James Hollis: The Goal of Life Is Meaning, Not Happiness
Jun 9, 2020
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James Hollis, Jungian analyst and author, discusses the importance of finding meaning over happiness, resilience during tough times, interpreting symptoms from the psyche, embracing ambiguity for a fulfilling life, encountering the numinous, and living authentically to make a meaningful impact.
Prioritize meaning over happiness for a fulfilling life.
Acknowledge inner conflicts through dreams and self-reflection.
Embrace uncertainties to foster growth and authentic self-exploration.
Deep dives
The Sounds True Foundation's Mission for Transformational Education
The Sounds True Foundation aims to create a wiser and kinder world by providing transformational tools like mindfulness and self-compassion to all, including at-risk youth, prisoners, veterans, and those in developing countries.
Exploring Living Between Worlds and Personal Resilience
James Hollis discusses his book 'Living Between Worlds,' emphasizing personal resilience in challenging times, reflecting on societal transitions since the 19th century and the decline of traditional institutions impacting individuals' self-realization.
Deepening Understanding of the Self Through Dreams
Hollis delves into the significance of dreams as expressions of the psyche, highlighting how symptoms like depression can signal inner conflicts and the need to align personal goals with deeper soulful values for genuine fulfillment.
Embracing Resilience and Meaning in Life's Challenges
Navigating personal challenges, Hollis emphasizes resilience and meaning over fleeting happiness, urging individuals to honor life's mysteries to cultivate a meaningful existence aligning with one's core values and validation from within.
Discovering Personal Accountability and Authenticity
Encouraging authentic self-exploration and accountability, Hollis suggests embracing one's journey's uncertainties, engaging with fears and lethargy as internal adversaries, fostering growth through uncertainties and transitions in life.
Dr. James Hollis is a Jungian analyst, a former executive director of the Jung Society of Washington, DC, and a professor of Jungian studies for Saybrook University of San Francisco/Houston. He is the author of 16 books including Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life, Living an Examined Life, and, most recently, Living Between Worlds. In this podcast, Tami Simon speaks with Dr. Hollis about his latest work and the increasing sense of importance for many people around living more meaningful lives. They also discuss how to find resilience during difficult times, how our souls let us know when we're not on the right path, the difference between "meaning" and "purpose," and more.
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