Topic: MENTAL HEALTH
The most comprehensive formulation of therapeutic goals
is the striving for wholeheartedness: to be without pretense,
to be emotionally sincere, to be able to put the whole of
oneself into one's feelings, one's work, one's beliefs.
Karen Horney, German-born U.S. Psychoanalyst
The neurotic . . . feels caught in a cellar with many doors,
and whichever door he opens leads only into new darkness.
And all the time he knows that others are walking outside
in sunshine.
Karen Horney, German-born U.S. Psychoanalyst
Comment: Christ is the Light of the world. He is the Light of your life. He knocks on the
door of your heart hoping you will let Him in. He is the sunshine, sonshine, or any way
you want to spell it.
All the pretenses to which a neurotic resorts in order to
bridge the gap between his real self and his idealized image
serve in the end only to widen it.
Karen Horney, German-born U.S. Psychoanalyst
Comment: With Jesus, you don't have to pretend. With Jesus, you can be honest. All the
garbage, pain, torture, abuse, sins, mistakes, fears, whatever is in your soul can be
pushed over to Him. He will love you for it. He will love you for being honest and not
pretending or having pretenses.
Fortunately, analysis is not the only way to resolve inner
conflicts. Life itself remains a very effective therapist.
Karen Horney, German-born U.S. Psychoanalyst
Comment: The greatest therapist of all time is Jesus Christ. His love the most healing
influence, His wisdom the greatest guide, His mercy the greatest reconciler, His
forgiveness the greatest cleaner. His All the greatest filler of the darkness in your
soul.
The therapy effected by life itself is not, however, within
one's control . . . Life as a therapist is ruthless.
Karen Horney, German-born U.S. Psychoanalyst
Comment: Jesus is the Rock in whom we can find a place to hide while we heal as a result
of His healing love for us.
Resolve to be yourself; and know that he who finds
himself, loses his misery.
-- Matthew Arnold
Comment: He who finds Christ losses himself and finds not the old self but a new self. A
new self is born every time a person lets the old self die in Christ's loving arms.