has a lot to do with aspects that humanity has kept invisible for a long time.

"Until the unconscious becomes conscious, the subconscious will continue to direct your life, and you will call it destiny."

Carl G. Jung

Working on oneself is the way to approach greater integration and, at the same time, greater freedom.

 

Thank You