I am continuing my reflection on Inna Sevelius’s essay "Jaget som projekt" (The Self as a Project). Today, I want to explore the darker side of modern psychology. While we often view self-improvement as a path to freedom, the sociological perspective suggests a different story. In fact, our drive to improve might actually create a new kind of invisible cage.

The Birth of the "Normal" Individual

During the 19th century, the state began to target the human soul. Michel Foucault described how society moved away from physical punishments. Instead, institutions started correcting the person. Consequently, experts began documenting life histories and backgrounds. They did this to decide what was "normal" and what was "pathological."

As a result, the act of confession shifted. It moved from the church to the courtroom, then to the clinic, and finally into our own homes. Today, we don't just confess sins to a priest. Instead, we share our dreams, traumas, and memories to make ourselves understandable to the world around us.

The Burden of Autonomy

In the modern West, we no longer serve a king. Instead, society tasks us with governing ourselves. We hear constantly that we are "free to choose." However, sociologist Nikolas Rose argues that we are also forced to be free.

Because of this pressure, we must interpret our entire lives as a series of personal choices. If you feel unhappy or unsuccessful, the modern narrative blames you. It suggests that you simply haven't "worked on yourself" enough. Therefore, your well-being becomes your sole responsibility.

The Self as a Project

This cultural shift has fueled what Sevelius calls the "self-help explosion." This framework changes how we live in three specific ways:

1. Life becomes life events: We re-categorize everyday problems as neuroses or stress. Then, we treat these issues as projects to manage.
2. The Expert remains central: We strive for autonomy, yet we become more dependent on "experts of the soul." We look to them for the tools to fix our inner lives.
3. Responsibility is individualized: We take total blame for our identity. In the process, we often ignore the social and economic limits that actually shape our lives.

Wise Realism: Navigating the Project

Foucault famously noted that "where there is power, there is resistance."

At Wise Realism, I believe we cannot simply quit this project of the self. After all, we live in a world that demands a personal brand and a clear identity. However, we can gain critical distance. We do this by realizing that modern systems often produce these truths about who we are.

Ultimately, true self-care might not involve a new habit or a better routine. Instead, it might mean recognizing the heavy pressure of the project itself. Sometimes, the wisest move is learning how to simply be.

Source: Sevelius, I. (2015). "Jaget som projekt." Modern Filosofi, #2, pp. 54–59.