When Words Don't Work: Finding a Way Forward

Whether it’s an intractable dispute at the United Nations or a teenager’s dirty clothes on the floor, some conflicts are impossible to solve with words. When we raise difficult issues in our relationships, such as whether to have a child, address a partner’s alcohol consumption, or negotiate spending, we may discover that the other person stonewalls. A refusal to engage can take us from one difficult question to another: what does obstruction say about the relationship? Are we strong enough to handle difficult conversations? When repeated attempts at communication fail, a different approach may be needed. Deb shares her mentor’s rule: if you have clearly raised an issue three times without a meaningful response, it is time to step back and find support, perhaps from a friend, a therapist or a lawyer. This can lead to self-examination, a new perspective, or facing a painful reality and developing the strength to act.  The famous conflict between Jung and Freud proved unresolvable, leading to a permanent schism between the two giants of psychoanalysis. This plunged Jung into his confrontation with the unconscious that generated all his subsequent work and established analytical psychology as a discipline. Creative possibilities can arise if we have the strength to move on when there is no prospect of repair with the other. Visit our website to read today’s dream and follow up on the resources we mention.  Connect With This Jungian Life Take a look at This Jungian Life Dream School, our online course in Jungian dream analysis. Send a dream for us to analyze on the show Watch bonus mini-episodes on our Patreon channel Follow This Jungian Life on Instagram