Psychological parables and their interpretation

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Proverbs are short stories, each with a special meaning. All of them are very instructive, as they make listeners think about a lot and experience some moments that a person has not yet encountered. Despite the fact that the events that take place in parables do not occur in real life, all the feelings and emotions of the characters are so vividly chosen to describe them, which makes it possible to compare such stories with reality.

The origin of the genre

A small instructive story, which is a parable, contains a religious or moral teaching, that is, wisdom. Such stories belong to the didactic-allegorical genre, which arose in ancient times in the East. It was there that the wise men liked to speak in allegories and riddles. Somewhat later, parables with religious content began to appear. The very first of them recorded on paper are the early Christian andHebrew. These instructive stories are reflected in the Bible.

The parable in its meaning is very close to the fable. However, it is distinguished from the latter by the breadth of generalization, as well as the significance of the idea. So, the main characters of fables are people, as well as animals endowed with certain human qualities. All of them, as a rule, are placed in certain everyday situations. In the parable, things are somewhat different. Its main characters have neither character nor external features. They are a kind of generalized person. It can be a son, a father, a peasant, a woman, a king, etc. The meaning of the parable lies not at all in the image of the person himself, but in his ethical choice. There are no indications in such stories of a specific time of action and place. Not shown in parables and phenomena in their development. After all, the purpose of any wisdom is to report events, and not their image. The main themes of the parables concern truth and lies, life and death, man and God.

In the history of their development, these short moralizing stories have come a long way. They began with short texts, placed in just two lines. Such parables can be seen in the Old Testament. Having passed the path of their formation, parables have grown into small works. But be that as it may, these short stories never cease to attract and amaze us, captivating with the beauty and elegance of their plot, as well as the exquisitely expressed thought, which is a bundle of world wisdom.

The concept of a psychological parable

In the old days, short stories that taught wisdom were most often the fruit offolk art and did not have a specific author. They were born in the bowels of a certain culture, and then retold and passed from mouth to mouth.

At the end of the 19th century. - early 20th century some prominent writers turned their attention to the parable as a genre of literature. In these short stories, they were attracted by a stylistic feature that allows them not to describe the development of the plot, the characters' characters and the setting. The main attention of the reader should have been attracted by the moral and ethical problem of interest to the author. In Russia, V. Doroshevich and L. Tolstoy subordinated their prose to the laws of the parable. Abroad, Camus, Marcel, Sartre and Kafka expressed their philosophical views with short wisdom.

Today, parables are used in psychotherapeutic practice. In the hands of a professional, they become a powerful tool that allows you to change the mind of a person.

Psychological parables clearly demonstrate any moral and didactic aspect of life. They are used in cases where the patient's consciousness is at an impasse, to get out of which an appeal to the unconscious is required.

Psychological parables allow the specialist to form in the client a series of images and symbols that carry a deep subtext and have a harmonious attitude. Such a message necessarily reaches the subconscious and starts healing processes bypassing consciousness.

Properly selected short psychological parables allow a person to understand the essence of the problem he is facing and find ways to solve it. With their helpthe patient begins to realize the true values of life, which may be much easier than one might initially think.

Thanks to regularly read psychological parables and their analysis, many manage to take a completely different look at the world around them, as well as at the life of people in it.

Parts of the parable

Short wisdom is like an iceberg. In them, as in this block of ice, only a small part of the idea presented is on the surface.

What do psychological parables consist of? Their main elements are four layers:

1. Functional. This is all that lies on the surface, and what the psychotherapist's client hears. Simply put, this is the first stage of acquaintance with the parable. That is, I read, heard, etc.
2. Physiological. This layer includes the gestures of the narrator. This is the movement during the story, and the posture, and the movements of the palms and hands.
3. Psychological. This layer is a target diagnostics. This element has a direct impact on the human psyche, that is, on the development of his imagination, thinking, attention and memory.
4. Personal. This element includes the end result. It leads the listener to personal development. However, it is worth noting that the result of the impact of psychological parables is manifested much later than acquaintance with them.

Effective impact

Psychological parables about life, about motivation, about the price of desires, etc. teach us how to find a way out of the situation,develop intuition, imagination and thinking. Some of them bring inspiration to a person, others make you think, and still others make you laugh. When using this unique tool, short wisdoms have a fairly effective therapeutic effect. They allow the listener to plunge into a completely different world, which is created by a psychologist with the help of a metaphor. This allows you to establish the closest possible connection between the narrative, therapist and patient. At such moments, the client begins to identify with the main characters of the parable, as well as with its events. This is the main power of short wisdom. However, in order for the parable to be able to change the real life of the client, he needs to fully understand the events of the story. Identification of a person with the characters and events of the parable will allow him to replace the feeling of isolation, when the thought “only I feel so bad” has firmly settled in his head, with the feeling of a shared experience, when the patient begins to understand that problems arise not only in his life. The main strength of the parable and its therapeutic impact lies in the fact that the meaning of the story is conveyed to the listener not directly, but indirectly, that is, as if by the way.

Let's consider a detailed interpretation of parables that help change people's vision of the world.

The story of the window

The plot of this parable takes the listener to a double ward of a hospital where there are two hopeless patients. One of them lay by the window, and the other - near the door, where there is a button to call a nurse. The patients stayed in the ward for quite a long time, meeting therechange of seasons.

The parable “The View from the Window” tells how one of the patients, the one who was lying away from the door, constantly told his neighbor about everything that happened on the street. It was raining and snowing there, the sun was shining, the trees were either covered with a light frosty lace, or shrouded in a transparent spring haze, with the advent of summer they were covered with greenery, and in autumn a farewell yellow-scarlet outfit appeared on them. The patient, who was at the door, constantly heard stories about how people walk along the street and cars drive. In other words, about that big world that opened the view from the window for a person. The patient could not get out of bed and envied the one who could admire all this beauty.

And then one night the patient who was lying by the window became ill. He asked to call a nurse, but his neighbor did not do this because of envy that choked him. The patient, without waiting for help, died. The man lying at the door asked to be moved to the window. Once on the coveted bed, he looked out into the street, expecting to see the world in all its glory. However, his gaze stumbled upon a blank wall. There was nothing else outside the window.

After reading such stories, psychologists will certainly make a detailed interpretation of parables for clients. The conclusions that follow from this short story clearly indicate that the happiness of any person is in his hands. It is that positive attitude that manifests itself quite consciously. Happiness is not a gift of fate at all. It will not enter our house through windows or doors. And if itto wait with folded hands, it is simply impossible to become happy. This feeling is within each of us. The human mind can be compared to a program whose work depends on the input of a certain code into it. And if we constantly put only creative, inspired and positive thoughts into it, then we will begin to see a lot of things that can make us optimists.

Family Wisdom

The story told in the parable “How to teach children to be happy” begins with a man walking along the road. He was a wise old man who admired the spring colors and looked at the surrounding nature. And suddenly on his way he met a man with a large and heavy load, from which his legs gave way.

The old man asked why this man doomed himself to suffering and hard work? The man replied that he was doing everything to make his children and grandchildren happy. At the same time, he spoke about the fact that his great-grandfather, grandfather and father acted in this way. In turn, the wise interlocutor asked if anyone in the man's family was happy? He replied that he did not, but he hoped that it would be much easier for children and grandchildren to live. Then the wise old man, with a sigh, said that an illiterate person cannot teach anyone to read, and a mole cannot raise an eagle.

The conclusion that was drawn from this whole story is that each person must first learn to be happy himself, and only after that he will be able to teach his children the same. This will be the most valuable gift for them.life.

Love and Separation

The story of this parable begins with a story about a young couple. The guy and the girl were noticed by Love and Separation. The last of them decided to argue. She said she would separate the couple. But here Love is ahead of her. She said that she would be the first to approach them, but she would only do it once. After that, Separation will be able to do anything.

Love approached the boy and girl, looked into their eyes and touched their hands. After that, she saw a spark run between the youth. Next came the turn of Separation. But she decided to approach the couple not immediately, but after a while, when the feeling that had arisen faded a little. And then the moment came when Separation looked into the house of her husband and wife. In it, she saw a young mother with a child and a father. Separation looked into their eyes and saw Gratitude there. Having not achieved her goal, she decided to come back later.

After some time Separation reappeared on the threshold of the house. Here the children were noisy, who were reassured by their mother, and a tired husband returned from work. Separation decided that she could carry out her plan. Looking into the eyes of her husband and wife, she saw in them Understanding and Respect. She had to retreat again.

After some time, Separation returned to this house again. In him, she saw a gray-haired father, who was explaining something to his grown-up children. The mother was busy in the kitchen. Looking into the eyes of husband and wife, she saw Trust there. And once again Separation had to leave.

After some time, she once again visited this house. Grandchildren ran in it, and by the fireplace sheI saw a sad old woman. The separation was glad that, finally, it would achieve its goal. She tried to look into the eyes of the old woman, but she left the house. The woman went to the cemetery and sat down by the grave. Here, as it turned out, her husband was buried. Separation, looking into the tear-stained eyes of the old woman, saw in them the Memory of Love. And also about Gratitude and Respect, Understanding and Trust.

What can be the conclusion from the parable "Love and Separation"? There is one great feeling in the world. This is love, which each person understands in his own way. However, without it, life on this planet simply would not exist. Only thanks to her there is Understanding, Goodness, Joy and other wonderful feelings in the world.

Attitude for positive thinking

This parable tells how one day a wise old Chinese man, passing through a snow-covered field, met a weeping woman on his way. He inquired about the reason for her tears. To which she replied that, looking at the snow-covered field, she recalls her youth, the departed beauty and those men she loved. The woman was sure that God acted cruelly, giving people a memory. Because it makes her cry when she remembers her youth.

The sage was silent for a while. He stood and contemplated the snowy plain. The woman stopped crying and asked what he saw. The sage said that before him were blooming roses. God gave him memory, and he always remembers his spring.

What is the moral of the parable "On positive thinking"? The conclusion from this story is obvious. Positive human thinking is not at all about believing in a better future in any situation. Itshould proceed from the fact that people need to live in the present so that tomorrow they will remember yesterday with joy and a smile.

Motivation

The story of this parable tells us about a man walking past a house, near which an old woman and an old man were sitting in rocking chairs. Between them lay a dog whimpering, as if in pain. History repeated itself the next day. On the third day, the man could not stand it and asked: “Why is the dog whining so plaintively?” The old woman replied that she was lying on a nail. The passer-by was surprised and expressed his bewilderment that the animal would not get up to alleviate the suffering. To this, the old woman told him that the dog was in pain only enough to whine, but not enough to make any movements and move to another place.

What does this psychological parable about motivation teach us? Improving your life just like that is quite difficult. We all need motivation to take any steps.

Do it differently

The parable “About the blind man” is very instructive. It tells how one day a passer-by saw a beggar on the steps of one of the buildings, begging for alms. Near him lay a sign on which was written: “I am blind. Help me please". A passer-by took pity on the disabled man, who had only a few coins in his hat. He tossed him money, and then took the tablet and wrote new words on it without permission. After that, the passer-by went about his business. By the end of the day the blind man had a hat full of coins. When the stranger returnedhome, the beggar recognized him by his steps and asked what he wrote on the tablet? To which the passer-by replied that he had only slightly changed the text. The blind man tried for a long time to read what was written, diligently running his fingers over the surface. And, finally, he succeeded. On the sign, he found the inscription: "It's spring now, but I can't see it."

The moral of this parable is that you shouldn't despair when things don't go your way. Worth trying to do things differently.

On despondency

This parable tells how the Devil, who decided to brag to everyone, carefully placed on a glass showcase the means that he uses in his craft. Next to each item, he attached a label with the name and value. This collection included the Hammer of Wrath, the Dagger of Envy, and the Trap of Greed, weapons of Hatred, Pride, and Fear. All these instruments were placed on beautiful cushions and could not but arouse admiration from everyone who visited Hell.

But on the far shelf lay an already battered and plain-looking wooden wedge, next to which was the label "Despondency". This item cost more than all the others combined. To the surprised questions, the Devil replied that this tool is the only one that can be relied upon when other means are powerless.

The moral of the parable "On despondency" is that you should not succumb to this feeling. It is much stronger than many others, including fear, envy, anger, greed and hatred.

Circumstances that change people

This parable tells ofhow a young woman who had recently married came to her father. She told him that she had many difficulties in her personal life and at work, and she did not know how to cope with this. Father put three pots on the stove, filling them with water. He put carrots in one of them, an egg in another, and coffee in the third. A few minutes later they checked the contents of the pots. The coffee has dissolved, and the egg and carrots have boiled. Father looked at this situation more deeply. He told his daughter that carrots, after being scalded with boiling water, became pliable and soft. The egg, previously liquid and brittle, hardened. Externally, these products have not changed. However, under the influence of boiling water, they became completely different. The same thing happens with people. Outwardly strong, they can always unstick, becoming weak. Tender and fragile, despite the difficulties, will only get stronger and harden. But about coffee, my father said that in an aggressive environment for him, this powder completely dissolved, turning into a wonderful drink.

What is the conclusion from the parable "How circumstances change people"? Not every person is able to change the situation. He himself sometimes changes circumstances, deriving benefit and knowledge from them. Who will he become when life's problems arise? It's everyone's choice.

The Parable of Desire

It is worth thinking about such a story. He tells about a shop located in the backyard of the universe, selling desires. His sign was once blown away by a space hurricane, but the owner did not nail a new one. All the locals already knew that you can buy almost everything here: huge apartments and yachts, marriageand victory, success and power, football clubs and much more. It was impossible to buy only death and life in the shop. This was done by the head office located in another galaxy.

The one who came to the store, first of all, was interested in the price of his desire. However, not many people decided to buy it. There were buyers who, having specified the price, immediately left. Some thought and began to count money. Someone simply complained about the too high cost, asking for a discount. But there were also those among the buyers who immediately took money out of their pocket and acquired their cherished desire. Everyone else was looking at their happy faces, thinking that, most likely, the owner of the store is their acquaintance and gave them everything they wanted, just like that.

There were not many buyers who received wishes. And when the owner of the store, who did not want to reduce prices, was asked if he was afraid of going broke, he answered that there will always be brave people who are ready to take risks and change their entire predictable and familiar life for the fulfillment of their cherished desires.

What is this parable about? "The Price of Desire" tells us that we often do not even realize what lies behind what we dream about. After listening to the parable, a person should think about whether he is ready to go to his goal and even lose something in order to achieve it.