Let Our Souls Stand Cool and Composed
That need to categorise everything! We get to the ridiculous division between physics, chemistry and biology, philosophy, poetry and psychology, sacred, profane and mundane for the sake of education and illusionary clarification of all life processes, when, as you might have sensed already, all is a part of the same great Universal system. But fine! Let it be…
One might not necessarily read Jung, Freud, Adler, Maslow, or Rogers. One might not necessarily see a need for a therapeutic process in a traditional psychological context, but psychology connects us more than we recognise.
And then, Romanyshyn, in his book The Wounded Researcher, refers to the psychologist as the failed poet, suggesting they stand at the gap between the conscious and unconscious, bearing the tension between knowing and not knowing. He acknowledges that the psychologist who keeps the soul in mind is closer in sensibility to the poet, even if they are not poets themselves. Psychology is a study of a soul, poetry — an art of the soul. Interestingly, Romanyshyn references poets such as Homer, Keats, and Rilke, identifying common threads between psychologists and poets—the ability to recognise truths in any given moment. Needless to say, both play an invaluable societal role.
I see more clearly each day the power and influence these two disciplines have on one another. Poets, writers, and philosophers have long been celebrated as voyeurs of those inner motives and insights that guide us as humans. This is particularly apparent in the area of Love, which poets have written about for centuries, but psychologists have only recently begun to explore in depth.
One of my favourite humanist psychologists, Rollo May, greatly influenced poet Tom Greening. According to The New Existentialists, Greening acknowledges that psychology is hollow without poetry because it carries the wisdom of our search for meaning and understanding in a complex world.
Song of Myself
I have said that the soul is not more than the body,
And I have said that the body is not more than the soul,
(…)
And there is no trade or employment but the young man following it may become a hero,
And there is no object so soft but it makes a hub for the wheel’d universe,
And I say to any man or woman, Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes.
— Walt Whitman
Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes… These words from Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself encapsulate the essence of psychology and poetry alike. Psychology teaches us to embrace our own vastness, our complexity, and our contradictions with confidence. Whitman reminds us that we are not mere observers in life, but active participants in a grand, interconnected cosmos. We must not fear the unknown, for within it lies the potential for self-discovery and growth.
So, let me show you how the poetic concept of standing cool and composed refers to an ancient and well-kept secret to happiness called The Fine Art of Not Being Offended.
To master this art, one must understand that every statement, action, and reaction of another human being is the sum result of their total life experience to date. Most people act from their own fears, conclusions, defences, and survival instincts. Even when directed at us, their behaviour often has little to do with us and more to do with their past experiences, particularly formative moments from their youth.
Yes, this is psychodynamic. But let's face it, we live in a world where psychodynamics make the world go around. Our personal histories shape our interactions, influence our decisions, and determine how we cope with stress and challenges. So then, understanding psychology is not just self-help; it is self-awareness and fostering compassion toward others.
All of that said, almost nothing is personal. Even with our closest loved ones—our beloved partners, our children, our friends—their words and actions often reflect their own internal struggles rather than our worth. This realisation is liberating; it frees us from unnecessary burdens of resentment and misunderstanding.
Doesn’t poetry and psychology, then, help us interpret the world with greater clarity and empathy? They teach us that our thoughts are not always reality, our emotions are not permanent truths, and our experiences are subjective interpretations shaped by our past. And all this to cultivate a deeper, more compassionate way of living, growing, and connecting more authentically with those around us.
I love this very much. Thank you Anna, for such a deep and meaningful write up! I loved reading this. I am reflecting on the The Fine Art of Not Being Offended, and that really helps in letting our souls stand cool and composed!