Four worlds of existence and their paradoxes

A simple introduction to the idea of four worlds of existence and the paradoxes and tensions we have to manage on each dimension.
Copyright Emmy van Deurzen.

1. Four worlds of existence and their Four worlds of existence and their
paradoxesparadoxes
Emmy van Deurzen Emmy van Deurzen

2. Emmy van DeurzenEmmy van Deurzen
brief CVbrief CV

Philosopher: Philosopher:

Masters in 1974, Montpellier, FranceMasters in 1974, Montpellier, France

Doctorate in 2000, City Uni, London UKDoctorate in 2000, City Uni, London UK

Psychotherapist: Psychotherapist:

trained from 1973-1977, Saint-Alban, Agen, Bordeaux, trained from 1973-1977, Saint-Alban, Agen, Bordeaux,
Esalen, London (Lacanian, psychodrama, Esalen, London (Lacanian, psychodrama,
group/community therapy)group/community therapy)

Clinical psychologist:Clinical psychologist:

Masters Bordeaux Uni, France 1977Masters Bordeaux Uni, France 1977

Lecturer andTrainer Lecturer andTrainer since 1977, Arbours, South West London since 1977, Arbours, South West London
College, Antioch Uni, Regent’s College, City Uni, Schiller Uni, Sheffield College, Antioch Uni, Regent’s College, City Uni, Schiller Uni, Sheffield
Uni, New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, Middlesex Uni.Uni, New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, Middlesex Uni.

Course director and manager since 1982Course director and manager since 1982

3. Author of 13 BooksAuthor of 13 Books
EXISTENTIAL
COUNSELLING &
PSYCHOTHERAPY
IN PRACTICE
EMMY VAN DEURZEN
THIRD EDITION

4. Book Book
on Happiness on Happiness
best intro to these ideasbest intro to these ideas

5. Onto-dynamics: living wiselyOnto-dynamics: living wisely

Learning to live in line with the laws of life. Learning to live in line with the laws of life.

Paradox, conflict, difficulty and dilemmas are Paradox, conflict, difficulty and dilemmas are
our daily companions. our daily companions.

With a crisis thrown in here and there.With a crisis thrown in here and there.

The way you respond depends a lot on the The way you respond depends a lot on the
worldview and strength you build up for worldview and strength you build up for
yourself yourself

Your courage and flexibility will increase with Your courage and flexibility will increase with
practice as you gain greater perspective and practice as you gain greater perspective and
depth on the challenges of livingdepth on the challenges of living

6. We learn to make sense of life by We learn to make sense of life by
learning about oppositeslearning about opposites

7. Life always has both positives Life always has both positives
and negatives at all levels: and negatives at all levels:
life=tensionlife=tension

8. Life is about positives and negativesLife is about positives and negatives
We can’t have the good, unless we tackle the bad We can’t have the good, unless we tackle the bad

9. The paradox of life is that only as we face one side of life will The paradox of life is that only as we face one side of life will
the other work for us. Opposites work in tandem. the other work for us. Opposites work in tandem.
Only to the extent that Only to the extent that
we accept polarities, we accept polarities,
conflicts and conflicts and
contradictions do we contradictions do we
learn to live with truth learn to live with truth
Onto-dynamics rather Onto-dynamics rather
than psycho-than psycho-
dynamics:dynamics:
Life is tension Life is tension
between oppositesbetween opposites

10. Energy is the flow between two Energy is the flow between two
polespoles
Source: kidzoneweather.com Source: kidzoneweather.com

11. DialecticsDialectics

Thesis, antithesis, synthesis.Thesis, antithesis, synthesis.

Human evolution proceeds with Human evolution proceeds with
constant conflict and forward constant conflict and forward
movement in overcoming a previous movement in overcoming a previous
state. state.

Paradoxes and dilemmasParadoxes and dilemmas
can be integrated can be integrated
and gone beyond. and gone beyond.

12. Transcendence
Thesis Antithesis
Synthesis
DialecticsDialectics

13. future
Thesis: my view
(past )
Antithesis: your view
(present)
Dialectics: Dialectics:
transcendence in spacetranscendence in space
Synthesis:
a wider view

14. Socrates: the unreflected life is not worth Socrates: the unreflected life is not worth
living. The good life is passionately lived.living. The good life is passionately lived.
What does it mean to live well?What does it mean to live well?

15. Life as heroLife as hero’’s journeys journey

The challenge: travelling far, braving danger The challenge: travelling far, braving danger
in order to save the world. in order to save the world.

Have an adventure, then return to safety: home Have an adventure, then return to safety: home
coming, using our compass.coming, using our compass.

16. Our life is like a riverOur life is like a river

We wind our own way down the road of lifeWe wind our own way down the road of life

When it flows steadily that feels goodWhen it flows steadily that feels good

Set patterns are like sediment in the river that Set patterns are like sediment in the river that
make us stagnatemake us stagnate

Get back into the flow of life Get back into the flow of life

17. Tight fit:Tight fit:

Sometimes life is plain sailing, but we may Sometimes life is plain sailing, but we may
have to navigate between a rock and a hard have to navigate between a rock and a hard
place.. place..

18. Being Captain of your ShipBeing Captain of your Ship

Finding our way through our life with Finding our way through our life with
deliberationdeliberation

19. Connecting to the wave and tidesConnecting to the wave and tides

Until I saw the sea Until I saw the sea
I did not know I did not know
that wind that wind
could wrinkle water so could wrinkle water so

I never knew I never knew
that sun that sun
could splinter a whole sea of blue could splinter a whole sea of blue

nor nor
did I know before, did I know before,
a sea breathes in and out a sea breathes in and out
upon a shore upon a shore

by Lilian Mooreby Lilian Moore

20. Facing anxietyFacing anxiety
The energy of lifeThe energy of life
And energy can be used or can And energy can be used or can
overwhelm youoverwhelm you

21. To live is to be anxiousTo live is to be anxious

Until we dieUntil we die

Because we dieBecause we die

Because we were bornBecause we were born

We have to learn to stand up and be counted; to ek-We have to learn to stand up and be counted; to ek-
sist in past, present and futuresist in past, present and future

22. Seasons and cycles of lifeSeasons and cycles of life

We are bornWe are born

We live, love, workWe live, love, work

Then we dieThen we die

23. Our life is Our life is
in fluxin flux

Things constantlyThings constantly
change and so do wechange and so do we

Circle of life goes onCircle of life goes on

We cannot stop it We cannot stop it

We have to go with the flowWe have to go with the flow

24. Our lives are like the seasons or the birth of Our lives are like the seasons or the birth of
day and night. day and night.

25. Watching life go byWatching life go by
We can be:We can be:

observers observers

participants participants

creatures creatures

or creators or creators

active active

reactive reactive

pro-active pro-active

passivepassive

26. Time streams like sand through Time streams like sand through
an hourglass: we are timean hourglass: we are time
The ec-stasies of time:The ec-stasies of time:

1.past1.past

2.present2.present

3.future3.future

4 eternity4 eternity

27. Passionate engagement is like Passionate engagement is like
fire: it eats time. fire: it eats time.

Time is fast when I am at one with the world Time is fast when I am at one with the world
and give myself over to being and give myself over to being

Engagement is vitalEngagement is vital

Being alive: claiming your life Being alive: claiming your life

28. We need an image of what life is forWe need an image of what life is for

Life has to be remembered Life has to be remembered
backwards but it has to be lived backwards but it has to be lived
forwards forwards

Kierkegaard.Kierkegaard.

29. Different perspectivesDifferent perspectives

Depending on where we stand light refracts Depending on where we stand light refracts
differently through the prism of life.differently through the prism of life.

30. Existential Space Existential Space
Physical space
Social space
Personal space
Spiritual space

31. Your own little sphere of Your own little sphere of
existence mattersexistence matters

32. Imagine a person like a sphereImagine a person like a sphere

33. That person is located in a universe That person is located in a universe
with other planets, stars, suns, with other planets, stars, suns,
moons and spheresmoons and spheres

34. Sphere as a planet or a cell: micro or Sphere as a planet or a cell: micro or
macro level. macro level.

35. If a cell: connection with other cells, If a cell: connection with other cells,
function and internal constitution function and internal constitution
are paramountare paramount

36. If planet: orbit and position If planet: orbit and position
mattermatter

37. Merleau Ponty: Visible and InvisibleMerleau Ponty: Visible and Invisible

Things are structures – frameworks – the stars of our Things are structures – frameworks – the stars of our
life: they gravitate around us. Yet there is a secret life: they gravitate around us. Yet there is a secret
bond between bond between
us and them – us and them –
through perception through perception
we enter into the we enter into the
essence of the fleshessence of the flesh

(Visible and Invisible: 220)(Visible and Invisible: 220)

38. You experience yourself as having a You experience yourself as having a
nucleus: a core, a heart or a soulnucleus: a core, a heart or a soul

39. Perhaps we are more like suns, Perhaps we are more like suns,
generating heat and lightgenerating heat and light

40. Solar anatomy Solar anatomy

41. Layers of the sunLayers of the sun

Corona, chromosphere, photosphere, Corona, chromosphere, photosphere,
convection zone, and core. convection zone, and core.

42. Layers of a personLayers of a person’’s life.s life.
4.Physical: Umwelt
3.Social: Mitwelt
2.Personal: Eigenwelt
1.Spiritual: Uberwelt

43. Spiritual:
Good/Evil
Intuitions, values, beliefs, purpose, meaning.
Worldview/Ideas.
Personal:
Strength/Weakness
Thoughts, memories, identity, freedom.
Selfhood/Me.
Social:
Love/Hate
Feelings, relations, belonging, acknowledgement.
Communication/Others.

Physical:
Life/Death
Sensations, actions, environment, body, things.
Survival/World.
Dimensions of existenceDimensions of existence

44. Paradoxes of human existenceParadoxes of human existence

45. Conflicts and dilemmas Conflicts and dilemmas
are essentialare essential

Conflicts are the core of existence.Conflicts are the core of existence.

Things and people oppose each other.Things and people oppose each other.

Conflict can either destroy you or deepen you. Conflict can either destroy you or deepen you.

Relationships are about tension: fission or Relationships are about tension: fission or
fusion. fusion.

Most conflicts are not just with others but with Most conflicts are not just with others but with
the world, with beliefs and with ourselves.the world, with beliefs and with ourselves.

Conflict does not have to lead to combat.Conflict does not have to lead to combat.

46. Marcus AureliusMarcus Aurelius

It is not death that a man should fear, but he It is not death that a man should fear, but he
should fear never beginning to liveshould fear never beginning to live

The paradox is that death, troubles, labour, The paradox is that death, troubles, labour,
failures, pain and sorrow are unavoidable and failures, pain and sorrow are unavoidable and
necessarynecessary

They are the things that wake you up to They are the things that wake you up to
awareness and that open you to lifeawareness and that open you to life

47. Things to rememberThings to remember

We learn in context and with othersWe learn in context and with others

To build a true learning community we need to come close to To build a true learning community we need to come close to
people in mutual respectpeople in mutual respect

And by addressing the life issues that really matter to usAnd by addressing the life issues that really matter to us

Suffering and fears are the sacred fires that make us human Suffering and fears are the sacred fires that make us human
and bring us to lifeand bring us to life

It is up to us to show how these can burn safely and not It is up to us to show how these can burn safely and not
destroydestroy

In order to transform and transcend them we have to make In order to transform and transcend them we have to make
human understanding central to all we do. human understanding central to all we do.

48. Meaning and PurposeMeaning and Purpose

Find out what is meaningful to you. Find out what is meaningful to you.

Find out what your purpose in life is.Find out what your purpose in life is.

Work for it in truth and with dedication.Work for it in truth and with dedication.

Come what may..Come what may..


49.   DESIRES FEARS VALUES
PHYSICAL life death vitality
SOCIAL love hate reciprocity
PERSONAL identity freedom integrity
SPIRITUAL good evil transparency
Human values rediscovered.Human values rediscovered.

50. Four dimensions and resilienceFour dimensions and resilience

Physical: how do we manage our physical Physical: how do we manage our physical
space?space?

Social: how do we relate to other people?Social: how do we relate to other people?

Personal: how do we define ourselves?Personal: how do we define ourselves?

Spiritual: what are the values we adhere to?Spiritual: what are the values we adhere to?

51. Spiritual:
Integrate what has happened in world view
Improve rather than give up values, beliefs, purpose, meaning.
Stick with what is true.
Personal:
Allow the event to strengthen your character
Express thoughts and memories. Regain a sense of freedom in relation to adversity.
Learn to yield as well as be resolute.
Social:
Seek to go beyond hateful and destructive relations by isolation and avoidance till
Reconciliation is possible. Seek belonging with like minded allies.
Communicate your emotions without reproach, resentment, bitterness.

Physical:
Seek safety when under threat.
Trust and heed sensations of stress. Find natural environment that can soothe as
well as expand your horizons.
OVERCOMING TRAUMAOVERCOMING TRAUMA

52. UmweltUmwelt MitweltMitwelt EigenweltEigenweltUberweltUberwelt
PhysicalPhysical
survivalsurvival
NatureNature ThingsThings BodyBody CosmosCosmos
SocialSocial
affiliationaffiliation
PublicPublic OthersOthers EgoEgo CultureCulture
PersonalPersonal
identityidentity
PrivatePrivate MeMe SelfSelf ConsciousnessConsciousness
SpiritualSpiritual
meaningmeaning
Sacred Sacred GodGod SoulSoul TranscendenceTranscendence
Different dimensions of the four spheres Different dimensions of the four spheres
of existenceof existence

53. Reclaiming your spaceReclaiming your space
Finding fluidity, peace Finding fluidity, peace
freedom and purpose. freedom and purpose.

54. Websites.Websites.
www.existentialpsychotherapy.net
www.dilemmas.org
www.nspc.org.uk
www.septimus.info
www.psychotherapytraining.net
www.emmyvandeurzen.com
Facebook/LinkedIn: Existential Therapy