As I’ve written in other posts, author John A. Sanford’s books have added greatly to my knowledge about inner life, Jungian concepts, and many other meaningful topics. In his book The Strange Trial of Mr. Hyde, Sanford writes about, among other things, the relationship between the ego and the Self. He says, “When the ego departs from the Self, the unconscious sets up an opposition to the ego. To live a moral and correct life is to live in accordance with the Self.”
Our egos can be very stubborn and not open to making changes prompted from within, especially when making those changes involves sacrifice or discomfort. And they often do, because most things that matter in life do. Hence the saying “No pain, no gain.” It is also difficult to make changes when it’s not clear to us the purpose for the changes. That is where a certain degree of faith is essential.
Sanford goes on to say, “When we are cut off from the Self, our instinct for moral action is weakened, and instead of the Self we find ourselves following the dictates of others which may or may not coincide with our inmost truth.” There is a lot of societal pressure to act certain ways, and it can be difficult to be the unique individuals each of us was created to be. And yet succumbing to societal pressure often leads to a sense that something doesn’t feel right or to a feeling of emptiness. I believe this feeling of emptiness is the basis for many people turning to alcohol, drugs, and other forms of escape, often leading to addictions. I’m not alone in this belief for much has been written to support it.
I’m reassured by the truth that Sanford expresses when he writes, “Nevertheless, the Self is always there, even if hidden from us, acting like a vital power trying to bring us back to our moral center.” We need to hold on to this truth as we endeavor to follow our individual paths.