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Re: living for yourself » raisinb

Posted by Dinah on May 1, 2008, at 9:11:55

In reply to Re: living for yourself » raisinb, posted by raisinb on May 1, 2008, at 8:28:19

I have to confess I don't quite understand. And I suspect that to the extent I do manage it, I manage to hold completely contradictory thoughts about it.

Isn't this along the lines of Irvin Yalom's work? Doesn't he found his therapeutic method in part on existentialism? In chapter 44 in "The Gift of Therapy" he talks about his thoughts directly. That and fear of death seem to be important topics to him.

At the end of that chapter he says "It is engagement that counts, and we therapists do most good by identifying and helping to remove the obstacles to engagement. The question of meaning in life is, as the Buddha taught, not edifying. One must immerse oneself in the river of life and let the question drift away."

Not sure if this is to the point or not. It's something I've always had trouble with. And not something that's been an issue for me, to tell the truth. (Neither is fear of death, so maybe I don't really wish for Yalom as my therapist.) I think it's *loving* that has always made life meaningful to me. Loving my dog, or my parents, or my husband, or my son, or my therapist, or Babble, or God, or friends. Everything else just seems to flow from that. And when I have trouble loving, I feel worst. Wait. Maybe that isn't so far from what Yalom was saying? Engagement for him could equate with loving (or caring about) for me.

 

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poster:Dinah thread:826425
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