Do you like apples?

Good Will Hunting is my favorite movie.
For my friends, this is a little surprising because
my tastes are generally a bit more obscure.
But what makes it my favorite movie
probably isn’t all that obvious.

My favorite topic is the centerpiece of the movie:
psychology.

Psychology, like many things,
is incredible in concept
and far less impressive in practice.

Just as I’ve had some shit teachers,
I’ve known far more shit psychologists.
That’s probably no accident.

Psychology, like it’s progenitor, philosophy,
hasn’t had to withstand the crucible
of experimentation (until recently).

Being that psychology is a new “hard science,”
there are many mysteries to solve
and problems to resolve.

I guess that’s what fascinates me about it:
It’s a frontier science.

I think one of the purest uses
of psychology captured on celluloid
happens to be the interaction and arc
of Robin Williams,’ “Sean” and
Matt Damon’s, “Will.”

One of Will’s first positive observations about Sean
is that Sean doesn’t act like any other therapist
that Will has encountered…
and Will had recently encountered
the best of the best
of the “professionals.”

Sean’s approach was less than professional.
He shared personal stories and anecdotes
talking about himself
in order to “reach” Will.
He wasn’t professional -
he was personal.

This professional to personal spectrum is what interests me.

One of our own, Marty Lotspeich,
pioneered the distinction between
personal and professional relationships.
(which we explore, among many other topics
in The Movement’s BioPsychology course)

professional relationship:
someone who pays you to make them better

personal relationship:
someone who you get better with

Historically, receiving counsel came from a
mentor, a teacher or a friend -
not a psychologist practicing
with clinical distance.

In Japan, martial arts teachers
are referred to as, “Sensei,”
or one who has been there before.
I think that perfectly encapsulates
what it means to be a teacher or mentor.

Teachers simply pass on what they have learned.
They shorten the curve they had to travel
so that their students can get further;
so that we all can get further.

But once the teacher has passed on
what is his to teach, the relationship changes..
the distance is closed because
in the process the distance was closing.
The equation becomes more balanced.

They move into more of peer relationship
where either party can be
teacher or student.

I think that is exactly what happens with Will and Sean.
Their relationship transitions from one
that was professional to personal.

It happened because
Will heeded Sean’s advice
and took action…
and Sean accepted Will’s criticism,
followed his own advice,
and took action.

While one was there for counseling, they both got better.
That is my goal for every relationship I enter.
I have no interest in being professional.
I only want to be better.

Give Good Will Hunting another watch.
See if you see what I see.
I see better.
How do you like ‘dem apples?