Who are we? What do we "bring to the table?"
This audiobook takes the perspective that some people have a tough time seeing that what looks great, in life today, is merely a highly-praised, highly-marketed defense mechanism. Moreover, that those who are not utilizing that defense mechanism, may deem themselves to be "lacking", in other words, "inferior".
It is written from the perspective of a sixty-four year old male who spent fifty sessions in psychoanalysis, twice a week, with an M.D.; then, a year later, spent an additional one hundred sessions, six days a week, with a Jewish psychoanalyst in San Diego. The ideas here are nuanced by a degree in electrical engineering from West Point, and fifteen courses in Mathematics, starting at the age of forty-one, from Berea College, as well as having spent fifteen years with SuperMemo software for spaced repetition, accumulating 160,000 flashcards on sociology, psychology, religion, and much more: some information from books, some from online, some from personal observations. Additionally, it is written from the perspective of someone who has spent much time "unplugged", in nature, including a year off, after Kindergarten. Additionally, his mother is a war refugee from the furthest eastern part of Poland, having come to America in 1950 via Ellis Island.
Yes, in today's world, it would appear, that many a flaw is praised, while many a strength is deemed something to be ridiculed.
This author talks about defense mechanisms, and who has discussed such, whether Freud, or others. Included here are insights about those psychologists and psychoanalysts and yet others, who benefitted from a religious aspect in their lives, including Oskar Fister, someone who Freud was friends with, for many years, when Pfister was not a psychologist, but minister and more. Others, too, had a religious element in their lives: Erich Fromm; and Rollo May. Also discussed is the views from Buddhism and Black psychoanalysts.
This is a fascinating article on Freud and Pfister:
https://thecentercounseling.org/freud-and-pfister-a-love-story/
Next:
The particular "defense mechanism" of DISTRACTIONS is discussed here, at length, including what Aldous Huxley and Deepak Chopra have said.
"Men have always been a prey to distractions, which are the original sins of the mind; but never before today has an attempt been made to organize and exploit distractions, to make of them, because of their economic importance, the core and vital center of human life, TO IDEALIZE THEM AS THE HIGHEST MANIFESTATIONS OF MENTAL ACTIVITY."
(Huxley)
Indeed, Pascal had said, "All of humanity's problems stem from our inability to sit quietly in a room alone."
https://gracetruth.blog/2015/03/29/all-of-humanitys-problems-stem-from-our-inability-to-sit-quietly-in-a-room-alone/
So, consider:
Alan Watts had said this, with regard to "being alone", which some people deem to be a sign of "lack", of "weakness", and so on:
"Most men are terrified of being alone". Yet, those who handle aloneness well, whatever this term may exactly mean, may deem themselves inferior, not talented:
Consider this clip from "The Path of the Unshaken: The Man Who Walks Alone":
https://youtu.be/VXNy6aot8bc?si=Sa9yQXtJmQ6jfA8u
Some people apparently have what is termed an "inferiority complex" and undervalue their assets and overvalue the assets of some other people. Some call themselves "imposters".
Indeed, some people sell themselves short, while others are "confidence artists".
How are we to know where we stand, if honest?
Have we seen this video?
"This Story Will Help You Understand YOUR WORTH (The Story of The Old Watch)":
https://youtu.be/BQcp1ZNWgTs?si=DqrbDp2IBzL2Id5j
Einstein was one of many people who were misunderstood. Some had considered him "mentally retarded", when he was young:
"Motivational Success Story Of Albert Einstein - How He Overcame Every Obstacle And Won a Nobel Prize":
https://youtu.be/3tX6pBqP_KY?si=GcGteHXJ_ezk6RgS
Yet others may have an overestimation of their assets, and not see this.
Next:
It is said, "Believe in Yourself"; "Trust Yourself"; "Go For It".
Yet, not all of us will reach all the goals we set.
For instance, Dr. David Schwartz, in "The Magic of Thinking Big", gives an example: "I lacked initiative ... because I didn't believe inside that I was worth very much... I had been selling myself short... Then it dawned on me that no one else was going to believe in me until I believed in myself."
Consider: one of the daughters who was of the greatest help to Leo Tolstoy, over the years, Alexandra, described herself as having a very strong feeling of inferiority for many years:
As one person has said, of the video, below:
"What a perspicacious woman. The honesty, humility, and understanding of her familial dynamics and self-awareness is unbelievable. At 26:24 she shares how Tolstoy on his death bed said, "Truth, I like truth." Alexandra seems like a person who lived out truth."
"Tolstoy Biography (1970):
https://youtu.be/mc-VGZBDac4
Another true example of someone who felt a sense of inferiority was exemplified in the movie was "Big Eyes", in which a female painter had sold short her talent:
"Big Eyes Official Trailer #1 (2014) - Tim Burton, Amy Adams Movie HD":
https://youtu.be/2xD9uTlh5hI?si=9mZeT9rP41h9feWS
So, might we consider that a sense of "inferiority" is a badge of honor to be worked through, that many have dealt with it successfully?
