Revolution of the Kind People

In a constantly changing world, the relevance of Jungian depth therapy remains significant. Although the style may sometimes seem outdated, the principles on which this therapy is based are timeless and crucial for addressing contemporary issues. It is my mission to apply the essential elements of Jungian therapy to modern challenges and make them relevant for today’s generation. The youth are ready for profound changes but also yearn for stability and support. Fortunately, stability often follows change when well-guided. However, there is still room for improvement in guidance, not only for the youth but also for the adult population, who are also struggling with various transitions. This unrest does not provide the stable example that the youth need.

The complex interactions between different layers of societal change and the resulting unrest motivate me to integrate depth therapy more into society, both on an individual and collective level. I see this as my contribution to a sustainable transition. Society needs guides and direction, not so much in terms of course and strategy, which are currently unstable, but in the quest for new beliefs and values. There is a need for guidance in restructuring systems, redefining relationships, and revising beliefs. In short, we need collective therapy, and we must acknowledge that this is a difficult realization.

When I need guidance myself, I sometimes draw a card from my deck by Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. Recently, I drew the card that reads, “The only difference between you and the Buddha is that he is a full-time Buddha, and you are a part-time Buddha. Live so that the Buddha in you can grow.” This message offers me comfort and reminds me that perfection is an illusion. We often idealize our role models, which can make us feel insecure about ourselves. In reality, everyone, even a teacher, has their weak moments and challenges. These insights are vital in depth therapy, where self-compassion is central. In a world that constantly changes, self-compassion can help us avoid feeling overwhelmed.

The value of depth therapy lies primarily in being gentle with ourselves. We live in a rapidly changing world, and if we also change, it can be doubly confusing. This is the great challenge of my generation, but it also presents significant opportunities. As cracks appear in our perception of reality, space is created for renewal. We are a product of the interaction between our Self and our environment. As both change, we have the opportunity to reshape ourselves.

It is not surprising that these changes are accompanied by polarization and unrest. The unseen parts of our collective psyche want to be acknowledged and often emerge in immature and uncontrolled ways. In depth therapy, we do not find this phenomenon strange, although I look at it with a heavy heart. The unconscious shadow, that which has been repressed for so long, usually expresses itself in superlatives, projections and extremes: “It’s always like this!” “They did it!” “No one understands us!” The collective shadow is black-and-white and impatient. The only way to calm it is through integration: talking, de-escalating, and processing. This is why I advocate for more exchange and dialogue.

It can be painful to accept that something is not going well. We resist this because it does not feel safe. In individual therapy, we also see this: the unconscious moves, dances, and skillfully avoids the real issues. It is always about a blind spot that we ourselves do not see. Look at contemporary politics, where do we see this behavior? I think everywhere. There is so much visible emotion. The Dutch House of Representatives has become a kind of collective therapy room, which is good if we could acknowledge it. That is the key to integration.

We are all part-time Buddhas in a time that calls for redefining what is important. We are at the beginning of the digital age where relationships are shifting, and we must reassess what matters in life. At the same time, we realize that certain activities and professions are truly essential, and we need to focus on them. Moreover, there is much unrest in the world, and not everyone has the “luxury” of thinking about collective development. For many, life is still a matter of mere survival. Altogether, our daily reality is confusing and overwhelming. This is also something I see in individual therapy. In such a state, it is very difficult to distinguish one thing from another, and there is even more need for guidance. Let’s invest in that.