Why do we need to know who we are, be aware of how we feel, and be true to that?
Let's just say that there's a man who is a deeply introspective and self-aware character. He is acutely conscious of his own intelligence and yet, paradoxically, feels an intense sense of alienation and inadequacy in the face of society's norms and expectations He is often at odds with himself and the world around him. He despises the shallow and meaningless of the society he lives in, yet he is unable to break free from its influence. He has a desire for human connection and love, but he sabotages potential relationships and isolates himself believing that he is unworthy.
This is a brief summary of the contradictory views of the Underground Man, the protagonist in Fyodor Dostoevsky's "The Notes From the Underground". We all can imagine a story similar to this in our own lives. I don't believe that there's anyone who has been through life long enough will only feel the experience of agreeableness throughout.
There will always conflicts inside of us. From what we see, what we think, what we do and engage ourselves in, these conflicts are the root cause of distress and neurosis. This is the fundamental concept of psychological turmoil resulting from the misalignment of intentions and actions. It highlights the tension and discomfort that can result when one's inner values or intentions do not align with their external behavior or communication.
What we think (want, desire, believe in, etc.) isn't aligned with our actions, or the life we live doesn't align with what we believe in, or the core values we hold. The best example we all can relate to would be going every day to work on the job we hate and find no meaning in, and possibly with the people we can't stand being around.
Yes, it's essential that we provide for ourselves and our families, it's our basic survival responsibility. But as long as we can put things into perspective, seeing it as it is– whether it be a job to provide, or a platform to seek validation and approval from society, whatever that reason may be. We need to affirm its purpose that although we are doing our best at the job, it doesn't measure our worthiness or define who we are– and detach our emotions from it.
Sound pretty impossible especially when we're deep in the game. I, too, used to completely lose my ground in this game of rat race to understand that in the world of responsibility and deadlines, we don't see inwardly. It will always be about looking outside with eyes fixed on the future and keeping sprinting so that we won't be the last ones behind.
Hence, self-awareness will serve as a life vest to keep us afloat in the presence of the here and now, to prevent us from drowning in the sea of madness and distress of maya.
But for this part, we will start by understanding a bit more about how emotional inner conflict caused by the misalignment between intention, action, and speech, can leave us feeling overwhelmingly stuck in psychological turmoil.
The exploration of this concept has been a significant theme in the works of several influential psychologists and thinkers. Through their respective lenses, each of them offers unique insights into the human psyche, and some reflect that in their literature work. For example, Sigmund Freud; the father of psychoanalysis, delved into this topic by introducing the "id," "ego," and "superego" which represent different aspects of the psyche (similar to Jung's concept of the shadow, persona, and the Self). To Freud, the inner conflict can arise when the ego, which seeks to balance the primal desires of the id with the moral and societal standards of the superego, struggles to reconcile with the conflicting forces within our psyche. In short, your inner Self and your ego self are total strangers, like in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Jean-Paul Sartre, an existentialist philosopher, introduced the concept of "bad faith". It is a form of self-deception, an excuse if you will, in which we act inauthentically by failing to align our actions with our true intentions and values. Sartre's philosophy highlights the inner conflict and alienation that result from such inauthenticity, emphasizing the importance of confronting one's true self. Seek authenticity is the key concept here.
Carl Rogers, a humanistic psychologist, emphasized more on the significance of congruence in personal growth and psychological well-being. He posited that inner conflict often arises when individuals experience incongruence between their self-concept and their external experiences, actions, or communication. His work also underscores the importance of authenticity and self-acceptance in resolving this inner turmoil.
And for the literature work I mentioned above, Fyodor Dostoevsky brilliantly portrayed the emotional inner conflict in the protagonists of his literary masterpieces. His characters evolve through this theme of human struggles with the moral and psychological turmoil that emerges when their intentions and actions diverge. His works explore the profound consequences of such misalignment on the human soul. Exceptional work of novella, but very very dark.
In summary, this recurring theme in philosophy, psychology, and literature reflects the complexity of human nature and the challenges individuals face when trying to navigate their inner values, external behaviors, and the expectations of society.
Misalignment between intention, action, and speech reflects the discrepancy that can arise when our internal thoughts and motivations do not align with our external behavior and communication. This incongruence often leads to emotional inner conflict and a sense of inauthenticity, then the alienation from the Self.
And where will you end up being if you don't even want to be with your Self?
The inescapable inner world of madness.
