In this essay I aim to make sense of my present sensation of existential inertia through studying the psychosynthesis concept of The Will.

I have established many personal identities throughout the course of my life. Historically within each of these chapters, I have displayed a great capacity for determination and mastery in creating meaning through producing beautiful and beneficial products from within my roles as a musician and business entrepreneur. However, in the face of a recent crisis and the parting from my latest career, I lost contact with my cultivated identity and seem to be left out-at-sea. I wish to question if the sensation of existential inertia has a purpose, and what may be done to alleviate me from this state towards the creation of a new and meaningful chapter?

In unpacking this question, I intend to draw upon the psychosynthesis model of The Will and explore to what extent, backed-up through my own experience as a musician and entrepreneur, I can use this model as a guide. The essay will define the psychosynthesis aspects and stages of The Will, as well as exploring the interdependence of body, feelings and mind, and address the use of therapeutic concepts such as bifocal vision as means of cultivating emergence and Will. Roberto Assagioli, the founder of psychosynthesis argues ‘The will has a directive and regulatory function; it balances and constructively utilises all the other activities and energies of the human being without repressing them’ (Assagioli, 2010:9). Unlike Nietzsche’s dominating and suppressing ‘Will to Power’ (Wikipedia, 2021), Assagioli’s statement suggests The Will is connected to choice in the process of cultivating characteristics such as wisdom. These choices are realised through synthesising existing energies made salient through response to the past and present as well as the preparing for the future. He goes on to describe the concept of The Will as consisting of four aspects: Strong Will, Skilful Will, Good Will and Transpersonal Will.

Looking back on my early adulthood I had developed an attraction for self-identity which I now deeply relate to the Strong Will. With a confident mindset, an intense energy and a determination to be the source of value, there was no time to be bored, and any sense of being overwhelmed was a challenge to be mastered. I would choose to say yes to everything, work late, party hard, get the job done! Later stages of adulthood I now interpret as relating to the concept of the Skilful Will. Problem finding and solving, with careful consideration and balance to both critical analysis and that of my intuition. My attraction towards art and strategy held me close to topics such as music, science, programming and business, where beauty in integration is highly valued.

The cultivation of these two aspects of Strong and Skilful Will together leads to the flourishing of an able and wise personality, coping and caring for the problems that arise. However, becoming too identified with such power ‘can become an extremely dangerous weapon if used for selfish or sinister purposes’ (Nocelli, 2017:267). Reflecting back on the damaging times of competition and selfishness I now agree that cultivating empathy and Good Will for others affords a greater capacity for ‘an insight into the wonder and mystery of human nature’ (Assagioli, 2010:66). In this, I believe we are stretching towards the always available capacity for unconditional giving, classified by the term agapic love. However, Assagioli (2010) refers to love and Will as different in nature, where love promotes spontaneity, and unification, while the Will, being dynamic, ‘tends to establish a relationship of dependence’. Therefore, I would associate the concepts of Good Will more with notions of responsibility and respect.

In exploration of the Transpersonal Will we need to draw upon the psychosynthesis concept of the individual’s transpersonal dimension, referred to as the Self. A popular analogy of the Self is one of an orchestra, whereby ‘the personal self is the conductor of the orchestra and the transpersonal Self the source of the music’ (Parfitt 2019:274). Taking this statement further and extrapolating through the lens of Assagioli I would argue that the Transpersonal Will draws upon the wisdom of the composer, actualised and deepened through the capacity of Strong, Skilful and Good Will coming from the conductor and the musicians. I find religion to be a fitting exemplification of the relationship between personal Will and Transpersonal Will, whereby through participatory practises such as prayer, an individual’s perception and Will is fed by an inexhaustible source of awe and wonder. This source of wonder can provide a ‘relationship which can become an ongoing transformative axis of one’s life’ (Firman 2020:141), a source of inspiration and creativity that affords the capacity to break through existing frames of behaviour.

I feel able to form an understanding for the above concepts of Will through my experience of participating in musical improvisation. Using Strong Will alone, I could choose to play some phrases I have been practising, or skilfully I could choose phrases that might be fitting and appreciated. Extending further, I might choose phrases that offer service to the best features of the band. However, through mastery and cultivating trust in the capacity of my personal self, I can cultivate trust towards the significance emerging from the wider Self as it integrates with culture. To exemplify this, I’ll use my visceral memories of improvising in sympathy with the dancers in the audience. Although I had the agency to compose my notes, the attunement and synthesis of Will made way for the co-creation of energy in the room.

To further explore if a greater understanding of human feelings can enhance the grounding and capacity for Transpersonal Will, I’ll draw upon the recollection of my dreams, wherein I can experience a continual flow of diverse visual and emotional appearances. Here I noticed that, not only must these appearances be somehow stored in my body and mind, but the mental, emotional and bodily sensations emerge as one and cannot be separated. For example, the excitement, fear and wonder of a radiant, intense and edgy bonfire spark, or the attractive and vitalising immersion of a cool, misty spray, and so on. To further emphasise the interdependence of these sensations, it has been argued that ‘When our emotional and rational brains are in conflict… This war is largely played out in the theatre of visceral experience’ (Kolk, 2015: 65). Therefore, I would argue that placing more trust in present experiential feedback that relies on the interdependent relationship of body, feeling and mind, would afford more plausible sensemaking of the past and present as well as trust in the Will that is trying to emerge.

To assist a client’s connection with identifying emergence, counsellors and therapists adopted the psychosynthesis framework of bifocal vision with consideration to there being two dimensions of growth. The concept guides the therapist to take a dual perspective of which are ‘distinct but not separate’ (Firman et al, 1977). The first perspective as a response to life with ‘immense potential for love, intelligence and creativity’ (Whitmore, 2014:68), secondly as an individual expression, a ‘unique blend of physical, emotional and mental characteristics’ (Whitmore, 2014: 69). As previously discussed, cultivating individual character and identity affords meaning and purpose in life. At the same time, too rigid an identification becomes a trap of stubbornness and self-deception in relation to a continually changing world. Simultaneously, cultivating a spiritual relationship with one’s higher Self would feed creativity and hope through awe and wonder, but to live in aspiration without participation is also to be disconnected from reality. Therefore, with focus on the two dimensions of growth, the client can gain a balanced appreciation of their current state and a balanced approach to available growth.

I can certainly relate to having too much attachment to identity. Having invested significant time into a role, I notice self-deceptive perceptions of self-preservation that become harder to maintain over time. When conflict arises, to begin with I am completely unaware and quick to broadcast my sincere rationality with a powerful and practised use of Strong and Skilful Will. As conflict continues, doubt arises and my body starts to release adrenaline, preparing me for a fight or flight response. I am presented with a different type of choice, one of abandoning, or one of empathy. The solution to these problems tends to be complex, and I now clearly see the advantages of not reacting, but responding by seeking greater wisdom and Will, opened up though practices such as bifocal vision.

Having detailed the aspects of the Will and the grounding that is required in its cultivation, it is time to return to the psychosynthesis model and examine the Stages of the Will to see how it unfolds over time. Although the qualities of the Will have been established with greater detail, I have chosen to draw upon the simplified classification of stages as: ‘No Will, Will Exists, Having Will, and Being Will’ (Frater 2020). The world around us is continually emerging, and ‘through a process of evolution, new qualities of existence emerge based on what has gone before’ (Freke, 2017:71). I would argue that regardless of whether we are responding to discomfort or aspiration, relating to the world can never be static, there will always be distinctions that afford reflection. Therefore, I believe Will always exists.

The journey begins with an introspective process, transforming the notion of Will Exists into Having Will. Careful consideration to the requirements and consequences, followed by a focusing preference and search for affirmation are required before pursuing the plausible leap into action. This journey is not straight forward, but faces many obstacles along the way, such as drudgery and doubt. I would also argue that through mastery of personal Will and into the synthesis of Transpersonal Will, it is likely the initial goals have changed.

Relating this to my personal experience as an entrepreneur in developing a company, I can recognise where my growth towards Transpersonal Will unexpectedly led to the end of a chapter. Before the concept of the company existed, there was a build-up of personal pressures to address, such as social and financial status. With recognition of my cultivated talents, united with a sought after and fitting application, a plausible concept had begun to take form. The initial years of development took intense focus and strategy to realise. Along with care and attention to the client’s needs, the business became a success. As time went on, my personal processes within the company became habitual affording a greater capacity of awareness towards my transpersonal Self and Transpersonal Will. This cultivating Will to honour my higher values began to shine above my personal Will to align with the company as it grew into a corporation. Over time the less fitting relationship became more obvious, leading to a difficult transition away.

Even though I recognise leaving my role was serving a longer higher Self narrative, the sharp detachment of my cultivated self-identity felt similar to my existential concept of dying. The brutality of the closing chapter created some personal wounds, such as a dissolution with truth and a distrust in human nature. In the search for new connections, I found my mind painting everything with this negativity as well as my body creating signals of defence, creating a sense of entrapment. Simultaneously, the explosive quantity of potential paths ahead mapped with the understanding of Will required to master them, led to the feeling of being overwhelmed. In light of this crisis, although I stated earlier that I believe Will always exists, through this perception of entrapment, the challenges ahead seemed impossible to realise. Therefore, it could be said that my sensation of existential inertia is a sensation of No Will. However, I also recognised that this stage of No Will provided an essential reflective point in the chapter, introducing both a pressure to seek, and a breathing space to allow in the unknown.

In reflection I identified that my initial realisation of Will appeared as the cultivation and mastery of a coping and caring personality, enhanced through an understanding of the interdependence of body, feelings and mind. I argued that cultivating Good Will and a spiritual relationship with a higher Self provides a source of awe and an affordance of Transpersonal Will. I identified that the therapeutic practises of bifocal vision can help identify a balanced approach of personal and spiritual growth. I accepted that there are times of crisis when Will appears inert, however, I have shown a capacity for all aspects of Will, and a belief that Will always exists. Therefore, I would like to suggest that my sense of existential inertia is an essential and regulatory part of a life chapter. Through Will to cultivate wisdom and connection with my transpersonal Self I am opening myself to trusting greater sources of Will and alleviating myself from the experience of inertia.

Reference

Wikipedia (2021) Will to power. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_to_power [accessed 20 May 2021].
Firman, J., (2020) “I” And Self: Re-visioning Psychosynthesis. California: Psychosynthesis Palo Alto.
Frater, A. (2020) The Cultivation of the Will. Training seminar. Psychosynthesis Trust, London. 23-24 November.
Parfitt, W., (2019) The Magic Of Psychosynthesis: Initiation and Self Development. Glastonbury: PSA Books.
Freke, T., (2017) Soul Story: Evolution and the Purpose of Life. London: Watkins.
Nocelli, P. G., (2017) The Way Of Psychosynthesis: A Complete Guide to Origins, Concepts, and the Fundamental Experiences with a Biography of Roberto Assagioli. Lugano.
Kolk, B. V. D., (2014) The Body Keeps The Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma. Penguin.
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Assagioli, R. (2010) The Act of Will. Synthesis Centre Press.
Firman, J. & Vargiu, J. (1977) Dimensions of Growth. https://www.aap-psychosynthesis.org/resources/Pictures/Articles/dimensions_of_growth.pdf [accessed 01 March 2021].

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