Melancholy is an antiquated word that for centuries was used but has now fallen out of favor in psychology. Melancholy is a particular species of sadness. It isn’t an illness or a mental problem. It’s just a human problem. Melancholy tends to involve the pleasure of reflection and contemplation of the things we love, lost, […]
Are You Feeling Melancholy?
“Besides my numerous circle of acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant – my melancholy… My melancholy is the most faithful mistress I have known…” Soren Kierkegaard The word “melancholy” is no longer used much these days, sad to say. So exactly what does the word mean? There is no exact answer but here are […]
Letter # 40 – Sitting on a Rock by a Small Stream
Dear Mr. Lee, I’m sitting on a rock beside a small stream in the Memphis Botanical Gardens as I write this letter to you. My name is Thomas and I am a 25-year-old graduate student who knows where you have been. I can and do identify with everything you have written in The Flying Boy. […]
Symptoms of Depression and Passivity
Sadness that does not abate The passive person is often sad in part because they do not actively grieve their missed opportunities, sabotaged relationships, passed over for promotions and much more. When depression is not bio-chemical it is usually brought about by repressed and denied emotions that continually build into full-blown depression. Loss of interest […]
Announcement – I will be offering 2-Day Intensive Sessions in Austin, Texas beginning September 1, 2016
I’m pleased to announce that after a break from offering my 2-day Intensives in Austin, Texas, I am now making those available again starting September 1, 2016 at the Austin Men’s Center, thanks to Director Bill Bruzy. As most of you know Austin is not only charming and beautiful, it is a convenient location for […]
Unbecoming: From Despair to Love-Part 3
Coming here to this cottage in the woods I assigned myself what I know now to be an impossible task and that was to learn how to be alone again and in so doing engage in the task of being happy. I needed to know that in this rural setting with no lovers, wives, little money, but dump truck loads of peace and quiet I could I acquire this illusory thing called happiness that everyone including me has been so desperately searching for most of our lives.