The Pleasure Principle

Happy Friday, and cheers to the weekend, football, friends, and relaxation. This week I was laser-focused on ensuring that I took breaks, and time to meditate, breathe and get some rest. My partner in crime began reading a book called, The Power of the Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy; when I read the introduction, it reminded me of the need for humans to seek pleasure and reduce pain. The desire to be absent of problems and filled with passion is called the Pleasure Principle. The pleasure principle comes from psychoanalysis by Sigman Freud; it was initially introduced in the Two Principles of Mental Functioning of?1911; this term corresponds to the reality principle. The Reality Principle refers?to the mind’s ability to assess the reality of the external world and act upon it accordingly.

The goal towards which the pleasure principle impels us - of becoming happy - is not attainable: yet we may not - nay, cannot - give up the efforts to come nearer to realization of it by some means or other.

-Sigmund Freud

I read a great article about the Reality Principle and Sigmund Freud that breaks down the id (the personality element of unconscious psychic energy that works to satisfy basic urges, needs, and desires), the ego, and the reality principle. The ego works aside from the reality principle, which strives to satisfy the id’s desires in realistic and socially appropriate ways. According to the Oxford dictionary, the pleasure principle is the instinctive drive to seek pleasure and avoid pain, expressed by the id as a primary motivating force that reduces psychic tension. Now that I added some definitions, highlights, and color to our needs as humans to want increasingly more, let’s talk about how it applies to us all.

If you stop and analyze your current wants and needs, ask yourself why you desire these things. For example, I went to dinner at a place called Juniper last week, and a server had on a unique bracelet I recognized from my trip to St. Thomas; I asked her, “Are you from the Virgin Islands?” and she was shocked that I noticed the bracelet and knew the story behind it. We began chatting, and long story short, she ended her story about moving away from it all for a year in the islands with a key takeaway, she could live on way less. I understood exactly what she meant; when we face unexpected circumstances, from starting a family, loss of a job, or travel disruption, it can get us off kilter. We all had our bubbles busted at one point or another.

For example, when we cannot sleep in that king-size bed, eat that steak or get that promotion, that is when the reality principle emerges. Think about the times you have seen someone throw a fit because they did not get that seat upgrade or did not qualify for that Porsche they wanted; that is operating in the pleasure principle. The bottom line, we cannot have everything we want when we want it. It seems like a no-brainer, but in recent years, we have seen more and more public outbursts and violence simply because things did not go as planned. We can change the world one person at a time, starting with ourselves.

The pleasure principle, like anything, can yield negative consequences if not balanced with reality. If you constantly feel the need for more, it may not be driven by motivation if others continuously get hurt. It may lean more towards being insatiable; the lack of never feeling satisfied can harm you mentally if you never feel a sense of pleasure, satisfaction, or accomplishment. Satisfaction is a prerequisite to having a healthy mind, body, and soul. It is the main ingredient to overall well-being. Satisfying your basic needs and being happy has some pretty impressive side effects, such as:

• Improved mood (you are a more sociable person and easier to deal with)
• Reduced?stress and anxiety (you can enjoy life and other people)
• Increased motivation (you want to do more and be better)

I challenge you to write down your top three goals and then, next to them, write down why they are essential and does this explanation align with your values. If not, you are your story’s author, so that you can change the narrative. It is an excellent practice to do a self-inventory and self-evaluation to recalibrate. Feel free to reinvent yourself as often as you need to. The call to action is to recognize when you are in self-gratification mode and the purpose it serves at various times in your life. Knowledge is power when applied; once you are equipped with the knowledge, no one can take it from you. Read, ask questions, explore, and grow. This is part of our life cycle; I have asked before, are you living or just existing? Are you growing or just aging?

Being entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise.

-Sigmund Freud

Freud’s research and theories have evolved since he originally published, and his view is based on his resources at that time. We have an excellent opportunity to equip ourselves with resources that can make life more enjoyable and productive if we are willing to make adjustments. The key to most things in life is balance; look inwardly, and strive to balance your id, ego, and principle of pleasure to align with your immediate needs and reality. It will not only make you better, but it can make others around you better. Spread the love, knowledge, and joy whenever you can. If you have not watched the video or listened to Janet Jackson’s song Pleasure Principle, it is pretty awesome; enjoy the weekend.

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today. -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.