Our intelligence triumphs when we bring into focus the self-harming dynamics going on in our psyche. These conflicting dynamics are very much indifferent to our wellbeing. When they remain hidden from us, we may have only a hit-or-miss capacity for healthy self-regulation. (An … [Read more...] about Are You Addicted to Self-Punishment?
authentic self
Ego and Self Do Battle for the Soul of America
The refusal of millions to wear face masks in the heat of our pandemic is another deadly skirmish in the battle for the soul of America. This spurning of face masks reveals important details about human nature. This unsafe behavior by so many of President Trump’s … [Read more...] about Ego and Self Do Battle for the Soul of America
Discover Sublimation, the Agent of Success
You can change your life for the better by understanding sublimation and making it work for you. As a psychological term, the word sublimation refers to the act of transmuting self-defeating impulses into behaviors that are personally and emotionally rewarding and likely to be … [Read more...] about Discover Sublimation, the Agent of Success
The Essentials of Empowerment for Enablers and Codependents
My late wife, Sandra Michaelson, had great insights into the passive side of human nature. She wrote extensively about passivity in her first book, The Emotional Catering Service, a book about codependents and enablers that was published in 1993. In this book, she illuminates … [Read more...] about The Essentials of Empowerment for Enablers and Codependents
Are You a Clone of Your Identifications?
Is that really you, reading these words? Or are you just a body double or stand-in for your authentic self, a clone of the identifications you make with other people? If so, you might want to learn more about how psychological identifications influence your sense of … [Read more...] about Are You a Clone of Your Identifications?