The courage to Be: authenticity and daseinsanalysis
What does it truly mean to live an authentic life? It is a question that has echoed through the ages, pondered by thinkers, artists, and anyone seeking a life of meaning. We often associate authenticity with "being true to ourselves," but this simple phrase hides a profound and sometimes unsettling depth.
From the perspective of Daseinsanalysis, a form of psychotherapy grounded in existential philosophy, authenticity is not about finding a fixed, pre-existing self. Instead, it is a dynamic and courageous way of engaging with the fundamental questions of our existence. By exploring the ideas of philosopher Martin Heidegger and his therapeutic successor, Medard Boss, we can gain a richer understanding of what it means to live authentically in a complex world.
Heidegger and the question of Being
To grasp Daseinsanalysis, we must first turn to the work of Martin Heidegger. He was not a psychologist, but his philosophy provides the bedrock for this therapeutic approach. Heidegger was interested in the question of "Being" itself. He used the term Dasein, meaning "being-there," to describe the unique way humans exist. Unlike a rock or a tree, we are aware of our own existence, and this awareness shapes everything.
Heidegger argued that we often fall into an "inauthentic" mode of living. We get lost in the "they" (das Man), the anonymous crowd, the societal expectations, and the everyday chatter that dictates how we should think, feel, and act. In this state, we are not truly choosing our path; we are simply following a script written by others.
Authenticity, for Heidegger, requires confronting three core aspects of our existence:
1. Thrownness (Geworfenheit)
We are all "thrown" into the world. You did not choose your parents, your place of birth, your historical era, or the body you inhabit. These circumstances form the unchosen backdrop of your life. Acknowledging this "thrownness" means accepting the specific, concrete reality you must navigate. Inauthenticity arises when we try to deny or escape these facts, wishing we were someone else or born in another time. Authenticity begins with standing firmly in the here and now, with all its limitations and possibilities.
2. Being-in-the-World (In-der-Welt-sein)
Heidegger saw our existence as being fundamentally intertwined with the world. We are not separate subjects observing an external reality; we are always engaged, involved, and in relationship with our surroundings. Your "world" is not just the physical environment but a web of meanings, relationships, and concerns. Medard Boss later emphasised this, suggesting that psychological distress often stems from a restricted or closed-off way of "being-in-the-world." We might feel alienated from others, trapped by our circumstances, or unable to see new possibilities. An authentic life involves an open and responsive engagement with our world.
3. Being-Towards-Death (Sein-zum-Tode)
Perhaps Heidegger's most challenging concept is the idea that to live authentically, we must confront our own mortality. The awareness that our time is finite is what gives our choices weight and meaning. For Heidegger, death is the "possibility of the impossibility of any existence at all." It is the one thing no one can do for you. When we ignore our mortality, we tend to live as if we have all the time in the world, putting off important decisions and drifting along with the crowd. Confronting death clarifies what truly matters. It shatters the illusion of the "they" and forces us to ask: "Given my limited time, how do I choose to live?" This confrontation with our finitude is the ultimate call to an authentic existence.
Medard Boss: Bringing philosophy into therapy
Medard Boss, a Swiss psychiatrist, was deeply influenced by Heidegger and saw the profound therapeutic potential in his philosophy. He developed Daseinsanalysis as a way to help individuals understand their unique "being-in-the-world."
Unlike other therapies that might focus on diagnosing a disorder or uncovering unconscious drives, Daseinsanalysis seeks to illuminate how a person experiences their existence. The therapist does not impose interpretations but helps the client see their own world more clearly.
For Boss, psychological symptoms are not just problems to be fixed; they are expressions of a restricted existence. For example:
Anxiety is not just a chemical imbalance but a fundamental "existential anxiety" that arises when we feel our being is threatened. It is the unease that comes from facing our freedom, our responsibilities, and our mortality.
Depression might be understood as a "closing-off" of one's world, where possibilities seem to vanish and the future feels empty.
The goal of Daseinsanalysis is to help individuals "light up" their world, to see the possibilities for being that were previously hidden. It is about moving from a state of being "lived" by circumstances to actively "living" one's life.
Embracing Authenticity in your own life
The Daseinsanalytical perspective offers a powerful, albeit demanding, path to authenticity. It is not a quick fix but a lifelong practice of awareness and choice. How can you apply these ideas?
Acknowledge your 'Thrownness': Take stock of your life's unchosen circumstances without judgment. Your past, your family, and your culture are part of your story. Authenticity lies not in changing these facts, but in how you choose to respond to them today.
Examine your relationship with the 'They': Notice how often your choices are guided by what "one" should do. Are you pursuing a career, a lifestyle, or a relationship because you truly desire it, or because it is expected of you? Gently questioning these influences can create space for more personal choices.
Reflect on your finitude: You do not need to be morbid, but allowing the reality of your limited time to enter your awareness can be a powerful motivator. This reflection can help you prioritise what gives your life meaning and let go of trivial concerns.
Open up to your world: Pay attention to how you engage with the world around you. Are there areas where you feel closed off or stuck? Cultivating curiosity and openness can reveal new ways of relating to others, to your work, and to yourself.
Living authentically, from a Daseinsanalytical viewpoint, is about courage. It is the courage to face the anxieties of existence, to take responsibility for your choices, and to live in the light of your own finitude. It is about choosing your own path, even when it diverges from the well-trodden road of the "they." This journey is not about arriving at a final destination called "the authentic self," but about embracing the ongoing, dynamic process of being human.