wisdom to win

 Wisdom to Win
search bar left
search bar right
 

Carl Jung - Psychology and PersonalityCarl Jung - Psychology and Personality

 

Carl Jung (1875-1961)

 

Swiss psychiatrist (pictured right).

Behind only Sigmund Freud (pictured right below) in psychiatry’s hall of fame.

Famous for inventing the terms introvert and extrovert.Carl Jung - Psychology and Personality

 

His most famous books are...

Psychology of the Unconscious (1916)

Psychological Types (1921).

 

What did he teach us about psychology and personality?

 

Carl Jung - Psychology and Personality

1. Continually seek improvement from within

Your aim in life should be “individuation” (or self-fulfilment) through:

  • knowing and working on your weaknesses.
  • learning from the real you, particularly your conscious and unconscious mind (or psyche) -see points 2 and 4.
  • interpreting your dreams (to discover your unconscious, enabling you to overcome its conflicts with your conscious mind).

 So Jung described himself as a “healer of the soul”.

 

2. Get closer to the real youCarl Jung - Psychology and Personality

Reveal the real you by removing your “persona”, the mask that comes from the roles you play in your work and leisure.

For example, your rebelliousness may be hidden by the conformity of your job.

Even if it’s painful, accept and understand your “hidden self” (the thoughts and feelings you’ve forgotten or suppressed in your unconscious) – see point 3.

“We cannot change anything unless we accept it”, Jung said.

 Carl Jung - Psychology and Personality

3. Conquer your demons

Face up to your bad side and dark secrets (your “shadow”) with honesty, resolution and courage.
 

Jung's “principle of equivalence” says you should pay as much attention to your bad side as your good side.

 

4. Your mind (or the psyche)

This does four things:Carl Jung - Psychology and Personality

  • thinking. 
  • feeling.
  • sensation (perception by the senses) .
  • intuition (your gut feeling about something). 

People are particularly influenced by one of these which, together with their personality type, affects their behaviour e.g. introvert or extrovert thinkers.

 

5. Don’t be afraid of tomorrowCarl Jung - Psychology and Personality

Accept your problems and overcome them, remembering that

  • life is difficult.
  • you’ll be sad sometimes.

Don’t be afraid of the future by

  • taking full advantage of your opportunities.
  • continuously trying new things.
  • fulfilling your dreams.

Dealing with difficulties makes you happy.

 

6. Love others and love yourselfCarl Jung - Psychology and Personality

You need self-respect to

  • love others.
  • avoid an inferiority complex.

Love and kindness make you much happier than sex.

Fear and self-hatred are the opposite of love.

“I cannot love anyone if I hate myself”, Jung said.

Your relationships with the opposite sex are affected by your:

  • previous relationships with them (especially your parents).
  • image of them in your unconscious.

 

7. Satisfaction from the soul

Spiritual fulfilment makes you happy.

This comes from:Carl Jung - Psychology and Personality

  • good relationships with others (see point 6).
  • appreciating the beauty of art and nature.
  • enjoyable work - have a reasonable standard of living but don’t sacrifice your soul for money.
  • philosophy, ethics and religion - be true to yourself and your principles. 

If you believe in something (like God), you must know and experience it.

 

8. Motivation and continuous learningCarl Jung - Psychology and Personality

To motivate people, you must satisfy their needs for:

  • survival (warmth, air, food and drink).
  • personal fulfilment and happy relationships - see point 6.
  • self-improvement (learning and creativity)

 

 Carl Jung - Psychology and Personality

9. Your personality

People are

  • extrovert (outgoing). or
  • introvert (quiet and introspective).

 

Carl Jung - Psychology and Personality 

10. Influence of parents

Nothing has a bigger effect on children than the “unlived life of the parent” i.e. getting children to do what the parents didn’t do themselves.

Parents should think more about changing themselves than imposing change on their children.

 

11. The power of opposites

Like the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, Jung believed that:

  • everything turns into its opposite (like life into death and creation into destruction)
  • we must accept both opposites.

 Carl Jung - Psychology and Personality

12. Society can be sick

A society has a collective mind that is affected by its culture, ethics and science.

Evil societies are shrouded in moral darkness (a “collective shadow”).

 

Key quotes on stress and pain

The foundation of all mental health is the avoidance of true suffering.

Man needs difficulties; they are necessary for health.

I have never encountered a difficulty that was not truly the difficulty of myself.

 

Key quotes on peace of mind

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart... Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens

The sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.

Solitude for me is a fount of healing.

 A man who has not passed through the inferno of his passions has never overcome them.

 

Key quote on change
 
We cannot change anything unless we accept it

 

Key quotes on love

I cannot love anyone if I hate myself.

Where love rules, there is no will to power, and where power predominates, love is lacking.

 

Key quotes on success and happiness

It is only our deeds that reveal who we are.

We need more understanding of human nature, because the only real danger that exists is man himself.

The least of things with a meaning is worth more than the greatest of things without it.

Show me a sane man and I will cure him for you.

 

Key quote on leadership

The true leader is always led.

 

Key quotes on God and ethics

I do not believe...I know (about his belief in God).

The pendulum of the mind swings between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong.

Free Newsletter
Enter your name and e-mail address to receive our free newsletter with analysis of business issues and new business books

Quotes