Viktor Frankl Quote:

Pleasure is a by-product, or side effect, of the fulfillment of our strivings, but is destroyed and spoiled to the extent to which it is made a goal or target. . . . Man can only actualize himself to the extent to which he fulfills meaning. . . . Man should not, indeed cannot, struggle for identity in a direct way; he rather finds identity to the extent to which he commits himself to something beyond himself, to a cause greater than himself.

from "Psychotherapy and Existentialism"

The Lives of Those Who Achieve Great Things:
(from a newspaper article)

"One survey of people who have achieved great things showed some common characteristics among them, including:

• A major childhood challenge that had to be overcome.

• Belief in and the ability to follow an "inner voice."

• A belief that achievement for its own sake is more important that material or other rewards.

• A belief that the process they follow to achieving things is as important as the achievement.

• A willingness to persist at something difficult when others give up.

• A willingness to listen and learn from others.

• A quest for constant improvement in the way things are done.

• A strong sense of responsibility for themselves and their actions.

"Children who lack the desire to achieve also show common characteristics, including:

* A willingness to cheat.

* Avoiding things that look challenging.

* Choosing a path that requires the least amount of effort.

* Pleasure-seeking.

* Erratic achievement.

* A fear of emotional intimacy.

* A tendency to push others to make a commitment so they don't have to

"Stress and difficulty can be great teachers if parents can refrain from constantly paving the path for their children, he said. In many instances the best response to childhood complaints is a simple one: 'Work harder'."

The Woodsman
with Kevin Bacon

The Woodsman is an excellent film. It is about a sex offender that is released from prison and is trying to integrate back into society. It is not a warm-fuzzy movie, as the most discerning of you may have already guessed, but it is not as dark as, say, Fargo or 8mm.

Except for the therapist, the movie is extremely accurate. I think the movie has angered some people because it makes the sex offender into a real person that you can care about on some levels. It doesn't, though, excuse or minimize any of his behavior. It is gripping simply because it is true. It shows his thinking errors, how people respond to him, how he struggles with relapse, and so much more. The lady who becomes his partner is exactly a woman with the kind of issues that would keep her with an offender.

When you get to one of the scenes in the park, you will probably feel extremely uncomfortable, but keep watching, it's very powerful. On the DVD you can watch an extended park scene, and I really wish they would have used that one instead, but it is very good as is.

And the therapist? *sigh* I won't go on a rant, but that is NOT what therapy is like at all (I do therapy with sex offenders). Overall, though, it is powerful because the rest is so true to life. I'm going to edit out some of the steamy sex scenes and use it for my sex offender group.