The Man Who Solved Life

everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves Carl Young do you ever stop to wonder why certain types of people just instantly piss you off maybe it's a kid in class who never stops being cringe or people who sing all the time or a friend who constantly Hogs the spotlight according to the philosophy of Carl Young there might be something deep within you that's just like that annoying person it's the part of us that we refuse to see our shadow but embracing this part of us might bring forth answers

to questions about ourselves we've always had in this episode we'll dive into Carl Young's groundbreaking ideas about the human mind exploring the Hidden World of the unconscious you'll learn how to confront Your Shadow because if you do not you will slowly become the very thing you despise imagine what it takes to be the kind of person willing to spend an entire lifetime digging into the depths of the human mind does such a person become more human or do they trade their Humanity in the process of finding meaning all the great thinkers throughout history likely encountered

this dilemma as they dug deeper into the human psyche a man who wasn't spared from that fate is Carl Young a swis psychiatrist and psychoanalyst young is pretty well known as a Pioneer in his Fields particularly because he did a lot more than study the mind he mapped it out like an Explorer charting unknown territories his work laid the foundation for some of the biggest ideas and technology today from personality types to Concepts like the inner child at least that's how textbooks describe him however he wasn't some Sage who found understanding after a week of

meditation to understand why he was able to provide reliable insights for many people it's best to take a peek into the life that led him down a road that he paved with his own hands and perhaps extra hands some of you may be familiar with to help guide us through this journey I've brought along my friend Noah who will take it over from here young was born in 1875 in keswell Switzerland the son of a pastor young respected his father father but found that his rigid religious beliefs were too confining to follow into adulthood this

was the first clash between spiritualism and skepticism planting seeds that would allow him to genuinely explore his eventual fascination with the unconscious mind young spent a lot of time alone as a kid often daydreaming and reflecting on his own thoughts he later described this period as his first ever encounter with the unconscious a theme that would go on to dominate his life's work originally pursuing medicine young had no inclination towards Clinical Psychology but an interest in mental illness led him to Psychiatry how this sprung up is fascinating at some point in his mid-30s Carl Young

experienced what he described as a horrible confrontation with the unconscious one where he saw visions and heard voices it got to the point where he even began to worry that he was menaced by a psychosis or doing a schizophrenia it makes you wonder if his knowledge of mental illness wasn't Advanced would he have had the chance to emerge from this confrontation or would he have succumbed as another nameless victim of his time thankfully we got the former due to these events in 1900 young decided to transition into working at the Burk Holley Psychiatric Hospital in

zurk it was here that he began studying patients with schizophrenia this location was also his first encounter with Sigman Freud's work soon after looking into Freud's ideas he made contact with him and the two began exchanging letters quickly the pair gained a friendly and intellectually stimulating relationship they would often engage in strong debates on Freud's work and over time young Rose through the ranks of psychoanalysis and became Freud's Protegé he evolved into the man that Freud believed was fit to carry on his legacy but young didn't stop at Freud's theories he expanded on them sometimes

in radical ways while Freud was fixated on repressed sexual desires and the influence of childhood on individuals young believed that the human mind was more than a fleshy storage unit for past traumas he envisioned the psyche as a self-regulating system that strives to maintain balance and develop itself he also believed that it consists of three layers the ego this is the conscious mind or the part of us that interacts with our world it's your sense of self it's the voice that you hear when you're thinking like for example right now you aware that you're watching

this video and that voice in your head is telling you this the personal unconscious this is sort of like a personal storage unit for forgotten memories and suppressed emotions it's highly unique to each person and finally the collective unconscious now this is where young really broke new ground in Psychology this concept is one that is centered on a new approach one where the personal unconscious is the product of a deep Universal layer of unconscious that all humans share this Collective unconscious is filled with the archetypes that can be found among people in other words Primal

symbols and motifs that appear in myths dreams and stories across cultures that have never made contact with each other for example you'll find some variation of dragons as a myth in cultures located vast oceans away from each other that's an archetype however for young these archetypes help to better Define human [Music] behavior among the many archetypes that Carl Young defined there were four that he identified as the most influential on human behavior the Persona the mask that we wear in public it's the virsion of ourselves that we present to the world one that's shaped by

societal expectations the Shadow the part of ourselves that we deny reject or hide it's the thing that is behind our repressed desires and impulses like the culmination of everything that we would never admit that we are Ana or animus the inner feminine side within men is the anima while the masculine side within women is the Animus to Young integrating either aspects as they apply to genders could lead to a better psychological balance the self this is the ultimate goal of yian psychology the self is what represents a union between the conscious and unconscious mind creating

wholeness and [Music] individuation but before we look further into that let's take a peek at some of the interesting archetypes proposed by young while those four are the most well-known there are others worth learning about as you dig deeper into yian philosophy an archetype that might quickly grab your attention is the puer aternos or Eternal child this archetype reflects a person that resists growing up much like the fictional character Peter Pan in fact some psychologists actually refer to it as Peter Pan syndrome you most likely know a Peter Pan in your life the person who

peaked in high school and can't seem to let the past go they avoid responsibility and are stuck in a rebellious teen phase while these people can Inspire wonder and creativity if left unchecked they can become stuck in a loop of escapism often lost in a fantasy version of who they are unable to put in the work that it takes to make their ideas a reality if you can relate to this recognizing the traits of this archetype can be the first step towards personal growth another intriguing but less popular archetype is the senx or Wise Old

Man one that serves as a symbol of wisdom and guidance you'll often find these figures in dreams or stories as mentors like for example Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars Trilogy this archetype can help individuals find direction during periods of tough time or uncertainty despite finding a tight-knit friendship the nature of their Works mixed with individual Brilliance meant that there would be disagreements between young and Freud but it wasn't just because of professional disagreements that they grew apart it was tied to how Freud believed that sexual desires were the Primal driver for human behavior

but young thought that this was far too narrow maintaining that the idea could go further than that young argued that myths spirituality and a person sech for meaning played just as important a role in shaping the human psyche these ideological differences became a rift that never fully healed with some hard lines drawn it was clear that Young's departure from Freud's Circle was much bigger than a personal matter it was more like a split between the field of psychology itself Freud's Legacy would eventually evolve into psychoanalysis meanwhile young carved out a completely new path called analytical

psychology this approach was quite broad emphasizing the importance of personal growth symbol interpretation and the internal Journey towards self-discovery understanding who young was and how he developed his theories is helpful when looking deeper into the concepts will explore later in this video from Shadow work to individuation the Swiss psychologist's ideas offer a road map for anyone seeking to understand themselves better but his theories weren't Flawless ideas accepted by all psychologists toward the end of this episode we'll take a look at the resistance that young faced especially from prian circles for now though let's take a

leap of faith into the shadow where the hidden parts of ourselves await in Hope and misery you're at a party when you meet a loud attention-seeking person who wants to start a dance circle you've always disliked when people try to make themselves the main character out in public you're not quite sure when it started in some ways you feel like you've always been this way you roll your eyes thinking I could never be like that but what if that reaction wasn't a simple bit of annoyance what if it was a reflection of something hidden and

buried deep inside you this discomfort you may start to feel is a doorway into one of Carl Young's most compelling ideas the shadow one of the four core archetypes young described the shadow as a part of our psyche where we stuff away tra emotions and desires that we find incompatible with who we think we are it's kind of a psychological junk drawer that holds parts of ourselves that we'd rather not acknowledge you know that's stuff that you never want to see yourself as jealous greedy or spiteful but out of sight doesn't always mean out of

mind the shadow has ways of sneaking into our lives such as showing up in projections like the moment that you see that person at a party and for a brief moment you see your repressed qualities in other people a mother scolds her daughter for being outspoken confident and friendly with people on the surface it might look like this mom is just a mean and harsh person but the shadow tells a different story the mother could have been much like her daughter early on in life but that changed when she faced rejection for being too much

growing up in a small town where tall poppy syndrome was a thing a term used to describe bringing down successful individuals who stand out she lost a job for for outshining her boss and her friends abandoned her for being a pikney because she was outspoken with such experience in her youth the mother buried those parts of herself learning to Value quiet humility instead now seeing her daughter embody that same boldness stirs uncomfortable emotions and instead of confronting the shadow she lashes out unbeknownst to her it's not her daughter's Behavior she despises but the Echoes of

her younger self a person she works so hard to repress the greatest tragedy of the family is the unlived lives of the parents Carl Young this is how the shadow dances in our lives slipping through generations and relationships it's a strong reminder that our judgments often reflect inner wounds not objective truths once we recognize these Dynamics in our relationships empathy can quickly replace frustration the mother's scolding is more than a harsh reaction it's an invitation to heal by acknowledging the hidden parts of ourselves we soften our edges and inch closer to self-acceptance but what do

we do once we encounter the shadow to Young confronting this part of ourselves could unlock growth and more self-awareness this process is known as Shadow [Music] work Shadow work isn't a fancy term to lucid dream your way into defeating your inner demons as cool as that sounds instead it's a bit like befriending the monster under your bed by facing the parts of us that have only known Darkness for so long we reduce their hold on us and reclaim the energy we once spent suppressing them in practice it looks like this journaling about moments where you

had strong emotional reactions asking yourself what part of me is the situation reflecting or working with a therapist trained in yian analysis yes you can engage with professionally trained therapists on this topic modern psychology has embraced Shadow work as a tool for healing and you'll often find therapists who guide patients in exploring unresolved childhood experiences or repeated patterns in relationships helping Trace these patterns back to unacknowledged parts of their psyche even outside of a therapist's office people tend to use Shadow work as a form of personal growth exploring guided meditations self-reflection exercises and even dream

analysis all to engage with their inner self at its core the concept of Shadow reminds us that growth isn't about becoming a new person contrary to the popular advice about Reinventing yourself Shadow work encourages us to move closer to wholeness by embracing the light and dark sides within us do you ever walk into a crowded room filled with conversation and laughter yet you feel like a ghost you're present but unseen it's like everyone else is plugged into something greater and you're not instead you stand apart disconnected this peculiar loneliness this sensation where you're surrounded but

unknown is one that points to something much deeper than mere isolation to Carl Young it reveals a fragmented self longing for integration the antidote to this individuation now individuation sounds like a fancy word to justify self-isolation if you listen closely though it might just help you discover ways for you to be your most authentic self among others in many ways individuation is a lifelong process of becoming your true self it's the process that people go through as they achieve a distinct and stable personality it's not really about self-improvement at least not in the conventional sense

with individuation you're not adopting new habits or polishing aspects of your s that you consider weak instead it centers on uncovering and integrating the most disparate parts of yourself you know the thing in you that sees something and makes you automatically think I'd never do that in a million years the ego the Shadow the anima SL animus and the self are all integral to this delicate dance within once these elements are aligned we are able to step a little closer to hold wholeness however if they are rejected or ignored we drift further away from our

Essence this amplifies feelings of alienation and the worst part about that is constantly trying to fill the hole with things that will never truly fix you individuation isn't a one-size fits-all solution but with it you stand a chance to handle your inner turmoil with strengths you haven't truly realized are there loneliness is often a signal that this inner work is being neglected because of that we attempt to fill this void externally by seeking attention admiration and validation we start to hold on to the hope that if others notice us maybe the ache inside will subside

social media doesn't help with this tendency either encouraging main character energy where one's life is curated for an audience we slowly become performers in our own stories desperate for validation and Applause yet young argues that this Pursuit is hollow how is this possible for one individuation teaches that fulfillment doesn't come from being seen but from seeing ourselves and others with Clarity mix that with a healthy dose of compassion and things start to make a lot more sense let's use this example you scroll through your Instagram feed occasionally pausing when you're looking at a perfectly curated

life of an acquaintance as you stare intensely at their photos you feel a twinge of Envy arising rather than dismissing This Bitter emotion in embarrassment consider this moment as an invitation to experience individuation what could be the unmet desire or repressed quality that this Envy highlights do you envy their holiday photos because you're secretly longing for adventure do you talk down about them returning to their EX for the third time because you're secretly scared nobody loves you enough to want to keep trying do you have secondhand embarrassment for their weird Tik Tok videos because you've

had to keep up an appearance of being put together all it comes down to is the parts of yourself that have gone unnoticed individuation asks you to sit with these feelings in totality no judgment just you looking in the mirror and unraveling the messages held within your discomfort this process of turning inward is what helps cultivate a richer connection to the self in a paradoxical way it also lessens loneliness as we engage in deep self-reflection we grow and become better equipped to engage with the world authentically slowly the need for external validation Fades and it's

replaced by a cool quiet confidence one that is entirely rooted in self-awareness a practical approach to individuation and by extension combating loneliness involves shifting our Focus outward now sure this may seem counterintuitive but by noticing others constantly striving to be no noticed we dissolve the barriers that isolate us so the next time you're outside instead of thinking about how depressing it is that you don't have many friends try something new living outside of your own head consider striking up a genuine conversation with someone who often Fades into the background the types of people that you

think of as NPCs a delivery guy or a shop owner nothing too crazy just a little bit of human connection pay attention to the unnoticed details of their Story by building a habit out of a simple act you can experience some transformative changes in your own life as you learn to see others deeply we mirror that same sort of attention inwards fostering the same recognition within ourselves it all starts to make sense once you draw it out in your own head if there are parts of you that aren't ever seen as relevant within your own

self you're likely using a similar level of harshness in how you judge other people to some extent young believed that Solitude was an essential ingredient in individuation but it's not the loneliness that happens when you're disconnected from the world around you instead it's the Solitude that exists when you're in tune with the unconscious Mind through constant practices like meditation journaling and creative expression we're able to engage with the hidden parts of our psyche allowing the unconscious mind to finally speak these solitary moments are what weave together the fractured aspects of the self drawing us ever

closer to psychological wholeness to begin this journey here are some practical steps worth looking into engaging in Creative Outlets creativity is often overlooked in the journey towards self-improvement but being familiar with who you are and how your mind prefers to express itself is crucial art music and writing are the source of things that bypass our ego's defenses allowing hidden aspects of ourselves to surface forget about producing a masterpiece instead create for the sake of exploration it's the journey or process itself where the True Value lies therapeutic exploration yian analysis or other depth oriented therapies are

strong sources for a sense of structure towards individuation a trained therapist can guide you in steps like engaging with the shadow uncovering projections you've held towards other people and integrating unconscious material practicing mindfulness when you're able to carve out moments of Stillness every day it'll go a long way in getting you comfortable with being yourself it also allows you to reflect on emotional triggers recurring conflicts or intense reactions asking yourself what part of me is being activated here is a helpful way to unlock some profound insights building authentic connections individuation thrives in a relationship this

goes beyond the Romantic side of things and into communities or friendships where vulnerability is encouraged by sharing your inner world with others you can accelerate individuation revealing hidden strengths and blind spots within journaling emotions and dreams dreams are seen as the language of the unconscious they offer clues about neglected parts of our psyche when you keep a journal by your bed and quickly write down your dreams upon waking you'll gain some cool insights over time symbols and patterns start to emerge pointing to areas of yourself in need of integration instead of viewing life as some

sort of performance you start to fully inhabit it the loneliness Fades not because the external World shifts but because you're able to deepen a relationship with yourself you start to recognize that the connections you seek outwardly are at their core a reflection of the connections that you've cultivated within Young's perspective on individuation isn't some far-fetched Ed ideal meant for philosophers or Mystics it's for the everyday person a practical path laid bare for anyone willing to engage with their inner landscape while the journey is sure to be solitary at times it leads us back to the

collective making us more connected whole and a lot more at peace with who we really [Music] are although Carl Young has proven himself to be a helpful voice in the field of Psychology today his influence hasn't been met without a healthy amount of skepticism Concepts like the shadow archetypes and the collective unconscious have helped to shape Psychotherapy pop culture and literature yet critics have had one specific issue with the philosophy and the issue in question is the metaphysical nature of Young's theories to put it simply there are a lot of people who feel that Young's

work can't really be tested with science or put in Practical terms if we truly want to fully appreciate this iconic philosopher's work it's essential to explore his strongest criticisms and the debates they've ignited within psychology as a [Music] whole it's well established that young was seen as Freud's Protegé and potential successor both agreed on a lot especially in their interests in the unconscious mind as we noted earlier their philosophical paths eventually diverged and this led them to some significant theoretical clashes Freud who is known for a psychoanalytical framework emphasized the importance of sexual drives and

repressed desires as the primary forces that shape human behavior creating a model of the psyche he believed that our Behavior revolved around the id ego and super ego painting an image of humanity that's largely driven by our early childhood experiences for young he proposed a broader more spiritual View of the unconscious instead of focusing solely on the personal feelings of repression he introduced the collective unconscious as an idea using it as a collection of shared archetypes and symbols that our species inherited from our ancients critics believed that Young's departure from Freud's beliefs pushed him in

a direction that was much more imaginative than his old friend however it also lacked the empirical foundations that were emphasized and maintained by Freud by choosing to focus on symbols myths and dreams yian psychology felt too out there and some considered it to be in speculative [Music] territory now the biggest part of Yin philosophy that raises eyebrows is his mysticism this is a person who was never one to shy away from astrology Alchemy or religious symbolism young was ready to explore the human psyche in ways that had never been done before this further cemented his

reputation as a thinker who constantly straddled the line between metaphysics and psychology some interesting things about young include his belief in synchronicity the idea that coincidences always have a meaningful connection he also used tarot cards and an iching an ancient Chinese text that functions similarly to tarot these resources helped young better understand the psyche but he also Drew sharp criticism from numerous numerous contemporary psychologists who prefer to be more grounded in Empirical research some argue that Young's Embrace of mysticism tends to detract from his work's credibility modern psychology is something that prioritizes constant results that

are repeatable with tests and data driven methods meanwhile with Yin analysis there's a lot of emphasis on subjective experience which means that it struggles to meet the criteria set out by modern standards there are critics like Like Richard null an award-winning author known for the young cult the origins of a charismatic movement who believe that Young's approach is a quasi spiritual movement rather than a scientific discipline even going further to claim that Young's approach is similar to that of a religious leader not a psychologist this mystical quality which is often the subject of criticism for

young is also what makes him so appealing the innate willingness to engage with the unknown and explore the mind is something that resonates with certain types of people you know the sort of people who seek meaning beyond the confines of materialism for many yian psychology is what offers a bridge between science and spirituality IT addresses questions of purpose transformation and identity the things that psychological models tend to [Music] overlook another common critic of Carl Young's work lies in the complexity it brings things yet there aren't many practical ways to apply them when you take a

look at Concepts like Thea and animus individuation and the shadow there's this abstract way that they are described this makes it difficult for the average person to implement in their daily life or fully grasp unlike something along the lines of cognitive behavioral therapy which is a form of treatment that uses clear structured techniques when addressing mental health issues in youngi analysis things tend to feel slow moving or for a niche audience with individuation there's a strong belief that it's an essential element for psychological growth yet it lacks any clear or actionable steps critics argue that

without any concrete methods Yan therapy is really just a type of introspective exercise that yields basically no tangible progress in clinical settings this ambiguity can get frustrating for patients seeking immediate relief from their psychological distress [Music] in the 21st century you'll notice that Yi psychology has evolved quite a lot some practitioners have attempted to ground some of Carl's ideas into contemporary research Neuroscience is a field that has started to show interest in the role of the unconscious particularly in the ideas like the unconscious mind and its role in influencing patterns of behavior this heavily Echoes

Young's notion of archetypes yet we also have some Modern psychologists like Jordan Peterson who draws heavily from yian ideas in his writings and lectures he also has faced a lot of criticism for oversimplifying or misrepresenting Young's more nuanced theories Peterson's take on Concepts like the shadow has introduced young to wider audiences but it has also sparked a debate on whether or not these simplifications dilute the richness of Young's original work one thing Yi and psychologists can't seem to shake away from is this portrayal of the anima and animus arguments are often made about the description

of these inner figures as they tend to reinforce gender stereotypes on one side femininity is seen as emotional and passive while masculinity is represented as strength and logic while yian analysts Point towards the fluid and constantly evolving nature of these archetypes critics argue that such Frameworks actually risk promoting dated Notions of gender [Music] roles despite the strong criticisms Young's work continues to prove valuable his theories invite exploration into the inner World in ways that extend beyond diagnosing symptoms instead of feeling like a checklist Yi in Psychology encourages a holistic approach to mental health although some

of his ideas can't withstand scientific scrutiny they still offer tools for self-discovery and artistic inspiration on a deeper level criticisms of young mirror the dualities that he sought to explore in his work especially relating to science versus spirituality Young's greatest contribution doesn't lie in providing definitive answers to questions but rather promoting us to ask much deeper questions about the nature of the human mind and the Mysteries shaping our [Music] existence Carl Young ideas didn't fade out with the 20th century No they've woven themselves into the very fabric of today's Art Pop Culture and psychology his

exploration of archetypes and the collective unconscious play a major role in the way stories are told and how we understand ourselves in cinema we can easily see this impact on some of the most iconic works of our time directors like Christoper Nolan George Lucas and David Lynch have openly drawn from yian philosophy to craft complex and symbolic narratives the hero's journey storytelling structure popularized by mythologist Joseph Campbell himself a devote student of young is the basis of countless Blockbusters ranging from Star Wars to The Matrix these stories resonate so deeply with audiences because they mirror

the archetypes and patterns described by Young in his work this philosophy is so relatable it helps Pop Culture by reflecting Humanity shared psychological experiences outside of film Young's ideas are solidified in music literature and even video games the concept of a battle between light and dark a search for self-actualization and an integration of the Shadow are recurring themes found in countless creative Works artists usually channel the unconscious to make their best work transforming personal and Collective symbols into Expressions that are understood universally now that we live in an era of identity exploration and increased mental

health awareness taking a look at Young's emphasis on individuation feels more relevant than ever his work offers something Beyond Simple insights instead it's a map for those seeking meaning in an increasingly fragmented world [Music]