If we are lucky, this time of year brings a fresh perspective and often the intention to finally realise our goals and ambitions. It takes courage to open yourself up to the world and risk rejection. However, nothing new is possible without risk and the potential of making a fool of ourselves. When confronted with a new idea or a piece of work, the fear can be overwhelming. To expose oneself to the world in order to fulfil what is required can seem too much. Too often we keep our desires and ambitions hidden. We want to wait until we are in a “better place”. But unfortunately we can spend months in this state. We then become what Maria Von Franz called “puer aeternus”, or eternal adolescent. She writes about it in her book “The Problem of the Puer Aeternus”.
If dreams are never tested, our potential remains unrealised and we can stay in a world of fantasy. However, we could then resent our own creativity because of the frustration of seeing our potential wither as we age.
It may not take much to rekindle that creativity and risk exposing our talents. Being seen by another, really seen, can be all it takes to bring our talents to the light. Therapy can help with this as we need the support of another to encourage us to reveal what we are capable of. This can feel precarious at first. It brings to mind the opening of a rose. This song by Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue shows how beauty does not come without the pain or discomfort of those thorns.