Finding Wholeness in Connection

What does it mean to be whole? Is it a static state we achieve, or a dynamic process we engage in? Our culture's dualist perspective often argues that our physical bodies are separate entities from the environment, and from this viewpoint, the "self" is already considered a whole, individual unit.

But a non-dualist perspective offers a different, more profound answer. It argues that wholeness is found not in our separateness, but in the connection between the self and the world.

Wholeness is a Process, Not a Destination

Reflecting on this, I would argue that wholeness is not a state that is simply achieved and then finished. Rather, it is something that is maintained and formed anew each moment. It is a dynamic process of connection that can transcend and deepen through various levels of awareness.

The "integrated self," from this perspective, is what emerges when we experience this non-dual reality—when our conscious psyche connects with the unconscious, interconnected parts of life. This leads to non-dual perceptions, thoughts, and actions.

The Power of 'Us' in Therapy

This non-dual understanding has profound implications for psychotherapy. When a therapist and client can adopt this view, it helps them form a much deeper connection.

The dynamic shifts from a hierarchical "me and you" to a connected "us." A thread of connection is acknowledged, which helps uncover deeper levels of empathy and understanding that might otherwise remain hidden. It removes the rigid distinction of hierarchy and allows for a healing connection that exists outside the formal rules and techniques of any specific therapeutic approach.