Comment by temp0826
3 hours ago
I've worked at an ayahuasca retreat center the last few years and have worked with several of what I'd consider very successful people. What I've noticed is that there are a couple types- those who are successful despite their traumas and those who are successful because of their traumas. The people I've seen successful because of their traumas tend to have difficulty making real progress (which sometimes comes off has actually having wonderful experiences...possibly all projections or other forms of dissociation/resistance). I think with them there is a subconscious fear that if they heal, they will lose the drive that made them "successful". It's a tough pill to swallow. (The other camp tends to do really well, continues to be successful with even more appreciation and compassion, despite difficult experiences if they decide to face their traumas).
David Lynch told this story, that he once went to a psychiatrist. At the beginning, he asked him if the therapy could interfere with his work. The guy said "you know, it might."
Lynch stood up and said, "thank you, have a good day" and walked out the door.
that's a cool perspective, thanks for sharing. totally makes sense that if you've internalized "bad stuff happens to me", you'd see your successful status as more precarious and not want to change anything, even for the better