Stanislav Raevsky read for us the book by James Hollis “Life is like a journey. Questions and Questions.
“Every book by James Hollis is an event. After reading «The Pass in the Middle of the Road» (Cogito-Center, 2008), dedicated to the midlife crisis, I wanted to invite the author to Moscow. Hollis responded immediately, and his lectures were profound and — equally — understandable to every listener. James sees great potential in every individual, regardless of age or education. For him, as a follower of Carl Gustav Jung, psychological problems are not a disease, but part of the life of the soul. They just show that we are not realizing ourselves. But it is never too late to understand your fate.
Ten chapters of the new book are ten questions for your life. A separate publication can be devoted to each, but the author manages to clearly and emotionally touch on all these topics. Even if you read only one chapter and try to think with the author, you will become freer and closer to yourself. For example, in one of them Hollis asks: what is your individual myth? What restrictions does it create for your soul? Here are examples of such myths: “I need to find a problematic person and be responsible for it” or “I can’t get close to anyone because I’m afraid that they will leave me.” Any such myth, until it is comprehended, prevents us from living a full life. Of course, it is easier to understand this process with the help of a psychologist, because unconsciously we hide our secret even from ourselves. Every day I encounter these myths and see how afraid my clients are to realize them.
- Once I got lucky…
And here are a few more questions — chapters of the book: “What is my calling?”, “What do I owe to the world?”, “What do we do with death?”, “What gives me support?” The first and most important step is to ask yourself each of these questions, without escaping into your usual routine and indulging in mental laziness or shame. Maybe the answer won’t come right away. But for those who are lost in their lives and do not feel solid footing, Hollis’s book will show the way and give strength to follow it.