Episode 32

How to navigate a crisis of meaning by understanding archetypes with Greg Donaldson

Published on: 28th March, 2024

In this episode, we are looking at how to navigate a crisis of meaning by understanding archetypes with psychotherapist, Greg Donaldson.

In a previous career, Greg was an actor and our conversation about how to understand and use archetypal patterns is really helpful. Often, when we are having a crisis of meaning we are driven by our subconscious and often I'll pass story. In this revealing episode, Greg and I unpack from both our respective fields about how you can use this knowledge if you're struggling with meaning yourself.

As Greg says, the issue we face as being a human with psychological awareness and a 'cast full of characters', means we have a paradoxical nature. Oppositional characters within us and a lot of the problem of life comes through thinking that I have to choose one 'character' and stick with it (whilst suppressing the others).

It's deep and engaging episode into archetypes and I hope you enjoy.

Key Learnings:

1. Archetypes are innate patterns or energies that can manifest through us, representing different aspects of the human experience.

2. We all have various subpersonalities or parts within us, some of which we may suppress or ignore, leading to internal conflicts and a potential crisis of meaning.

3. Understanding and integrating these different parts or archetypes can help alleviate depression, meaninglessness, and a sense of being stuck in life.

4. Exercises like drawing a line and listing "me" and "not me" traits can reveal suppressed aspects of ourselves that need to be acknowledged and expressed.

5. Striking a balance and allowing different archetypes (e.g., the King, Warrior, Lover, Magician) to express themselves in a harmonious way can lead to personal growth and a more fulfilling life.

6. Archetypes like the Victim and the Prostitute represent universal human experiences of suffering and compromise that need to be honored and integrated.

Show Notes:

- Definition and overview of archetypes

- The concept of subpersonalities and different parts within us

- Exercises to identify suppressed aspects of yourself (the "me" and "not me" exercise)

- Archetypes like the King, Warrior, Lover, Magician, Victim, and Prostitute

- The importance of integrating different archetypes and finding balance

- Using archetypes to navigate a crisis of meaning or feeling stuck in life

- Recommended reading: "Warrior, Magician, Lover and King" by Rod Boothroyd and works by Caroline Myss

Get in touch with Sal

If this episode has caught your attention and you wish to learn more, then please contact me. I offer a free 20 min call where we can discuss a challenge your facing and how I may be able to help you.

Greg's BIO.

Greg is a UKCP psychosynthesis psychotherapist based in Brighton. He has a passion for psychosynthesis and working archetypally, helping clients to come into more acceptance of themselves and their relationships. 

Greg also has an interest in integrating peak experiences and has worked as a psychedelic guide for the phase 2 trials at Imperial College for patients with treatment resistant depression. 

Having been an actor for 20 years before changing careers, he also has an understanding and interest in creativity and self-expression and how to navigate existential crisis. 

Get in touch with Greg here

Transcript
Sal Jefferies:

Welcome to Mindset, Mood and Movement, a systemic approach to human

2

:

behavior, performance, and well being.

3

:

Our psychological, emotional, and

physical health are all connected,

4

:

and my guests and I endeavor to share

knowledge, strategies, and tools for

5

:

you to enrich your life and work.

6

:

Welcome to Mindset, Mood and

Movement, a systemic approach to human

7

:

behavior, performance, and well being.

8

:

Our psychological, emotional, and

physical health are all connected,

9

:

and my guests and I endeavor to share

knowledge, strategies, and tools for

10

:

you to enrich your life and work.

11

:

Sal: Hello and welcome.

12

:

Today we are looking at how to

navigate a crisis of meaning

13

:

by understanding archetypes.

14

:

Now, don't worry if you don't

know what either of those factors

15

:

are, crisis of meaning and

archetypes, we are going to explain.

16

:

But really it's about helping you

understand perhaps some of these, really

17

:

useful things that archetypes deliver

and show us, and perhaps the shadow side

18

:

of them as well, and actually how we

can use them if we're having a really

19

:

difficult time and really struggling with.

20

:

meaning or life or what that might be.

21

:

I'm delighted to join by my friend, Greg,

Greg Donaldson, who is a psychotherapist

22

:

and an all round archetype genius.

23

:

He knows a lot about this field.

24

:

He's worked with me and is a,

is a great font of knowledge.

25

:

And I have been privileged to

learn about archetypes a lot.

26

:

They are something which are

an embodying description of

27

:

something that transcends people.

28

:

So I'm going to get Greg to

explain more on this, but this

29

:

is where we're going today, guys.

30

:

So, and I'm going to hand over to Greg.

31

:

Greg, welcome.

32

:

Good to see you.

33

:

Greg Donaldson: Good to see you too.

34

:

Archetypal genius.

35

:

I'm not sure I can handle that, that,

that label, we'll see as we go on.

36

:

Maybe an archetypal good enough

37

:

Sal: That's all right with me.

38

:

All right.

39

:

the thing with, archetypes that

there is, we need to understand it.

40

:

So I think the first thing I want to ask

you, Greg, is could you define for us

41

:

what an archetype is in your definition?

42

:

Greg Donaldson: In my definition, an

archetype is a, an energy that can come

43

:

through and be transmitted through us.

44

:

So when you, when we talk about archetypes

we normally thinking about kind of

45

:

Jung's work and when you and and part

of Jung's work is talking about the

46

:

collective unconscious so this kind of

idea that in the unconscious oneness

47

:

of everyone there's this there's this

sort of storage of different types of

48

:

energies and archetypes that are playing

through so so the idea being that you know

49

:

it's like these are known Uh, site, uh,

parts when sometimes life throws us a,

50

:

a lesson that actually, Oh no, this is,

okay, maybe I need, this is the time that

51

:

I'm going through with this archetype,

I need to bring this into my life.

52

:

yeah, so it's difficult to explain

if you're very realist in terms

53

:

of, materialistic, it's just about,

the, the physical reality, because

54

:

there's something quite spiritual

to it, and unseen, it's really hard

55

:

to describe what goes on in the

unconscious, because it's not like

56

:

a thing that we can measure or see.

57

:

so archetypes are useful in terms of

thinking about energy, energies or themes

58

:

that you can use to empower you or to

notice what's going on in your life.

59

:

so I come from a background of

psychosynthesis which is a kind

60

:

of, is a, a form of, or map.

61

:

of psychotherapy that is born out

of a combination of Jungian and

62

:

Freudian kind of thought and and,

and psychosynthesis kind of marries

63

:

them both together and goes a little

bit further in terms of using a

64

:

creative way to think about your life.

65

:

So in psychosynthesis,

instead of archetypes, we

66

:

talk about sub personalities.

67

:

We all have these sub personalities

or players in the orchestra within

68

:

us that Mostly go unconducted.

69

:

So part of what therapy would be is

about, is about, noticing that you have a

70

:

conductor and that you need to step into

relationship to all these different parts.

71

:

In Jungian therapy, we can think about

it more in terms of general themes and

72

:

archetypes that are coming through that

we might want to notice what's happening

73

:

in our lives or what, or what's going on

around us, who we've got attracted to us.

74

:

Sal: Yeah, really interesting.

75

:

Thank you.

76

:

and a very eloquent description.

77

:

and you're right.

78

:

Some people haven't come across archetypes

or may have just loosely determined you.

79

:

It is a big, a big field and we can,

but we can also use the other names.

80

:

So yes, sub personalities.

81

:

I think character types, character

traits, personality types.

82

:

Many of us would have come across some

of these descriptions to describe it.

83

:

attributes and characteristics and

behaviors and energies of people.

84

:

And we all know it, it's a bit

like, some subtle ones, the

85

:

playful one, the serious one.

86

:

We've all had this very general terms,

but what Greg and I were going to

87

:

is some of the more specific ones

that, that, that are powerful, that

88

:

are encapsulating, but also where

they're helpful and not helpful.

89

:

Now my interpretation of an archetype is

for me personally is to understand where

90

:

my whole mind, body, energy system is at.

91

:

So if on a day I wake up and I'm feeling

great, I might be in a sort of a powerful

92

:

archetype and I can really meet the day.

93

:

And I might have a certain label for that.

94

:

Perhaps it's the King archetype

or the Explorer archetype.

95

:

And some days I might wake up and

it's not all going so well for me.

96

:

And I might want to be the, the cave

dweller archetype and hide away.

97

:

And I think it's very helpful to.

98

:

make sense of these things.

99

:

And as we said, at the top of our

show, that if you're having a crisis

100

:

is some kind, or even a crisis of

meaning at the deep level, really

101

:

understanding your self and these parts

of yourself, which may or may not be

102

:

working together is really helpful.

103

:

Greg, when we talk about

understanding parts of ourself.

104

:

For, for someone who's not really

sure or hasn't really heard about

105

:

the aspects of being different parts,

could you go a little more into this?

106

:

And I was going to caveat that because

I do know when I work with people

107

:

who don't know this, they say, I

haven't heard of this, but then we

108

:

have the phrase like, part of me wants

to do this and part of me doesn't.

109

:

So we often speak in this part, part,

aspect anyway, but perhaps you could

110

:

explain a little more from your.

111

:

a professional understanding how these

parts interrelate or don't interrelate.

112

:

So we can understand it better.

113

:

Greg Donaldson: Absolutely.

114

:

yeah, and just to highlight again,

this is just like where I've come to

115

:

in my own understanding and kind of

the reading that I've done and the way

116

:

that I find it useful to look at life.

117

:

I come from a background of being

an actor for 20 years, so there's

118

:

a sense that there's something.

119

:

Without sounding pretentious, there's

quite something quite shamanic in that

120

:

art, actually, because what you're

doing is you're jumping into different

121

:

character aspects and then performing

it on a stage or in front of a camera.

122

:

And actually part of what that's about is

being able to fully immerse into another

123

:

human being's experience and then being

able to present that out, hopefully in an

124

:

entertaining or useful way in the world.

125

:

I already Start from a place where,

I'm interested in, the experience

126

:

of the other, and actually, and how

that's possible for all of us, so

127

:

it's you could talk about, recently

there's been a, TV program, on BBC

128

:

One, starring, Jimmy Savile, right?

129

:

Now, I don't want to go off tangent here,

but it's like, when you think about,

130

:

people who have committed those sorts

of crimes, or people who have committed

131

:

murder, or whatever, actually, when you

think about it in terms of, the human

132

:

experience, we are all capable of that.

133

:

Like we're all capable of going there

and as an actor you can see that

134

:

because it's like well Yeah, how'd

you get into the mind of a someone

135

:

who is a pedophile or a murderer or

whatever and actually you realize that?

136

:

There is always something traumatic

or forgiving or something about, about

137

:

any human experience and how they've

got there, so that's my kind of upfront

138

:

speech about it, but about where, why I'm

coming at it is because actually I feel

139

:

like looking into parts and aspects of

ourself is just what I've always done in

140

:

a way that I've always thought about it.

141

:

often,

142

:

Sal: yeah, I was gonna say I'm

really intrigued because your,

143

:

your, your backstory as an actor

is something which is different.

144

:

Certainly, I, I, I've done, I've

done, I think I played maybe

145

:

years ago, but I'm not very good.

146

:

But being an actor, of course, the

great actors of, of, of, many...

147

:

TV shows and movies, they're captivating

and, and, and great actors can

148

:

step into these different roles and

they're literally different people,

149

:

and yet it's the same human being.

150

:

So I think for, for me, I totally

understand archetypes when I look

151

:

at, a great actor who's plays

a, perhaps a comedic part or a

152

:

villain part, or a gentle part.

153

:

And you think, actually it's the same

human being who's got this skillfulness,

154

:

who's tapping into something such

as, the villain or the good guy

155

:

or whatever the, the, the part is.

156

:

so you have an inside line on that.

157

:

And when we think about those parts,

because as an actor, they're to do a job

158

:

well, you have to absolutely embody that.

159

:

You have to really be that part.

160

:

Otherwise it's, it's see through,

you're not a great actor, right?

161

:

But what about real life?

162

:

So when we're dealing with stuff,

how does those, how do those parts

163

:

certainly for you work, when you might

need to be a certain part or archetype?

164

:

How do you use that in your own life?

165

:

Greg Donaldson: if you think about

it, it is similar, because, it's

166

:

like the Shakespearean thing of,

like, all the world's a stage

167

:

and we're just players in it.

168

:

And actually, the thing that the ego

loves the most is, this sort of sense

169

:

of safety, this reaching for, I am this.

170

:

I am this.

171

:

And, When you think about that on a

deeper level, it's just, it's not helpful

172

:

because, it, just the language of that

is like solidifying, it's making, turning

173

:

you into an island, it's, you are becoming

an identification of whatever I Whatever

174

:

the statement I am is, there's curious

experiments done, I don't know if you

175

:

know the kind of magician, Alistair,

Alistair Crowley, back in the days, he

176

:

was this dark magician, but he used to

do these sort of tests, like language,

177

:

like taking things out, like Not saying

the word I to anything, and if he

178

:

did, if he caught himself, he would

cut himself or something like this.

179

:

And then in the, in the 70s, there

was a guy called Robert Anton Wilson

180

:

who tried a similar experiment.

181

:

And, basically every time he used

the word I, he would bite his thumb.

182

:

And it was a kind of reminder

of yeah, anything that you

183

:

attribute I am to is becomes a...

184

:

becomes an identification, and, and when

you've got identifications that you are

185

:

a certain thing, then you start having

very heavy opinions and convictions about

186

:

life, which isn't that helpful, so he

famously, he used to say, convictions

187

:

cause convicts, so you become a prisoner

of, of your own identifications.

188

:

So the way it answers your question,

the way I find it useful, is to see it

189

:

as a kind of ongoing, theatrical event

or filmic event, this life that we're

190

:

that we're passing through, that is non

static, and so therefore, It's always

191

:

gonna be changing, so it, so, I'm gonna

have, a cast of characters within me.

192

:

And some of them are villains.

193

:

Some of them are sweetness and

light, and some of them are sorrowful

194

:

martyrs and some of them are,

complete, I don't know, materialists,

195

:

and some of them are mystics.

196

:

so this is the, the issue we face as,

being a human being with a kind of

197

:

psychological awareness and a cast

full of characters is that actually

198

:

we have this kind of paradoxical,

oppositional characters within us.

199

:

And, and a lot of the problem.

200

:

of life comes through, thinking that

I have to choose one and be one,

201

:

and then once I've found that one

I'll stick with that, my work as a

202

:

psychotherapist is about, mostly, or

a lot, about discovering who people

203

:

have got in their cast of characters

and how perhaps they, might understand

204

:

a different way of working with them.

205

:

Sal: Yeah, that's so

interesting, isn't it?

206

:

Because my upbringing, my, my early

upbringing was that you were, you, you

207

:

were this name, you're the name that

you're given and this is what you do.

208

:

And you, you, you follow that groove.

209

:

that's what happens to a lot of us.

210

:

And it's either either for a

crisis of meaning or you, for some

211

:

reason you might seek therapy or

you have personal development.

212

:

Somehow you've got into that space

or perhaps you've been on a yoga

213

:

journey or something like that.

214

:

That's, that's opened you

up to this multiplicity.

215

:

But you're absolutely right.

216

:

And it reminds me of my old philosophy

teacher, Ann, and she used to say a

217

:

sentence in the mind is a sentence indeed.

218

:

And it's, it's true, isn't it?

219

:

And this is some of the problem stuff,

which in my space of coaching and

220

:

moving people beyond stuckness, where

the I statement is often very rigid.

221

:

I am X, I am this, I am this.

222

:

character, this person.

223

:

And actually there's something

interesting about going to the shadow

224

:

sides and the, the deeper parts where

Oh, what about the, yeah, let's say

225

:

the villain or the rebel, the person

who's really got it all together, but.

226

:

There's a rebel in there.

227

:

It's interesting, isn't it?

228

:

So when we allow those, those parts

to be seen, and the multiplicity

229

:

I think is really interesting.

230

:

I know family systems talks about this a

lot as well, and I know you've spoken to

231

:

me a lot about this in Psychosynthesis,

having an understanding of who we are,

232

:

as in all, all of the I, all of the

aspects of eyes, absolutely fundamental.

233

:

Because if we have, an internal

conflict, I don't like the rebel in

234

:

me, or, the serious part of me is

boring, or whatever that thing is,

235

:

we've got an issue because it's you.

236

:

It's still you, but what part of it?

237

:

So thinking about these, these,

all these parts, if we are...

238

:

I tell you what, I really wanted

to speak to something here.

239

:

So I work with a person and, again,

with all my people, I alias them

240

:

for their own privacy, but I work

with this person and they were

241

:

displaying the archetype of a savior.

242

:

So they're going around and perhaps

we could call that the hero archetype.

243

:

So they were definitely, taking care

of things, very male domain, being the

244

:

carer, being the savior and we were doing

some work around their levels of stress.

245

:

And I was like, okay, did you know

you're probably working from this

246

:

archetype more than you think?

247

:

And they hadn't even seen it.

248

:

And on a behavioural level,

it played out like this.

249

:

Every one of their team came to them with

a problem, and they, and this person,

250

:

solved this, these people's problems.

251

:

So then they ended up coming

to this person all the time.

252

:

So their, my client's

workload was through the roof.

253

:

And it's like, why can't these

people just, do what they need to do?

254

:

And I said, because we've set,

you've set up a paradigm here.

255

:

You've set up a saviour paradigm,

which always implicitly means that

256

:

it is someone that needs to be saved.

257

:

And the minute...

258

:

He shifted from that, the conscious

shift out of, I'm not gonna save this

259

:

person, I'll be kind, and I'll be

caring, but I'm not gonna save them.

260

:

Oh my god, literally, it was a sea

change, not only in the way they

261

:

behave, but how people behave to

them, and I find it so intriguing.

262

:

Have you got an example of, maybe someone,

an alias of course for privacy, but have

263

:

you got an example of when you've seen an

archetype at play that hasn't been helpful

264

:

and you've helped someone work through it?

265

:

Greg Donaldson: probably millions,

but I can't, I can't, I wanted to

266

:

respond to your client, to be honest,

267

:

Sal: Yeah, please do then, yeah.

268

:

Greg Donaldson: yeah, because there's

something interesting about that

269

:

journey, really fascinating, like just

even that moment that you're talking

270

:

about there, where it's Feels like it's

obvious you've hit a, you've hit a theme,

271

:

it's like this guy's trying to save

the world one person at a time, right?

272

:

And then, actually, So when you

look at that, you can look at

273

:

that in a few different ways.

274

:

It's not just like random, the

fact that he's doing that, right?

275

:

There's a kind of, some

habitual thing that's happened.

276

:

So he, there's something, when you

look at any archetype, you can look, or

277

:

subpersonality, you can look at the kind

of, Light side, positive, transpersonal

278

:

side of it, the helpful side of it, but

also there's going to be a shadow side to

279

:

it, so it's really useful to think about

that, I think, when you, especially when

280

:

you're talking about saviour complex,

and there's plenty of that going around

281

:

in the kind of healing fields, it's in

the sort of scene of psychotherapy and

282

:

yoga and, anything to do with healing

the other is like a way to, potentially

283

:

be working on some level to healing your

own family, or healing your own history,

284

:

or healing the divide within you, and

so So yeah, it's great to hear that

285

:

you, you can use that in terms of look,

there's an energy coming through here and

286

:

now let's look at why that and, and how

that's developed because just noticing

287

:

it doesn't necessarily change it, right?

288

:

so there's this, so there's always

a sense like, oh, now I know

289

:

that and I have that in mind.

290

:

It's now I need to see where that's

helping me in my life or not helping

291

:

me, I certainly resonate with it in

terms of my own journey as a therapist.

292

:

there's a, there's a kind of, sense

that you set that up from the beginning.

293

:

you say, you put your website up and

you say, Look, come to me and I'm going

294

:

to, help you with all your problems.

295

:

Hopefully, what you're not

saying on your website is I'm

296

:

going to fix all your problems.

297

:

because as soon as you start

promising something like that, then...

298

:

You're in your kind of saviour complex.

299

:

But even if you don't write that on your

website, and someone comes to you, and

300

:

they're sat in front of you, and they're

saying, that this is all the stuff that's

301

:

going on in my life, and this and that

and that and that, can you help me?

302

:

the real answer is, yeah, I can walk

alongside you, and I can help you see what

303

:

you need to see, but I'm not gonna fix

you, I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna wave a

304

:

magic wand, and you're gonna be better.

305

:

I'm going to help you learn to step into a

relationship with yourself and, hopefully

306

:

that will help you improve your life.

307

:

Sal: Yeah, that's so interesting.

308

:

And yes, you, I think you're right

in the healing fields, in the yoga

309

:

field, therapy coaching that there

is a sense that if you haven't got

310

:

your internal act together, then you

could be coming from that archetype.

311

:

I know my psychotherapy master was

like, You need to take care of your own

312

:

stuff before you do any work, right?

313

:

That's, that's absolute mandate

in what we, what we were

314

:

training, cause it was vital.

315

:

It's really important to do your work

yourself and make sure that you're not,

316

:

you're conscious of your own stuff as

well as you're working with clients.

317

:

Greg Donaldson: Yeah, yeah, just a sort

of note to that as well, because there can

318

:

be a big, emphasis on, yeah, you've done,

you've dealt with your own obviously, but,

319

:

But as being a human being is endless,

it's endless, you never get there, right?

320

:

so yes, I agree that there does need

to be a sense of you know where your

321

:

triggers are and where your, where

your work is, but, but you're still

322

:

walking alongside someone, you don't

have to be like perfectly healed

323

:

yourself as long as you, you've got

the, uh, reflective, um, skill to know.

324

:

That's where you might get triggered

and who you might work, that might,

325

:

have a kind of bearing on who you work

326

:

with.

327

:

Sal: Yeah, that's that's that's

such a good point is that that

328

:

self awareness is so vital.

329

:

And it makes me think of

the culture that we're in.

330

:

I grew up in school and I think

school is not that different today.

331

:

It's very didactic.

332

:

People tell you what to do.

333

:

People tell you information, they give

you all this stuff, as opposed to how

334

:

you think and and I've come across so

many people, both And if they're in

335

:

the corporate workspace or the working

field as opposed to entrepreneurship,

336

:

there's often a sense that there's

this sort of hierarchy that the

337

:

manager or the senior manager, they,

everyone tells everyone what to do.

338

:

Whereas a more of a inquiry led approach,

what I would call a coaching approach,

339

:

but it's an inquiry would ask a question,

say, so how come you're doing that?

340

:

And what's that for?

341

:

Would be interested in

pulling out of the other.

342

:

Whereas a lot of our culture is about

telling people what to do, which.

343

:

I know from my experience, certainly in,

as a man, a lot of that male domain has

344

:

been about, we'll tell you what to do.

345

:

And it's, I do wonder, is that this sort

of the power archetype of some kind coming

346

:

through there in a, in a general way?

347

:

It's, it's a question I don't know

if we need to answer, but it's just

348

:

a question that comes in my mind.

349

:

What, what are your thoughts on that?

350

:

Greg Donaldson: it's interesting when

you talk in that way because what I, I

351

:

always think about life, how you, how it's

experienced outside in terms of it being

352

:

a projection of what's going on inside.

353

:

So you can look at the world.

354

:

If you look at the world today, and

there's so much opposition and war, and

355

:

you can see what's going on in Palestine

and Israel and the Ukraine and Russia and

356

:

just in general human history, there's

this like oppositional kind of like, I'm

357

:

gonna wipe you out, kind of thing, And so

why would that be any different to what's

358

:

going on in, in our, in our psyches?

359

:

And it's a perfect, example actually

really of, of what you're saying

360

:

is look at all these structures

that we have that are to do with.

361

:

Management and Hierarchy.

362

:

It's exactly the same thing that goes

on in our heads, and so that's why we

363

:

love it, because we want it, we're like,

we're building the same things that go

364

:

on in our heads, but actually, now we're

coming much more round to this idea of

365

:

being, living in a, in a place where

it is much more of a kind of where it

366

:

isn't more of a curious discussion, and

hopefully that's how it is in our heads.

367

:

Do you know what I mean?

368

:

And that's how we can, we start to

realize that we're living with a kind

369

:

of, the board members of our own psyches.

370

:

And so we have to find ways

to communicate with them.

371

:

We can't just go in there.

372

:

and bang our fist on the table and

say, this is how it is from now on.

373

:

But, but most of, mostly all of us

do live in a dictatorship, or a cult.

374

:

That's one of my sort of favorite ways of

thinking about it is actually we're all

375

:

in a cult and, and we don't know we are.

376

:

because we've signed up and so we're

agreeing to all the kind of the, the

377

:

rules of how to be and how to operate,

and it's only when we come up against

378

:

possibly a, an existential crisis or,

or, or a place where, oh my god, I like,

379

:

I can't find any more meaning in my

life right now, it's because the board

380

:

members have all gone on strike because

they don't want to live in a dictatorship

381

:

anymore, so it's a natural reaction is

to go into Some sort of melancholy, or

382

:

meaninglessness.

383

:

Sal: that's so interesting and many of us

might be hearing this thinking, really?

384

:

Is that how it rolls?

385

:

Is that actually how the mind is?

386

:

But we do know it, don't we?

387

:

We know, of course, the classic

example, is perhaps getting, having a

388

:

few too many drinks, alcoholic drinks.

389

:

So the person who's got their act

together, maybe works hard, perhaps a

390

:

parent, does all the really good stuff,

a couple of glasses of wine or beers, and

391

:

suddenly they're like, yeah, I don't care.

392

:

And, and this is very different character.

393

:

Now we could talk about inhibition,

how the brain works, and we

394

:

won't get caught up in that, but.

395

:

What is interesting, I think, is

that sometimes those shifts, whether

396

:

it's chemical shift or whether it's

an existential shift, it brings

397

:

a part forward or an archetype

forward that may be in the recesses.

398

:

And I find it very

interesting that you're right.

399

:

There's this sort of perhaps leader.

400

:

in our minds.

401

:

And it could be, I don't

know, let's say it's me.

402

:

I'll take my example, Sal, the, the coach,

and it's diligent and this, that and the

403

:

other, and really committed to what I do.

404

:

Sometimes I'm just a,

I'm just a great big kid.

405

:

I just like to play and I'll

do really playful things and,

406

:

and I can be multiple things.

407

:

And, I've had the fortune of great

teachers and, therapists to help me

408

:

through that and understand that better.

409

:

But I think when we don't have

a clue of this stuff, it's

410

:

really, it can be overwhelming.

411

:

But what I would say is, and I'm

going to cycle back to the original

412

:

description, a really good movie, or

play if you like the, the deck, the

413

:

boards as they say, a really good

movie has a lot of characters in it.

414

:

And it's got all the parts, hasn't it?

415

:

It's got to have all the parts.

416

:

And I think we are so capable of

having all these archetypal parts.

417

:

and perhaps if we suppress them and

not understand them because we're

418

:

scared of it, we're in deep trouble

and then you're absolutely bang on.

419

:

This crisis of meaning can come up

because actually it's an internal crisis.

420

:

I'm going to speak to the word crisis

as well because I'm an etymology fan.

421

:

Crisis is the Greek, it

means to make a decision.

422

:

It's a decision point.

423

:

So we use crisis in our current

language as if, as in the word

424

:

catastrophe, but it's incorrect.

425

:

So if we really are having

a true crisis of meaning.

426

:

We need to make a decision and that

might look like I'm not going to be a

427

:

Mr Boring anymore, I'm not going to be

a hero archetype anymore, or I'm not

428

:

going to be a victim archetype anymore.

429

:

It could be one of these things

that is okay, that's got to

430

:

shatter because there's other

parts are going to come through.

431

:

Now, Greg, I know you're,

you're super skilled at this.

432

:

How?

433

:

Do we allow those other

parts to come through?

434

:

And of course through a school of

psychotherapists is a vital way, but

435

:

if someone's, is listening now and

thinking, okay, I get the sense of this.

436

:

I've got the sense of that and

the different versions of me.

437

:

how how do we start to allow

those parts of us to come through

438

:

on a, even on a daily basis?

439

:

Greg Donaldson: good question.

440

:

I think we have to be

careful not to overdo it.

441

:

Because, um, I remember myself when I

first started doing my psychotherapy

442

:

training, and there was like one

exercise where you close your eyes, And

443

:

you get on a bus, and you're on a bus,

and you realize that you're on a bus

444

:

with all these characters on the bus.

445

:

And then at some point it gets

revealed that they are you.

446

:

They're parts of you, right?

447

:

And so then when you get off the

bus, the idea is that you stand

448

:

there and then you like, label them

as they go, Oh look, there's Mr.

449

:

Thingy.

450

:

Oh yeah, he, oh look, there's Mr.

451

:

Depressed.

452

:

Oh yeah, there's the magician, there's

the pragmatist, there's all these.

453

:

But what starts to happen is You can

get overwhelmed with this sort of sense

454

:

of Oh my god, am I just gonna go crazy?

455

:

Because I've got like all

of these archetypes or sub

456

:

personalities in my head.

457

:

so my first invitation would be, Really,

it's only really crisis that actually

458

:

calls you into working or understanding

these parts of yourself, because they're

459

:

the parts that are necessarily not quite

working, they're the part, or they're

460

:

the parts that are, you're depressing,

or, or pressing away, that's why I

461

:

always think about depression, is that

actually, depression is, if you think

462

:

about it, you're talking about etymology,

I mean I don't know the meaning of that

463

:

word, but actually if you get into,

actually what it, it, how it sounds,

464

:

it, de pressed, I'm, I'm pressing down,

Uh, I'm pressing away a part of myself.

465

:

if you, if you, if you press away your

vitality or some aspects of you that you

466

:

were taught in your family cult wasn't

acceptable, then you become depressed.

467

:

so there are simple ways to do, to

find out what, the simplest way to

468

:

find out what you might be, hiding away

or depressing is to, is simply right.

469

:

put a line, get an A4 piece of paper,

write a line down the middle and on

470

:

the, on the left hand side write me,

and on the right hand side write not me.

471

:

Okay, and then in the column of

the me column, just write down

472

:

everything you identify yourself as.

473

:

I'm this, I'm this, I'm

this, I'm this, I'm this.

474

:

List it all out.

475

:

And then, and then, have a

really close look at that.

476

:

And then in the not me column.

477

:

Look at the absolute opposite

of what you've written down

478

:

and try and equate them up.

479

:

And that's not to say that, you've got all

of this stuff in the Not Me waiting for

480

:

you to be expressed, but there's a pretty

big clue that there's something that you

481

:

don't think you are in that Not Me column.

482

:

And that is a very simple way to

find out actually what you might

483

:

need to learn to bring out in your

life, what you might need to bring.

484

:

for instance, if you are, sensible, I

am sensible, in your not me, it might

485

:

be I am careless, or I am spontaneous,

or, so you find that and then it's like

486

:

you go, alright, so it's pretty obvious

that on some level I'm not allowing

487

:

myself to be, careless or spontaneous.

488

:

So how am I gonna do, how am I gonna and

what, but the, so the next thing is to,

489

:

is to think about this in terms of so

that line down the middle, what that, what

490

:

that actually represents in psychological

terms, is a kind of, a little bit like

491

:

a wall actually, and I'm coming, coming

back to Israel and Palestine, it's like

492

:

there's a wall, usually between what we

think we are, and what we think we're not.

493

:

And everything that we think we're

not, gets put in, the not side, right?

494

:

And it, and it, and, and

locked down in there.

495

:

And then what we do is we put guards

on that little wall, or that massive

496

:

wall, that are basically, put there in

order to keep the equilibrium, right?

497

:

You are allowed to be this, but

you're not allowed to be that.

498

:

And that, and so there, then someone

depressed, or having a crisis

499

:

of meaning comes into therapy.

500

:

And, they just basically want you

to strengthen that wall for them.

501

:

usually they're like, I just want to

feel better about who I think I am.

502

:

and actually, the way I see it

is, let's find out who you're not.

503

:

And celebrate that as well.

504

:

But the only way to do that

is by digging under the wall.

505

:

And creating, little escape hatches.

506

:

And then, so you start to irrigate.

507

:

You start to irrigate the energy.

508

:

So you bring across spontaneity,

you bring across a carelessness.

509

:

you can still be sensible, but you

are irrigating the conscious mind

510

:

with a little bit more other energy

from the, from the not allowed side.

511

:

Does that make sense?

512

:

Sal: It does make sense.

513

:

And I love that.

514

:

I know, I've been privy to this work.

515

:

It's fantastic.

516

:

what, what, what my thought comes up

in a sort of a straight away to that is

517

:

Yeah, but what if I do something bad?

518

:

So let's just say you've got

the sensible archetype, whatever

519

:

that is, let's call it sensible.

520

:

And then you've got the spontaneity,

spontaneous or the reckless.

521

:

And it could be easy to, oh my God,

but I, I can't be reckless and maybe

522

:

I've got a family or got work or

business and I, I can't do that.

523

:

So there can be some, I, I

sense some fear around that.

524

:

which I can only guess is

that I don't understand it.

525

:

That's what's coming up in my mind.

526

:

If there's fear coming up, there's a

lack of trust, and if there's a lack of

527

:

trust, it's because I don't understand it.

528

:

And I don't feel I can deal with it.

529

:

Which I wonder how you

might answer to that.

530

:

So if a person's having the same question,

what if I do let the reckless part come

531

:

up when I'm actually quite sensible,

and I need to be, and I'm scared of

532

:

that part, but part of me does want

to be a little bit reckless sometimes.

533

:

How would you help that person

navigate, maybe that fear I've

534

:

named, what would you do with that?

535

:

Greg Donaldson: Well, the first thing

that I would say to them is that it'll be

536

:

more dangerous not to let that part out

or not to irrigate that energy across.

537

:

Because, I don't know if you've ever

experienced this in your own life, I

538

:

certainly have, when, when I ignore a part

of myself, or, or something that needs

539

:

to be expressed, I either get depressed,

and feel, and feel the me, and cry,

540

:

crisis of meaning, or, I act out, this

part, this part that's being depressed,

541

:

or put, kept on the other side, will just

break the wall down, and come through,

542

:

and take over, and that's usually why,

why, why people are coming to therapy is

543

:

because something like that has happened.

544

:

The reckless part of them has come

out and said, I've had enough of this.

545

:

I'm not living in this cult anymore.

546

:

I'm gonna go and wreck the whole village

and comes out into the psychological

547

:

village and starts like, Punching

everyone and dragging everyone through

548

:

the streets and it's like the sensible

part goes Oh god, no, what's happened?

549

:

What's happened?

550

:

And then they they come to therapy in

order to like have the wall fixed again

551

:

and the recklessness put on the other

side so of course You're exactly right.

552

:

It is a fearful situation because

it's not one or the other.

553

:

It's not like I am sensible now I need

to be reckless It's like, what would

554

:

you do if you mixed sensibleness with

recklessness, what would you find in that?

555

:

Probably some kind of magical

potion that creates enough sort of

556

:

spontaneity and enough aliveness

that it brings a kind of fear, but it

557

:

also brings an aliveness, which is an

antidote to meaninglessness, right?

558

:

When, I think this is another part of what

we're talking about in terms of crisis

559

:

of meaning, is that actually, usually,

usually that comes from being too safe, to

560

:

some respect, because the wall is too well

defined, so actually when you add in, what

561

:

I call, stepping over the edge, then it

needs to feel like stepping over the edge,

562

:

So for someone who is very identified with

their being sensible, standing on the side

563

:

of a mountain with a parachute is going

to feel like I'm basically, I'm going to

564

:

die, this is it, I've reached the end,

so So that feels challenging, and I'm not

565

:

saying literally you're standing on the

edge of a mountain, but it feels like to

566

:

bring in a bit of, like, spontaneity may

feel like standing on the edge of a cliff

567

:

or a mountain, and so am I gonna fly,

am I gonna jump, and will the parachute

568

:

take me, or am I gonna plummet and, and

die, and the ego will always go for,

569

:

want to go for the safer option, will

always want to just head to that place.

570

:

Sal: So interesting, is it?

571

:

I love what you said.

572

:

I love that idea of this irrigation.

573

:

And I'm just imagining the sensible

part in me and then perhaps the reckless

574

:

or the, the not sensible part and,

and that irrigation, you're right.

575

:

It's so easy to get caught up in a black

and white mindset or binary mindset.

576

:

it's either this or that.

577

:

I'm either sensible or reckless.

578

:

And when actually it's like, actually life

doesn't really work like that because.

579

:

If you have all these parts in you, all

these archetypal parts in you, then it's

580

:

probably more of one part and less of

one part, like a sort of a graduation.

581

:

And I love what you said about

irrigation and what might happen.

582

:

Because of course, that's a

brand new piece of chemistry.

583

:

Psychological chemistry is going on there.

584

:

It's something magical.

585

:

And if you're stuck, If you have a

crisis and there's something needs to

586

:

change then we actually do need something

magical to happen there and and that's

587

:

a really beautiful way of describing it.

588

:

That really struck me so thank you.

589

:

I think one thing I think about the

ego and again ego gets a bad rap.

590

:

I used to be in yoga for a lot and

people say, Oh, you get rid of the ego.

591

:

I'd be like, why would you do that?

592

:

We all need the ego.

593

:

There's nothing wrong with the ego,

but I think ego in my experience

594

:

is actually quite a habitual thing.

595

:

It's like we have a habit of being

the, the I, that I know, whether that's

596

:

the serious person or the coach or

the joker or the playboy or whatever

597

:

the thing is that's, that's your.

598

:

Dominant type.

599

:

And we get quite, it's like a habit.

600

:

It's like a habit itself, like smoking

or, going to gym, whatever habit,

601

:

good or bad or healthy, unhealthy.

602

:

Our ego feels like it can be

a habit and there's a default.

603

:

So if we look at brain science, it's,

it's always the path of least resistance.

604

:

It's go to what you know.

605

:

So there's no surprise that the habit

repeats, even if it isn't helpful.

606

:

And.

607

:

What might happen if we were

to become clear on archetypes?

608

:

A question that's come up in my mind.

609

:

we, I'm going to give you an example.

610

:

I've worked with a client and she

was having a real problem with...

611

:

communication with other people.

612

:

And she felt like there was a lot

of dominating characters in her, the

613

:

place she was working and her company.

614

:

And we spoke about what

archetype, what version of you

615

:

shows up at the conversation.

616

:

And it was actually a bit like a

fighter, but actually more of a

617

:

victim as if something's going to

get, I'm going to get a beating here.

618

:

I'm going to get a verbal beating.

619

:

So she was already on the defense.

620

:

So neurologically,

she's in a flight state.

621

:

She's already prepped and ready.

622

:

And Instead of a conversation,

it was always a An argument

623

:

that was her belief pattern.

624

:

So we explored a little bit about the

archetypes of the victim, and it's always

625

:

happening to me and what that might be.

626

:

And we played about, what version

of you could step up to those

627

:

conversations differently.

628

:

And we looked at the queen

archetype, and this was her,

629

:

her term, not mine, her queen.

630

:

And I got her to describe what

her queen archetype was, and

631

:

it was more of a powerful.

632

:

More of a person who had some power,

some, skill, some strength, as opposed to

633

:

a smaller sort of squashed down person.

634

:

And it seemed to help this person

really well, but I know you are

635

:

very clear on this, that we have

to be careful of the archetype and

636

:

perhaps the shadow and the light.

637

:

So using our queen analogy, and I

know you've said this to me before,

638

:

but what might we want to look out

for if we, if we step into that

639

:

without really thinking it through?

640

:

What type of queens might there

641

:

be?

642

:

Greg Donaldson: this is it.

643

:

I think I know what you're getting at.

644

:

if you look at actually royalty and, and

dictatorships throughout the, the ages,

645

:

you can see where, that kind of sovereign

power can be also abusive or, or, shadow

646

:

it's like I am the absolute, truth, I'm

the connection to God, I think, I think,

647

:

royal archetypes are really useful in

terms of like king, queen, even like in

648

:

the tarot with the sort of, Prince and

Princess, it's all the, it's like a sort

649

:

of sense of oh yeah, you're on your way,

you're on this journey to king, to your

650

:

kingdom or to your queendom, but, but

that's not to say also that, that the more

651

:

kind of, Sort of like, if you think about

like in the, in the Queen of Swords, which

652

:

is in tar, in a tarot deck is about like

becoming like absolutely sharp, mentally

653

:

focused and, and then, at work, for

instance, with your client, it's not about

654

:

her needing to come like, oh, the friendly

queen that will like, look after everyone.

655

:

It might be the queen that has to

be like, looks at one eye, and kind

656

:

of sees what sees what her domain.

657

:

And then the other eye is purely, a

cold eye, no, it can see what needs

658

:

to happen, off with their heads.

659

:

I can't hire these people anymore.

660

:

Look, they're absolutely useless,

I need to get rid of them.

661

:

and that becomes, that's useful,

but it's still, can be powerful,

662

:

and it's not like the Queen of

Cups, for instance, that would be...

663

:

I am the loving queen, the loving mother

of creativity, and this is what I need

664

:

to imbibe in my people, this sort of

sense of, let's all share, and I will

665

:

share my wealth, and all this kind of

stuff, which is another great archetype,

666

:

so yeah, you're right, there has to

be kind of specificity to these kind

667

:

of, thinking about these archetypes,

and actually what they might offer in

668

:

their shadow as well that could, could

get attached to that power, right?

669

:

That's why you might need, also

need the fool in there, to come

670

:

in and tell the truth with humour.

671

:

in case the, King or Queen get, carried

away with their own sense of power.

672

:

You

673

:

Sal: That's, yeah, it's such

an interesting point, isn't it?

674

:

Because I'm picturing, I'm very visual,

so if you can play along, I'm imagining

675

:

a stage, because Greg being an actor,

and on that stage, you know, the, actor

676

:

at that moment steps forward and does

their lines and delivers their piece.

677

:

And then, of course, if it's all very

serious and the idea of the, of the,

678

:

The performance is to be quite comedic.

679

:

You might get someone butt in and

make a, like an absolute joke of them.

680

:

And it could be the joker or the

playful one or whatever it is.

681

:

And of course, if we don't allow

those aspects of our mind to step

682

:

forth and step back to graduate in

and graduate out and to balance, then

683

:

we're slipping to a very, uniform way.

684

:

Aren't we?

685

:

As in one.

686

:

And of course the

problem with one is that.

687

:

If we need to be a certain way because

we always need to be a different way.

688

:

it's, you, you don't want to

be at work how you are at home.

689

:

if you lead at work, you don't walk into

the house and go, Everybody dinner at six.

690

:

You're not an MD you're a dad, a mom

or something or if you're playing with

691

:

your kids you don't go, I don't know.

692

:

You don't become like

a different archetype.

693

:

That's not helpful rather than the

dad archetype or mom archetype.

694

:

So I think there's a skillfulness,

isn't there about what?

695

:

version of me, what archetype, what aspect

of me needs to come forward at this time?

696

:

And I think that's what I've learned from

this work is that if we don't understand

697

:

what's needed at this time, Either a habit

will happen, which would be an old habit

698

:

and perhaps an unhelpful one, or if it's

predicated on fear or something like that,

699

:

it might just become a defender, batting

off everyone, instead of an explorer who's

700

:

Wow, this is a brand new exciting thing.

701

:

I've no idea what's going to happen.

702

:

So I think there's a skillfulness, isn't

there, about if we're in a crisis of

703

:

meaning, if we're really struggling with

where we're at, how we can embody and

704

:

tune into archetypes, but no, What's

appropriate now, and maybe it's a bit of

705

:

a blend, it's like the queen and the joker

need to come together to the meeting,

706

:

or perhaps it's the, I mean there's the

sage archetype, one of my favourites,

707

:

because it's got stuff I like to do,

but the sage archetype is of course is

708

:

all wisdom and light, but what about

the explorer who's like, well I don't

709

:

know, let's go have a look, so if we

bring forth the right balancing, we're

710

:

going to shift, and if it is a crisis

of meaning, You need to make a choice.

711

:

And it's which one are

you going to choose?

712

:

Or which several are you going

to choose to come forward?

713

:

I'm interested to know, Greg, what

are your, I know there's some, if

714

:

we look at Carl Jung's work, and

there's guys, we'll put some links

715

:

in the show notes, but there's some

overarching archetypes, aren't there?

716

:

Are there any that really stand

out for you that are helpful when

717

:

we're going through a crisis?

718

:

Greg Donaldson: Yes, there are.

719

:

there's a brilliant book by Rod Boothroyd

called Warrior, Magician, Lover and King.

720

:

And that's a really useful way

of looking at those kind of four

721

:

archetypes, especially for men,

I think there might even, there's

722

:

the same version for women as well.

723

:

but it's, it's about setting

up your council, if you like.

724

:

So it's like the king is the,

is the overall purpose holder.

725

:

It's I look at my life and this is what

I want to experience, this is how I

726

:

want my life to be, these are my values.

727

:

And then you, and then you go

about, with the team, the team

728

:

of warrior, magician and lover.

729

:

So you've got your kind of warrior

who will go out into the world.

730

:

and do the whole kind of career thing

or do or basically work out a way to

731

:

be in the world make sure that you're

fed and housed and taken care of.

732

:

The magician is more like the the

kind of puzzle, he's the one that

733

:

kind of comes up with the, the

solutions to the puzzles of life.

734

:

you give him the, the kind

of, oh, how do I need to think

735

:

about this, this, this problem?

736

:

Or what's this thing

that's going in my life?

737

:

And the magician can help with that.

738

:

And then the lover is about, like,

how you do relationships, isn't it?

739

:

Like, how am I gonna, can I bring

intimacy into my relationships?

740

:

Not just, romantic relationships,

but, like, all relationships.

741

:

And so you've got these, amazing team

of archetypes there, led by the king.

742

:

The problem that we see a lot is that the

king abdicates, and just puts his feet

743

:

up, and then those, those other three,

they go off and just do their own thing.

744

:

So if they don't have a leader...

745

:

then they can be, they can start

working for their own causes, which

746

:

then leads into another whole load

of other trouble, So that's one

747

:

lens you can look at it through.

748

:

Another lens that I like to look

at things through is Caroline Miss.

749

:

she talks about, archetypes and these

kind of contracts that we, we come into

750

:

this life with and lessons to learn.

751

:

Alright, and she's got this

idea that there are four

752

:

archetypes that we all share.

753

:

Now, two of them you might

find quite surprising, right?

754

:

So you've already mentioned the

victim archetype, and the other

755

:

one is the prostitute, right?

756

:

And it's really, that's really, I

find that so fascinating, because

757

:

actually, no one wants to identify

themselves as having a victim archetype.

758

:

But actually, we're all,

we've all suffered, right?

759

:

It's if you go into sort of like the

Buddhist teachings, it's the first

760

:

law is like, life is suffering, right?

761

:

And so, and so the victim archetype

speaks to that in terms of yeah, we,

762

:

we, we do, we all have suffering in our

lives, no matter what that looks like.

763

:

Some of it might be more, look

more extreme, in terms of like

764

:

childhood abuse and childhood trauma.

765

:

But, but whatever happens to us, we

come through our childhood and we're

766

:

traumatized to some level, right?

767

:

you could say with a small t, but it's

like you might get ignored, or you just

768

:

being born, traumatic event, right?

769

:

so the, the thing about the victim

archetype is if you get identified

770

:

with that one, then actually what you

attract to you are the archetypes, she's

771

:

talking about the The triangle, the

victim triangle, the, you get into this

772

:

kind of you'll get people who are going

to come and rescue you out of that,

773

:

or you're going to get people who are,

become your sort of perpetrator, become

774

:

the person that's bullying you, right?

775

:

So then, so then that circle of those

three archetypes gets to just play along,

776

:

and then, but then on another level,

think about that in terms of that's an

777

:

internal triangle, it's like when I'm

in my victim, then who comes along?

778

:

The, the, the person in me that thinks

they know better and that they should

779

:

get rid of this victim and stand up for

themselves, so that might be useful,

780

:

but it also might not be useful.

781

:

so I, I can do a lot of work with

people around how to, almost build,

782

:

what I get people to do is I get

them to build a statue in their

783

:

own mind to the victim, right?

784

:

It's yeah, you make it big and gold and

shiny and massive, As big as you like, and

785

:

then bow down to it and give it everything

like yes, you have suffered, and then get

786

:

up and walk away from it, alright, and you

know it, you know it exists, it's there

787

:

in your psyche, but now I'm going to go

over here and do this, too many people

788

:

set up camp at the bottom of that, that

statue and go I'm just going to live here,

789

:

because this is, this is much, This is all

I need actually, it's just like my, my,

790

:

my enjoyment of this suffering, when I say

enjoyment of suffering, it's that comes

791

:

from the sort of tantric view of like,

all of these, demons that we have, or all

792

:

of these archetypes, that we can, even

if they're in the shadow side, there's

793

:

some pleasure we're getting out of it.

794

:

There's such a pleasure of being a victim.

795

:

I can, it's like I'm eating

suffering for breakfast, it's like

796

:

I get, get something from that.

797

:

so all the work is, I find interesting,

it's just about yeah, whatever's

798

:

there, notice it and honour it, and

find out why you need to honour it.

799

:

And then, and then, coming back to what

you were saying about transitioning,

800

:

learn how to become a little bit

more of the witness or the conductor.

801

:

So you can direct the energies through.

802

:

It's like, oh, now I feel the

rebel coming through, or Mr.

803

:

Sensible needs to come back, or,

or like a mixture of the two, which

804

:

creates an alchemy of skillful will.

805

:

You know what I mean?

806

:

We'd say in psychosynthesis, once

you bring love and will together,

807

:

you get this skillful will.

808

:

And so you could say the same about

archetypes when they maybe start working

809

:

together, collaborating together.

810

:

like the King, the Warrior,

the Lover, Magician thing.

811

:

Suddenly you get this alchemy

of expansion and creativity

812

:

Sal: Beautiful, beautifully put.

813

:

There's images in my

mind, I'm very image led.

814

:

I've got this, because being an

actor, it's all on stage right now,

815

:

but I've got this image of all these

parts, all these archetypes, and the

816

:

spotlight is shining down on one.

817

:

But if you're cool, you can be a

light, lighting conductor as well.

818

:

And you shine the light

on different archetypes.

819

:

You might be brighter on the king, a

little lighter on the lover or, um,

820

:

bright on the, on the warrior archetype.

821

:

And you can start to play and

brighten up and add people in.

822

:

It's, it's fascinating, isn't it?

823

:

of course it's a huge field and we've,

we've, we've obviously touched on it.

824

:

and to obviously give everyone a

feel and I think in a way, perhaps

825

:

some understanding that you're

way more than perhaps just the

826

:

identity you might be attached to.

827

:

And that's a good thing.

828

:

That's a healthy thing.

829

:

You can be way more.

830

:

And when you start to gently understand

these aspects of self, and I've

831

:

done a lot of work on this myself,

understanding the bits that we've hidden,

832

:

the bits that are shameful, the bits

you don't like or don't understand.

833

:

When we start to bring everyone

in the room, in the mind,

834

:

you start to go, Oh, okay.

835

:

So all these parts, and instead of

it being terrorizing or scary, you

836

:

start to understand it's more of a,

a collage or hologram of sorts, where

837

:

this beautiful contrasting nature of all

these parts can actually reside together.

838

:

But we need the light of awareness

to understand this and we need the

839

:

light of awareness to, to bring things

together and, and, and as you say,

840

:

Greg, to alchemise, to really use that.

841

:

take a breath.

842

:

Greg, thank you for your time, your

knowledge and your thoughts and

843

:

sharing with us about archetypes

and, and how they may help.

844

:

If you're struggling

with crisis of meaning.

845

:

Perhaps I invite you to really feel

this, that there's something possibly

846

:

coming through and it's actually a

chase, a point of decision and change,

847

:

not necessarily something terrible.

848

:

And I think this is such a thing I've

learned from my psychotherapeutic

849

:

background, into my coaching work.

850

:

And Greg, of course, has shared

a lot with me that actually a

851

:

difficult time isn't necessarily bad.

852

:

It could be the right catalyst for change.

853

:

So it can be like, OK, I'm

really struggling right now.

854

:

That's telling me something shifting

as opposed to I got to get rid of it.

855

:

So I hope that this is an

inspiring, insightful line of

856

:

thinking that you can take forward.

857

:

And of course, we will leave

Greg's details in the show notes.

858

:

We'll add some bits around

the books Greg mentioned.

859

:

And yeah, perhaps when you go

away from this session, sit for

860

:

a second, get that pen and paper

out, draw the line down the middle.

861

:

Who are you?

862

:

And who are you not?

863

:

I just get super interested in

that because what we don't look

864

:

at is often really insightful.

865

:

so it's an amazing simple, yeah,

elegant exercise Greg's given us.

866

:

thank you, dear listener.

867

:

Thank you, Greg, for your time and your

868

:

wisdom.

869

:

And, I'll talk to you on the next one.

870

:

Take

871

:

care.

872

:

Sal Jefferies: Thank you

so much for listening.

873

:

If you enjoyed the episode,

please subscribe and if a friend

874

:

would benefit from hearing this,

do send it on to them as well.

875

:

If you would like to get in touch

yourself, then you can go to my website,

876

:

which is sal jeffries.com, spelled S

A L J E F E R I E s sal jeffries.com.

877

:

Hit the get in touch link and there

you can send me a direct message.

878

:

If you'd like to go one step further

and learn whether coaching could help

879

:

you overcome a challenge or a block

in your life, then do reach out and

880

:

I offer a call where we can discuss

how this may be able to help you.

881

:

Until the next time, take care.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Mindset, Mood & Movement

About the Podcast

Mindset, Mood & Movement
Human performance podcast for life and business
Welcome to the Mindset, Mood & Movement Podcast. Your essential resource for founders, freelancers, and business owners looking to optimise their mindset, health, and business success.

Dive deep into the realm of human performance with us as we explore the systemic connections between psychology, emotions, and physical wellbeing, and their profound impact on achieving success and fulfilment in both personal and professional life.

Discover 3 key outcome areas: enhancing performance, redefining fulfilment, and cultivating peace of mind. Join me every fortnight as I feature guest specialists in various fields, offering invaluable insights and expertise. In alternating weeks, tune in to the mini-episodes where I address specific challenge and provide actionable guidance on overcoming these obstacles.

Each episode is crafted to provide education, tools and strategies for you, whether you're navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship or seeking personal growth in your professional journey. My podcast serves as your ultimate guide to self-improvement and achieving excellence in your endeavours.

Expect to gain practical insights, delve into expert interviews, and receive actionable strategies tailored to the unique needs of small business owners and ambitious individuals striving to make a positive impact on the world.

About your host

Profile picture for Sal Jefferies

Sal Jefferies

I’m Sal - Human Performance Coach, Educator and Founder.

Everything I coach and teach is what I practice in my life. Strength training, exercise, breathing practices, self development, ongoing mindset work, being vulnerable and constantly learning.

At mid-life, I'm curious to how we can shape the second half of our life whilst using the latest science and learning's from psychology, emotional regulation and physical health. Over the last 25 years, I have immersed myself in many Eastern influences from philosophy, yoga and meditation. I find in our current world, there's much to learn by combining the latest science with ancient wisdom.

For me, remaining fit, healthy and curious helps me increase performance, find fulfilment and create peace of mind. I believe this is important both a personal and professional life.

My professional endeavours, which inform my work, include:
Human Performance Coaching (for Founders), Contemporary Psychotherapist, Yoga Teacher, Strength & Conditioning Trainer and Breathwork Trainer. Before this latest chapter of my life, I've been a Photographer, Advertising Exec & Dancer.

When I'm not working, educating or learning, I'll be out with my dogs by the sea in Brighton, UK.