Suffering

In a community where I participate I posted this quote from Jung the other day: “Neurosis is always a substitute for legitimate suffering” ― C.G. Jung  And a friend responded, "Yes, I've always thought that was a stunning statement, Cheryl. Could you unpack it a bit? (Especially the "legitimate" thing?) " Here is a post I wrote about this a year or so ago:   I have been thinking about the following from Jung for a number of years.   "... the principal aim of psychotherapy is not to transport the patient to an impossible state of happiness, but to help him acquire steadfastness and philosophic patience in face of suffering. Life demands for its completion and fulfillment a balance between joy and sorrow." Jung, Collected Works, Vol. 16, p.81   This is not a message most people want to hear. It is tough to accept that suffering is part of life, that it is meaningful and unavoidable. It is hard for patients and often hard for therapists as well to stay with what is painful, to resist the urge to dart away into what is more comfortable, soothing, or easy. This way of understanding therapy also flies in the face of a feel-good orientation which seems to dominate American culture. We want to medicate, meditate or otherwise eliminate suffering, not face into it, sit in it and explore its meaning.  
Source: Jung At Heart - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Source Type: blogs