Bowen and Existentialism

"We become ourselves by learning to stand alone." - Murray Bown

I like this because it's congruent with existential ideas that we are ultimately alone in this world. We must take responsilbity for the freedom that we have and the choices that we make. Acceptance that the world is ultimately a lonely place and that no one can really join with us because no one can feel our experience the same way we do. We can only depend on ourselves as major sources of help and others as minor sources of help. Putting expectations on others only sets one up for disappointment, as no one can meet our expectations. Often, we can't even meet our own expectations. We must soothe ourselves.