There are few men in history who are known for the great impact they make on the psyche of an entire generation. They have proposed thoughts and opinions that have shaped the mindset of civilizations. Sigmund Freud is one such man! Born in Austria in 1856, he was a doctor. He studied neurology and became so famous that his theories formed the base of innumerable studies and researches. Freud’s theories about the brain and its mechanisms changed the way we look at the human mind. Freud spent years studying the workings of the human mind and nervous system. But what made him so famous? He gained global popularity for inventing psychoanalysis, a way to treat mental problems by talking about hidden thoughts and feelings.Sigmund Freud drew inspiration from his patients. He watched patients with issues like anxiety or paralysis which had no physical cause. He started believing that many several illnesses are a result of deep seated psychological issues hidden in the unconscious mind, thoughts. We push away because they scare us. One of his most famous books is “The Interpretation of Dreams” written in 1900. In the book he gave a theory which is said to have been much ahead of his times. He said that a person’s dreams show wishes he can’t admit during the day time when he is awake and conscious. The dreams emerge from the deep layers of brain’s consciousness and represent a person’s unspoken and unrealised desires.
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According to him the human mind had mind three parts- the id which includes the wild urges like hunger or sex, the ego which is the realistic self that balances things and the superego which is the inner voice of rules and guilt. Freud also talked about childhood shaping adults, like the Oedipus complex where kids feel rivalry with parents. His work spread worldwide, influencing therapy, art, and even how we view religion and society. Though some ideas got criticized, Freud’s methods like free association, saying whatever comes to mind-still help people today.One of his most famous quotes is “A man should not strive to eliminate his complexes, but to get into accord with them; they are legitimately what directs hi conduct in the world.” Meaning of the quoteThe meaning of this quote is deep and it strikes at many levels. The biggest problem that keeps a person from success in any field of life-be it career, relationship of spirituality is the various kinds of complexes he suffers from. According to Freud, in most cases these complexes are not known to the person and they form a deep, hidden layer of his personality. They subconsciously impact his behaviour, attitude, mood and instincts. The best solution is to be aware of one’s complexes, which on most occasions are hard to admit and then to understand and accept them. This acceptance is the very first step towards their resolution. The moment a person becomes aware of his complexes, he masters them and his behaviour and attitude as well.The theories of Sigmund Freud became so famous that many authors like James Joyce and DH Lawrence used them to weave novels. Freud had his critics who said he overfocused on sex and ignored culture. Freud fled from the Nazis in 1938 but died of cancer the very next year. His couch therapy lives on, helping unpack why a chocolate bar feels like a hug. Next time you crunch a gingerbread man, think Freud: you’re destroying it to make its spice yours forever.
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