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Chuck Gafvert's avatar

Another Jung quote that inspires me through much of what you describe: “No matter how isolated you are and how lonely you feel, if you do your work truly and conscientiously, unknown friends will come and seek you.”

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StoicMom's avatar

This Stack has a tendency to post articles that pertain to what’s on my mind. Synchronicity? Collective consciousness? Anyway, thank you!

Jung is also the one who helped us understand why it’s so difficult to see others since we’re viewing them through the filter of our shadow projections. I’d venture to guess that Dan’s ugly duckling heiress had come to love and accept herself, and this is why she was able to offer him the welcome embrace he was craving.

I think we feel seen when we’re in the presence of someone who’s begun to withdraw their projections, learned to listen, practiced “seeing” the other, the human behind the words coming out of their mouth.

Something else I’ve noticed that I think contributes to the level of “separateness” that people experience today: we think that if others don’t agree with us, they must not really understand us. If we can’t persuade them to adopt our views, they’re not really listening. There’s a pervasive immaturity among today's adults that can’t tolerate ambiguity.

I also love how you’ve described the high stakes of sharing our creative gifts with others–the gifts that it seems we’re meant to offer. So vulnerable! Maybe being able to do this also requires some shadow work–at least to a level that we can withstand the judgment of those who’ve done none of their own.

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