Dr. James Hollis

That's why it takes repeated observation and conversation for that to emerge.

No, I agree.

Yeah.

You know, Louis Pasteur, from whom we got pasteurization, of course, reportedly put over the entrance to his office, tell me not your politics or your religion, tell me only your suffering.

And I always think about that in the context of therapy, because

Everybody's a suffering soul because life is difficult and then you die, so have a nice day, right?

Life is suffering and that's not pessimistic, that's just descriptive.

The question is, what does that suffering make you do?

What does it keep you from doing?

That's the central question.

There is where the person is called into some accountability.

You know, if you're depressed, all right, what's the task that that depression's asking of you?

If you're anxious, where's that anxiety coming from?

How much of that is archaic?

How much of that is inherited from family?

How much of that is, you know, unique to your life?

And what is the task that is to be addressed there?

I also wrote a book called Swamplands of the Soul that deals with anxiety, depression, loss, betrayal, et cetera, et cetera.

And sooner or later, life is going to take us to swamplands where you find yourself really mired into something.

And one will feel very much victimized in that way.