Today is May 28 and the Navigate the Chaos question to consider is “How often do you remind yourself that you are both the artist and the picture?
Austrian medical doctor Alfred Adler established the school of individual psychology and is considered the first community psychologist, because his work pioneered attention to community life, prevention, and population health. Adlerian psychology emphasizes the human need and ability to create positive social change and impact.
Adler was one of the first psychotherapists to disregard the symbolic couch in favor of two chairs, to create a sense of equality between patient and clinician. Adler also focused greatly on family dynamics, specifically parenting and family constellation, as a preventative means of addressing possible future psychological problems. With a practical and goal-oriented approach, Alfred held a theory of three life tasks – occupation, society, and love – that intermingle with one another. Success and health in each and all life tasks is dependent on cooperation.
According to Adler “We are not determined by our experiences, but are self-determined by the meaning we give to them; and when we take particular experiences as the basis for our future life, we are almost certain to be misguided to some degree. Meanings are not determined by situations. We determine ourselves by the meanings we ascribe to situations.” Adler wrote, “Every individual represents a unity of personality and the individual then fashions that unity. The individual is thus both the picture and the artist. Therefore, if one can change one’s concept of self, they can change the picture being painted.”
This approach challenges many people to think differently about their personal development. You have the ability to create the life you envision but doing so involves two components: you must first envision the picture and then you must paint it.
Focusing on your disadvantages will prohibit you from exploring the many possibilities that exist for yourself. It may also limit your ability to paint the life you envision. Take it easy on yourself. Remain open to the possibility that you are both the picture and the artist.
How often do you remind yourself that you are both the artist and the picture?