Freud About Developing A Strong Sense Of Self

Sigmund Freud believed that if you have a strong sense of self (ego), you are able to understand your own needs and also intuitively understand the boundaries that society imposes on you. If you have a strong sense of self, you can move freely through life. You will have no trouble recognizing your internal oppression, and you will be happy and fulfilled in your daily life.

We should start by saying that many of the basic psychoanalytic ideas are no longer valid. Concepts such as penile erection or female hysteria are obsolete. Nevertheless, psychoanalysis has been able to be relevant by embracing new ideas and adapting to modern times.

The Viennese quack

In his day, Freud’s ideas were new and risky. One of his nicknames was “the Viennese quack” because people thought his techniques were too eccentric. Nevertheless, the flame he lit all those years ago is still burning, even though it has lost some of its heat. Studies such as one from Linköping University in Sweden show that the main problem with psychoanalysis these days is how long the treatment takes.

This type of therapy requires four sessions a week for as many months or years as the patient needs. These days, people have trouble making that kind of commitment. Modern life is demanding and we are used to immediate gratification. Adjustment to such a long treatment plan is not always possible. This is why modern therapists rely much more on faster treatments.

Sigmund Freud would be completely against it. He believed that one of the most important goals of a psychoanalyst should be to work on the patient’s self-understanding (ego). The psychoanalyst must make this mental force a healthy individual and heal any conflict that gets in the way of their freedom and well-being.

To do so, Freud believed that commitment, time, and a patient willing to go deep were necessary.

A strong sense of self in the midst of the limitations of mental powers

One of Freud’s most interesting works is definitely his book A briss der Psychoanalyse (outline of psychoanalysis). Interestingly, this is actually an unfinished book. When he wrote the book, Freud was in exile due to World War II. He was already quite old, and his health did not allow him to complete what ended up being a posthumous and revealing book.

The book was a synthesis of what he had already written about. But he also used it for a deep dive into his most relevant theories. Some examples of these are the mental apparatus, the interpretation of dreams and psychoanalytic technique. The most important part of this book is the further definition of the terms “id, ego and superego”.

For the first time, the famous Viennese psychoanalyst dived into the idea of ​​a strong sense of self and the human need to consolidate this sense of self in the mental architecture. Freud also said that it is complicated to develop a healthy sense of self. Freud believed that this is why many of us do not become fulfilled, happy or free.

Reasons why you have not developed a strong sense of self

There are two opposing forces that exist together in you. On the one hand, it is id, with its basic and elementary needs. On the other hand, you have the superego that reflects the internalization of society’s strict rules. Superego limits your desires, ambitions and dreams.

• According to Freud, id always needs something and always feels unsatisfied in one way or another. The ID is anxious, restless, and does not understand the past or the future.

• The superego, on the other hand, is a complex entity that holds us back. It limits our freedom, controls our behavior and shatters our dreams. Superego is a social and cultural entity that shapes us and suppresses id.
• The ego, the feeling of the self, is in the middle of all this. You can not always fulfill your needs with obligations, dreams and desires that fit into the shape of society. This may be part of the reason why we often do not want to develop a strong sense of self. In addition, we feel fragmented and lost because of it.

How can I develop a strong, healthy and happy sense of self?

In the book Abriss der Psychoanalyse , Freud explained that there are a number of factors that determine whether you can develop a strong sense of self. He suggested the following reasons:

• Excessive dependence on your parents: Freud believed that children spend more and more time maturing and becoming independent people. They develop release and initiative much later in life.
• To have a childhood and youth full of rules, punishment and strict upbringing.
• Growing up without close and loving role models that enable optimal development.

As you can see, Freud believed that childhood is a very important time in a person’s life. Yet the truly valuable part of his posthumous work is the advice he gives to develop a strong sense of self:

How to strengthen the sense of self

• To get a strong sense of self (ego), do not fight against your id or superego.
• The point is to maintain a balance between these forces. You should try to achieve harmony between your needs and your obligations.
• For these two energies to come together, you must shine a light on everything you have suppressed or hidden inside you. As you work on this aspect of yourself, your hidden needs, motivations and worries will come out. You should also deal with childhood fears, traumas and memories that you have not yet processed.
• Freud also talks about how important it is to work on your own independence. Once all your different dimensions are exposed, you need to deal with them in a mature way.
• It is possible that you think you have never got what you deserve. This unresolved anxiety will follow you wherever you go. One way to have a strong sense of self is to free yourself from that need. After all, necessity leads to submission and disease.

Finally, many of Freud’s ideas are still relevant today and invite us to reflect on some important concepts. Strengthening your sense of self is something you have to work on every day practically your whole life. So just keep working on yourself. It is definitely worth it!