Passion, Shame, and the Freedom to Become: Seizing The Vital Moment in Psychoanalysis

by Peter Shabad

This book examines how humans can overcome feelings of shame through self‑acceptance and regain their innate passion and freedom to grow.

Peter Shabad examines in detail how self-shaming and passivity are intertwined with the fatalism of self-pity, envy, resentment, and ultimately, regret for not "seizing the vital moments" in life. From birth on, children attempt to contribute to the human endeavor through their innate passion. Parental receptivity enables a child to plant seeds of belonging, inspiring the generative passion necessary for furthering development. Exposed vulnerability due to the lack of receptivity leads to feelings of shame and self-consciousness; as human beings, we interpret our misfortunes and limitations as punishments and reverse our passion into an inhibited passivity. Shabad envisions psychotherapy as a pathway through which individuals learn to inclusively accept all aspects of their inner lives in order to embark on their journey of self-acceptance. He emphasizes the need for therapists to view patients as active agents in this process.

This book is a must read for psychoanalysts, psychotherapists, and anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of the dynamics of shame and passion in our lives.

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 9, 2024

Reviews

[Martin]

A refreshing, unorthodox take on (relational) psychoanalysis. Shabad takes treasured psychoanalytic concepts and puts them to work (rather than defensively protecting them) and engages with them in a fruitful, vital dialectic. This makes for an interesting read, especially for clinicians, who daily face the struggle of helping their patients become less stuck in their lives.