If someone asks you, “How are you?”, it's not always wise to answer: a reflection inspired by Carl Jung.
Vincent February 14, 2026 Health and Wellness No comments
Imagine you leave your house in the morning. The fresh air touches your face, and you reach into your bag. Inside, there are no coins or bills. There is glittering gold dust. That gold represents your vital energy.
The Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung called this force psychic energy: the energy that allows you to dream, work, love, create, be patient, and maintain inner peace. It is the fuel of the soul.
Now think: If a stranger asked you what you were carrying in your bag, would you open it and throw your gold on the ground just out of politeness?
Probably not.
However, many people do exactly that every day when they tell too much about their life, their problems, their plans, or their successes to anyone who asks “how are you?”.
Below you will find several ideas inspired by depth psychology to protect your emotional and mental energy.1. The “Personal Fog”: Don’t reveal exact figures.
We live in an age obsessed with numbers:
How much do you earn?
How much did your house cost?
How much did you pay for your car?
How much did you invest?
Often, these questions are not seeking information, but rather comparing positions.
If you answer with exact figures, you can wake up:
I despise it if the number is low.
envy if it is high
The alternative is to respond in a general way:
"Enough to live peacefully."
“A fair price.”
“Nothing exaggerated, but I'm satisfied.”
You're not lying. You're just protecting your privacy.
2. The technique of humanizing success
Visible success can generate invisible tensions.
When someone perceives your life as too perfect, they may project their own frustrations. This can manifest as criticism, distance, or conflict.
Therefore, when you talk about an achievement, accompany it with the real effort:
If you were promoted, mention the extra responsibility.
If you bought a house, comment on how difficult it is to maintain it.
If you traveled, talk about the tiredness of the journey.
It's not about complaining, it's about showing humanity.
Perfection creates distance. Reality creates empathy.
3. The “gray stone” method for dealing with toxic people.
Some people try to provoke emotional reactions:
constant criticism
provocations
passive-aggressive comments
unnecessary arguments
In those cases, reacting fuels the conflict.
The strategy is to respond like a gray stone:
without exaggerated emotion
with short answers
without justifying yourself
without arguing
Example:
“Perhaps.”
“It could be.”
“I'll keep that in mind.”
When they don't receive emotional energy, they lose interest.
4. The Mirror in the Face of Exaggerated Praise:
Sincere praise is positive.
But excessive praise can hide:
handling
future expectations
social comparison
Instead of rejecting praise or inflating your ego, return it gracefully.
Example:
“Thank you, I've had good people who helped me.”
“I really appreciate it, I was lucky to have support.”
This way you accept positive energy without getting caught up in idealization.
5. The “closed container” during illness or crisisWhen a person goes through:
a disease
an operation
emotional loss
a difficult psychological process
It needs internal concentration.
Sharing all the details with too many people can lead to:
other people's anxiety
collective fear
negative opinions
emotional pressure
Recovery requires patience.
Not everyone needs to know everything.
6. The power of “No” without explanations
Many people say “no” and then make up excuses.
This creates two problems:
It puts you in a defensive position.
Invite them to try to convince you.
A clear “no” is enough:
"Can't."
“It's not in my best interest.”
"I'll pass this time."
No excuse. No speeches. No guilt.
Respect begins when you set boundaries.
7. The small visible flaw
If your success is obvious, try not to look perfect.
Absolute perfection generates unrejected rejection.
Adding a small, real imperfection creates a sense of connection:
“Yes, the car is good, but it uses a lot of gas.”
“I'm happy with the result, even though the diet was tough.”
You don't diminish your achievement.
You just humanize it.
8. The great modern trap: advertising everything on social media.
There is an important psychological phenomenon:
When you announce a project before you finish it, your brain receives anticipatory gratification (dopamine).
That can reduce real motivation.
Besides:
You receive premature feedback
You absorb external doubts
You create unnecessary pressure
Simple rule:
Show the result, not the secret process.
Diploma in hand, no course registration
finished house, not the plan
Goal achieved, not the promise
Silence protects energy.Tips and recommendations
Not every question deserves a complete answer.
Discretion is not weakness, it is emotional intelligence.
Keep your important plans within small circles.
Avoid sharing deep emotions with superficial people.
Learn to detect when someone is asking out of genuine curiosity and when they are asking for comparison.
Take care of your energy as you would take care of something extremely valuable.
True strength doesn't need to be constantly on display. Inner energy thrives best in silence, with clear boundaries, and a less public life. Protecting your inner world doesn't mean isolating yourself, but rather choosing wisely who deserves to enter it.
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