Book: Memories

Looking at death head-on can do a lot of good.

One of these arguments was the famous “symmetry argument,” which posits that our state of non-existence after death is identical to our state of non-existence before birth, but that the thought of our “pre-existent” state is never alarming. Century after century philosophers have attacked this argument, and yet, in my opinion, it is beautiful in its simplicity and still has significant force. He has brought comfort to many of my patients - as well as to myself.

To treat grief, the therapist cannot remain detached; he must face mortality.

The only consolation that can accompany us in dying is the knowledge that we have lived well.

although the reality of death can destroy us, the thought of death can save us. It helps us realize that since we only have one life, we should live to the fullest and end our lives with as few regrets as possible.

So many philosophers, in one form or another, echo the words of my patient dying of cancer: “What a pity that I had to wait until my body was crippled by cancer to learn to live.”

In psychotherapy, what matters is personal honesty and openness, not professional authority.

I always recommend that future psychotherapists undergo personal therapy: “Your self is your main tool. Find out as much as you can about him. Don’t let your blind spots keep you from understanding or empathizing with your patients.” At the same time, from the age of fifteen I myself was so closely associated with one single woman, and after that all my life I was so immersed in the life of my extensive family, that I often wonder if I am able to truly penetrate into the world of a person who walks living alone.

The relationship between memory and emotion is tortuous: too little or too much emotion often impairs memory.

Memoirs - no doubt this also applies to these memoirs - are fiction to a much greater extent than we like to think.

Now, when I look back, I am overcome with aching tenderness for this lonely, frightened, determined boy - and reverence for him, who somehow made his way through self-education, albeit a disorderly one, who saw no encouragement, no life examples, no guidance .