Sublime

Emotional pain stems from the body’s contraction in response to the loss or disruption of a loving connection.

No person is free who is tied to a defensive position. This is true of the neurotic character who erects psychological walls and armors himself muscularly as a protection against possible hurt, only to find that the hurt he feared is locked into his being by this very process.

the “death instinct,” which he saw as a “compulsion inherent in organic life to restore an earlier state of things.”

““Why do so many people have difficulty in breathing fully and easily? The answer is that breathing creates feelings, and people are afraid to feel. They are afraid to feel their sadness, their anger, and their fear.””

When one stops struggling against fate, one loses his neurosis (internal conflict) and gains peace of mind.

When guilt or shame are attached to feelings, the conflict is internalized and creates a neurotic character.

Therapists who are trained to see people as complex human beings with multiple characteristics and potentialities can help them explore their system of inner parts and take care of the wounded facets of themselves.