Chronicles of Modern Man: Memories of High School on the Road to the Dam.

-Therapist:  

Is there anything that can help me understand you better?  

-H.M.  

It’s another memory. I’ve been thinking about that guy back in the early 2000s, who studied at the high school on the road to the dam. He used to breakdance, was popular, went from girlfriend to girlfriend, and everyone knew him by one nickname or another. That tall, strong guy with a charismatic smile that left a mark, who dreamed of going pro and making a living from breakdancing. His main focus was on being himself. His neck and wrists were a showcase for a variety of ideologies and music genres (from reggae bracelets to necklaces with the anarchy symbol). He walked with a confident stride, his straight hair shiny with gel and slicked to the sides, a modern twist on the classic “book-cut” hairstyle.  

It was known that at home, he and his siblings ruled. His parents grew more and more permissive until, first his mother and then his father, abandoned ship. They left him adrift, to navigate life with the help of fate and his teenage friends, along with an older brother who was entering his twenties.  

For a long time, I didn’t know much about him, but through someone else, I learned that the parties had turned into tragedy. Friends and brothers were left scarred. Dreaming minds became trapped in the day-to-day life of vagrants. We found out that this young man was the only one still holding on, trying to survive by repairing appliances. Some of us offered work, food, and as much support as we could, but it wasn’t enough. The pain was unbearable. “Son, I can’t even give you a taco anymore,” were the words. Selfishness was the reason, and inevitably, madness settled in as the new reality.  

Several years passed, and not long ago, on one of those chaotic days when the planned route was a straight line but ended up a scribble you have to navigate, the loud laughter of someone made me look up. Suddenly, there he was in front of me, that young man, now grown into an adult, sitting on the curb outside a small shop. From a bottle hanging by the elastic neck of his shirt, he inhaled solvent, while holding a wide-open newspaper with both hands. As he read, he laughed and repeated the same phrase over and over: “Noroña is one tough guy,” “Noroña is one tough guy.” He didn’t even notice me. I walked slowly past him and managed to read the headline: “Deputy Fernández Noroña proposes reducing the salaries of high-level government officials and redirecting the funds to those in need.” The same politician who would later use his power to publicly shame and pursue someone who stole a small piece of meat.  

The office fell silent, until...  

-Therapist:  

You started by saying that lately you don’t recognize yourself, and this memory is made up of important moments of compassion, of helping others, but in itself, it’s contradictory. It takes us back to moments in your life when you supported and stood by others. What is it that you don’t recognize about yourself?  

-H.M.  

Exactly that. I let go of that way of living. And running into my childhood friend confirms it—helping never made sense. I was smart to focus on being successful, and I achieved it. Yet, I’m not at peace. These memories keep intruding, keeping me awake at night. The things that used to bring me pleasure no longer mean anything to me. And it’s contradictory that I’m here because, in this world, you don’t ask yourself if you’re doing the right thing, if you’re good or not. It doesn’t matter. What’s important is building wealth, making money, being recognized.  

-Therapist:  

Of course. When you first walked into this office, you told me you were only here to confirm to yourself that you didn’t need this. Curiously, a month has passed, and you’re still here. Now you’re recalling aspects of yourself that you once set aside. But the landscape has changed, and today, those aspects seem to be the most useful tools we have to address the deep discomfort you’re experiencing.  

-H.M.  

With all due respect, don’t tell me now that I need to find my inner child or go to ayahuasca sessions. I haven’t needed any of that in all these years.  

-Therapist:  

I can see you’re upset.  

-H.M.  

Yes, of course. It angers and confuses me, not being able to make sense of this. And that makes me even more frustrated.  

-Therapist:  

I understand. But how long has it been since you expressed your emotions with this much intensity?  

-H.M.  

It’s been a long time… Anyway, it’s frustrating.  

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This brief fictional narrative, set in a personal analysis session, serves as an example of one of the five stages of consciousness development proposed by Carl Jung in his book: Modern Man in Search of a Soul (1933). Specifically, it illustrates the fourth stage of consciousness, which Murray Stein (1998) describes as follows:  

The fourth stage represents the radical extinction of projections, even in the form of theological and ideological abstractions. This extinction leads to the creation of an “empty center,” which Jung identifies with modernity. It is the “modern man in search of a soul.” The sense of soul—of great meaning and purpose in life, of immortality, of a divine origin, an “inner God”—is replaced by utilitarian and pragmatic values. “Does it work?” That is the fundamental question. Humans come to see themselves as cogs in a giant socioeconomic machine, and their expectations and desires to find meaning and purpose are reduced to crumbs. One settles for moments of pleasure and the satisfaction of manageable desires. Or one becomes depressed! The gods no longer inhabit the heavens, and demons have turned into psychological symptoms and imbalances in brain chemistry. (p. 238).  

The ego becomes the sole arbiter of right and wrong, true and false, beautiful and ugly. There is no authority outside the ego that can surpass it. Meaning must be created by the ego; it cannot be found elsewhere. God is no longer “up there.” “I am God!” Although the modern individual appears reasonable and grounded, they are, in fact, insane. But it’s hidden, a well-kept secret, even from oneself. (p. 239).  

Jung believed this fourth stage was extremely dangerous for the obvious reason that an inflated ego is incapable of adapting well to its environment and is also prone to catastrophic errors in judgment. While it represents an advancement of consciousness on an individual and even cultural level, it is dangerous due to the potential for megalomania. “Anything goes! If I want to do it and think I can get away with it, then it must be okay.” (p. 239).  

It is of great importance that during this fourth stage of consciousness, the ego integrates reflective and self-critical characteristics without falling into inflation. This constitutes the main challenge of this phase, and those who seek to overcome it must first work hard on a personal level. This is interesting because modern man perceives himself as complete and at the peak of his abilities, but this feeling can be deceptive. As we see, there is still the most important journey ahead: to go beyond the egoic structure that has cost so many years and so much effort to build.  

The story of H.M., recounting his high school memories and his encounter with a childhood friend, is a mirror in which many of us can see ourselves reflected. His tale speaks not only of a past filled with dreams and disappointments but also of a present marked by confusion, emptiness, and the search for meaning. Through his experience, we can understand why psychotherapy is not just a useful tool but a necessity in an increasingly complex and dehumanized world.  

Some benefits of psychotherapy, linked to H.M.’s story:  

- Psychotherapy as a space to confront the past.  

- Psychotherapy as a tool to face existential emptiness.  

- Psychotherapy as a bridge to authenticity.  

- Psychotherapy as an antidote to modern madness.  

- Psychotherapy as an act of courage.  

H.M.’s story shows that in a world where material success and the appearance of normality are prioritized, psychotherapy is a refuge for the soul. It is a space where we can:  

- Understand our past.  

- Face our present.  

- Build a more authentic and meaningful future.  

This personal work often begins when, like H.M., we ask ourselves an uncomfortable question: Why does what once made me feel fulfilled no longer do so? The answer is not found in rational analysis, but in listening to what the unconscious already anticipates—in dreams, in slips, in those memories that emerge uninvited.

Bibliography.

Jung, C.G. (1933). Modern Man in Search of a Soul. New York: A Harvest Book. Harcourt, Brace & World Inc.  

Stein, M. (1998). Jung's Map of the Soul: An Introduction. Chicago: Open Court Publishing Company.

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© 2025 Rogelio Martín Lara. All rights reserved.

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This work is fictional. Although it may seem to reflect real events or people, it is not based on actual occurrences. Any resemblance to existing situations or individuals is purely coincidental.

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