#Belfast #Therapy #Psychotherapy #Logotherapy #ViktorFrankl #Existentialism #Depression #Anxiety #Hope #Identity #Bonhoeffer

The novelist Ralph Ellison wrote in 'Invisible Man': “When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.” There is much wisdom in that short quote; it takes seriously the work of discovery and the individual nature of that quest.

Identity is important It gives us a sense of well-being and self worth; it celebrates our uniqueness. It is also inextricably linked to how we find and express meaning and purpose in our lives.

Lutheran Minister, Theologian and anti-Nazi activist, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, expressed the contradiction that we often find at the heart of our identity in his poem 'Who Am I?' At the end he finds his answer: 'Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.

Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine!'

It is understandable that Bonhoeffer, who was experiencing cruel treatment at the hands of his captors, and was facing execution, saw himself in the light of his relationship with God, an expression of ultimate meaning and freedom,

The point is though, no matter what Bonhoeffer's faith stance, he articulates something that we often feel, but in different circumstances, namely that our identity is often more fluid than we might think.

Consider Bonhoeffer: he was seen as a bulwark against the inhumanity of the prison guards, he ministered to the other inmates, and demonstrated a self-transcendence that was meaningful and consistent. Yet, he saw himself as being weak, afraid and ineffectual.

So who was the real Bonhoeffer? The answer is simple: he was both.

And so it is for us. We are complicated. We are replete with contradictions. But we are human.    

Logotherapy & Existential Analysis is a therapeutic approach that allows and promotes self-discovery. When we understand ourselves, we can see our lives as meaningful. That insight enables us not only to enhance our wellbeing (although that is important!), but to reach out to others.

Therapy can be transformative.

Journey well,

Scott 

#Belfast #Psychotherapy #Logotherapy #ViktorFrankl #Existentialism #Depression #Anxiety #Hope

It wasn't so long ago that Swedish DJ and musician, Avicii (Tim Bergling) died. His music was unique and had an existentialist flavour to it; he dealt with themes of meaning in work/life, relationships and self-worth.

'Levels', released in 2013, was a good example of this. In the video you see a reference to 'The Myth of Sisyphus' as popularised by French absurdist/existentialist philosopher and author, Albert Camus.

Sisyphus was condemned to an eternity of hard, repetitive and frustrating labour. His assignment was to roll an enormous boulder up a hill; each time he seemingly achieved his goal, after much exertion and application, the boulder rolled back down to the bottom of the hill again. And so the story unfolds with monotonous repetitiveness into eternity.

Avicii's 'Levels' explores the meaning of work and the deadening weight of a repetitive existence. But like Sisyphus, there is more than just a modicum of hope in the story. 

Avicii's character breaks out of that monotony and issues a wake-up call to colleagues and others he makes contact with; Sisyphus also, eventually finds meaning in his task.

Such is the reality of our existence; the search for meaning and purpose is an essential part of being human; it manifests itself both consciously and unconsciously. 

 It is possible to find meaning in any moment, even in the midst of dullness. It is also possible, in-as-much as we are free from external constraints, to do something different - to seek a change in direction.

As Viktor Frankl once famously wrote: 'Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom'.

It seems that understanding this quest was important to Tim Bergling too, and that's part of the work I do with clients here in Belfast and beyond. Many of us understand our lives against the backdrop of the music we enjoy and listen to; that's why we often talk about the meaning of music, both in general, and specifically, in the therapy room.

Journey well,

Scott 

#Belfast #Therapy #Psychotherapy #Logotherapy #ViktorFrankl #Existentialism #Depression #Anxiety #Hope #Identity #Bonhoeffer

The novelist Ralph Ellison wrote in 'Invisible Man': “When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.” There is much wisdom in that short quote; it takes seriously the work of discovery and the individual nature of that quest.

Identity is important It gives us a sense of well-being and self worth; it celebrates our uniqueness. It is also inextricably linked to how we find and express meaning and purpose in our lives.

Lutheran Minister, Theologian and anti-Nazi activist, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, expressed the contradiction that we often find at the heart of our identity in his poem 'Who Am I?' At the end he finds his answer: 'Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.

Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine!'

It is understandable that Bonhoeffer, who was experiencing cruel treatment at the hands of his captors, and was facing execution, saw himself in the light of his relationship with God, an expression of ultimate meaning and freedom,

The point is though, no matter what Bonhoeffer's faith stance, he articulates something that we often feel, but in different circumstances, namely that our identity is often more fluid than we might think.

Consider Bonhoeffer: he was seen as a bulwark against the inhumanity of the prison guards, he ministered to the other inmates, and demonstrated a self-transcendence that was meaningful and consistent. Yet, he saw himself as being weak, afraid and ineffectual.

So who was the real Bonhoeffer? The answer is simple: he was both.

And so it is for us. We are complicated. We are replete with contradictions. But we are human.    

Logotherapy & Existential Analysis is a therapeutic approach that allows and promotes self-discovery. When we understand ourselves, we can see our lives as meaningful. That insight enables us not only to enhance our wellbeing (although that is important!), but to reach out to others.

Therapy can be transformative.

Journey well,

Scott 

#Belfast #Psychotherapy #Logotherapy #ViktorFrankl #Existentialism #Depression #Anxiety #Hope

It wasn't so long ago that Swedish DJ and musician, Avicii (Tim Bergling) died. His music was unique and had an existentialist flavour to it; he dealt with themes of meaning in work/life, relationships and self-worth.

'Levels', released in 2013, was a good example of this. In the video you see a reference to 'The Myth of Sisyphus' as popularised by French absurdist/existentialist philosopher and author, Albert Camus.

Sisyphus was condemned to an eternity of hard, repetitive and frustrating labour. His assignment was to roll an enormous boulder up a hill; each time he seemingly achieved his goal, after much exertion and application, the boulder rolled back down to the bottom of the hill again. And so the story unfolds with monotonous repetitiveness into eternity.

Avicii's 'Levels' explores the meaning of work and the deadening weight of a repetitive existence. But like Sisyphus, there is more than just a modicum of hope in the story. 

Avicii's character breaks out of that monotony and issues a wake-up call to colleagues and others he makes contact with; Sisyphus also, eventually finds meaning in his task.

Such is the reality of our existence; the search for meaning and purpose is an essential part of being human; it manifests itself both consciously and unconsciously. 

 It is possible to find meaning in any moment, even in the midst of dullness. It is also possible, in-as-much as we are free from external constraints, to do something different - to seek a change in direction.

As Viktor Frankl once famously wrote: 'Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom'.

It seems that understanding this quest was important to Tim Bergling too, and that's part of the work I do with clients here in Belfast and beyond. Many of us understand our lives against the backdrop of the music we enjoy and listen to; that's why we often talk about the meaning of music, both in general, and specifically, in the therapy room.

Journey well,

Scott 

#Belfast #Therapy #Psychotherapy #Logotherapy #ViktorFrankl #Existentialism #Depression #Anxiety #Hope #Identity #Bonhoeffer

The novelist Ralph Ellison wrote in 'Invisible Man': “When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.” There is much wisdom in that short quote; it takes seriously the work of discovery and the individual nature of that quest.

Identity is important It gives us a sense of well-being and self worth; it celebrates our uniqueness. It is also inextricably linked to how we find and express meaning and purpose in our lives.

Lutheran Minister, Theologian and anti-Nazi activist, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, expressed the contradiction that we often find at the heart of our identity in his poem 'Who Am I?' At the end he finds his answer: 'Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.

Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine!'

It is understandable that Bonhoeffer, who was experiencing cruel treatment at the hands of his captors, and was facing execution, saw himself in the light of his relationship with God, an expression of ultimate meaning and freedom,

The point is though, no matter what Bonhoeffer's faith stance, he articulates something that we often feel, but in different circumstances, namely that our identity is often more fluid than we might think.

Consider Bonhoeffer: he was seen as a bulwark against the inhumanity of the prison guards, he ministered to the other inmates, and demonstrated a self-transcendence that was meaningful and consistent. Yet, he saw himself as being weak, afraid and ineffectual.

So who was the real Bonhoeffer? The answer is simple: he was both.

And so it is for us. We are complicated. We are replete with contradictions. But we are human.    

Logotherapy & Existential Analysis is a therapeutic approach that allows and promotes self-discovery. When we understand ourselves, we can see our lives as meaningful. That insight enables us not only to enhance our wellbeing (although that is important!), but to reach out to others.

Therapy can be transformative.

Journey well,

Scott 

#Belfast #Psychotherapy #Logotherapy #ViktorFrankl #Existentialism #Depression #Anxiety #Hope

It wasn't so long ago that Swedish DJ and musician, Avicii (Tim Bergling) died. His music was unique and had an existentialist flavour to it; he dealt with themes of meaning in work/life, relationships and self-worth.

'Levels', released in 2013, was a good example of this. In the video you see a reference to 'The Myth of Sisyphus' as popularised by French absurdist/existentialist philosopher and author, Albert Camus.

Sisyphus was condemned to an eternity of hard, repetitive and frustrating labour. His assignment was to roll an enormous boulder up a hill; each time he seemingly achieved his goal, after much exertion and application, the boulder rolled back down to the bottom of the hill again. And so the story unfolds with monotonous repetitiveness into eternity.

Avicii's 'Levels' explores the meaning of work and the deadening weight of a repetitive existence. But like Sisyphus, there is more than just a modicum of hope in the story. 

Avicii's character breaks out of that monotony and issues a wake-up call to colleagues and others he makes contact with; Sisyphus also, eventually finds meaning in his task.

Such is the reality of our existence; the search for meaning and purpose is an essential part of being human; it manifests itself both consciously and unconsciously. 

 It is possible to find meaning in any moment, even in the midst of dullness. It is also possible, in-as-much as we are free from external constraints, to do something different - to seek a change in direction.

As Viktor Frankl once famously wrote: 'Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom'.

It seems that understanding this quest was important to Tim Bergling too, and that's part of the work I do with clients here in Belfast and beyond. Many of us understand our lives against the backdrop of the music we enjoy and listen to; that's why we often talk about the meaning of music, both in general, and specifically, in the therapy room.

Journey well,

Scott 

#Belfast #Psychotherapy #Logotherapy #ViktorFrankl #Existentialism #Meaning #Love

In The Art of Loving, the psychoanalyst and psychologist Erich Fromm wrote:

“Love isn't something natural. Rather it requires discipline, concentration, patience, faith, and the overcoming of narcissism. It isn't a feeling, it is a practice.”

And he is right. Love takes work and can be counter-intuitive in that it requires us to reach beyond the constraints of ego, and travel beyond our comfort zone.

Cultivating and applying the gift of love is a life-long endeavour and is always an imperfect process. We make mistakes, we fail, and we hurt each other, but we carry on.

As the Holocaust Survivor and Psychiatrist, Dr Viktor Frankl, reflected from the horror of concentration camps:

'A thought transfixed me: for the first time in my life I saw the truth as it is set into song by so many poets, proclaimed as the final wisdom by so many thinkers. The truth — that love is the ultimate and the highest goal to which man can aspire. Then I grasped the meaning of the greatest secret that human poetry and human thought and belief have to impart: The salvation of man is through love and in love. … For the first time in my life I was able to understand the meaning of the words, "The angels are lost in perpetual contemplation of an infinite glory."

Working through our understanding of love, in its broadest sense, is something that we do in Logotherapy and Existential Analysis here in Belfast.

That's just one of the perspectives that make Logotherapy that bit different from many other forms of therapy.

By learning about ourselves, and applying that knowledge to build a more meaningful life, is both challenging and rewarding. 

Love is the key to unlocking a vital aspect in our lives.

Journey well,

Scott 

I'm sure we've all described another person we know or have met that we describe as being 'stoic' in their attitude towards a difficult experience or a lifetime of challenges.

We imagine a steely resolve and an immovable perspective centred on the understanding that life is not always fair, nor should it be.

 The Stoics viewpoint is that reacting to situations that are outwith our control is, quite frankly, pointless. This rule is general in its nature, but specific in its application. 

Consider sport as an example. You might find yourself watching the soccer World Cup tournament taking place in Qatar at the moment.

Consider then that sport is a reflection of our lives: there is always something to learn from any experience; the challenge is to recognise and apply it.

So, in football, as in life, there is a plethora of variables that cannot be controlled by the athlete as an individual, or even more so as an athlete taking part in a team sport. 

Consequently, acknowledging and letting go of the incontrollable, and focusing entirely on that which can demonstrably be controlled, can be very helpful in enhancing performance.

Of course, none of this is easy, but it is nonetheless essential if we are to understand life in general, and our own journey in particular.

As a Logotherapist & Existential Analyst, a vital component of the work I do with clients is to help them discover new meaning in difficult situations. That is indeed a broad statement, but consider the vicissitudes of relationships, bereavement, coming to terms with chronic illness, and finding one's way in the world. 

Viktor Frankl, the founder of Logotherapy & Existential Analysis, was cognizant of the wisdom of the Stoic Philosophers. 

Indeed, one of his most famous quotations, and a pillar of Logotherapy is this: "When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves."

Such an outlook can enhance our performance in sport, but it can re-orientate our wider life perspective by focussing all of our effort on that which we can change, acknowledge that which we cannot, and move forward in hope.

Journey well,

Scott 

Although some may criticise Sara Teasdale's poetry as being relatively unsophisticated, I find it emotionally evocative and poignant. Take her 'Let It Be Forgotten' poem: it may well be short, but as with all good poetry, it makes one stand back for a second, and to think...........

Let it be forgotten, as a flower is forgotten,

Forgotten as a fire that once was singing gold,

Let it be forgotten for ever and ever,

Time is a kind friend, he will make us old.

If anyone asks, say it was forgotten

Long and long ago,

As a flower, as a fire, as a hushed footfall

In a long forgotten snow.

I often wrestle with the realities of 'letting go', reflecting on the pain of letting someone or something go their own way. Acknowledging the welter of emotions, and indeed the intrinsic desire to hold on, at any cost, is the first step.

Then there is the actual process of letting go. I sometimes encourage clients to imagine those emotions, in their minds eye, written on a piece of paper, plucked out of the air and placed in a slow flowing river.  Watching those words and associated emotions drift away can be a powerful experience.

But what about forgetting? We can be beholden to images and experience of the past, the things that coalesce as memories - of laughter, but also of hurt; the memory of being misunderstood, or judged, make a seemingly indelible mark.

Yet, despite the power of the past, with therapy, we may become increasingly cognisant of the fact that our lives are not all about looking back, but about living in the present with an eye to the future. 

There is meaning in the moment, a meaning that helps us to see more clearly, allowing us to appreciate what we do have, and building on that.

Psychologically, forgetting is problematic, and it may indeed be impossible. We can do however, is to take that painful experience and shape it to our benefit; by re-engaging with it, and seeing it retrospectively, we can embrace what it has taught us.

Of course, none of this is easy, but it is nonetheless essential if we are to understand life in general, and our own journey in particular.

Journey well,

Scott