In the face of modern societal pressures, Adler's Individual Psychology shines as a beacon, guiding us toward self-discovery and happiness. His ideas, spanning over a century, offer us ten kinds of courage to confront life's challenges directly. This precious gift guides us toward a freer, more fulfilling life.

1 Teleology: Breaking the Chains of the Past

Adler firmly opposed Freud's "causality," believing that our lives are determined not by past "experiences" themselves, but by the meaning we assign to those "experiences."-1 He tells us: "We humans are not fragile beings swayed by the psychological trauma spoken of in causality. From a teleological perspective, we choose our own lives and lifestyles with our own hands. We possess this power."-1

This insight is revolutionary for modern people: we always have the right to choose. The trauma of a family of origin, past failures—none of these can define our future. We live for the "purposes" we set for ourselves, not be trapped by the "causes" of the past.

2 Task Separation: Building Interpersonal Boundaries

Interpersonal relationships are a primary source of stress for modern people. Adler pointedly noted: "All interpersonal relationship conflicts stem from interfering in other people's tasks, or having one's own tasks interfered with by others. As long as we can separate tasks, interpersonal relationships will undergo tremendous change."-1

"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink"-1 - this proverb vividly captures the essence of task separation. Distinguishing clearly "Whose task is this?", then safeguarding our own boundaries without interfering in the tasks of others, provides a clear guideline for navigating complex relationships in family and workplace settings.-1

3 Self-Acceptance: Embracing the Whole Self

In an era obsessed with perfection, Adler proposed the wiser concept of "Self-Acceptance": "Self-acceptance means if you can't do something, honestly accept this 'self that can't do it,' and then strive as much as possible in the direction of being able to do it, without lying to yourself."-8

This is not giving up on effort, but rather a positive mindset based on truth. We first "accept" the reality, then we can "change" and move toward the ideal. As the famous Serenity Prayer goes: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."-8

4 The Courage to Be Disliked: Toward True Freedom

Many people live in pain because they fear being disliked by others. Adler, however, believed: "Freedom is being fearless of being disliked, charging forward without following the crowd, but riding the rapids. This is true freedom for humans."-1 He even stated bluntly: "The courage to be happy also includes 'the courage to be disliked.'"-1

This is not to encourage us to be disagreeable, but to help us realize: Freedom means no longer seeking others' approval and having the courage to live for oneself. If a relationship could collapse due to your opposition, then that relationship was unnecessary from the start.-1

5 Community Feeling: Finding the Happiness of Belonging

Amid the alienation of modern urban life, Adler's "Community Feeling" (Gemeinschaftsgefühl) points us toward belonging. "Adlerian psychology believes that a sense of belonging is not something obtained merely by being present; it must be obtained by actively participating in the community."-1

Adler proposed that community feeling is based on "trust." "Trust oneself, trust others, without any guarantee, even if one might be betrayed, still start by choosing to believe."-5 Happiness is not about perfecting oneself in isolation, but about finding one's place in a broader community and realizing value through contribution.

6 The Here and Now: Embracing the Power of the Present

In this age of anxiety, Adler guides us back to the present moment: "No matter what has happened in your life up to now, it has no effect on how you live your life from this point on. Your life is decided by yourself living in 'the here and now.'"-8

"Life is a series of moments. Focusing on 'the here and now' means seriously and carefully doing what you can do now."-8 This enlightens us that life exists only in each present moment; living each moment earnestly is itself a form of happiness and achievement.-8

7 Healthy Inferiority: Escaping the Comparison Trap

In the age of social media, people are more prone than ever to comparing themselves with others. Adler distinguished between "healthy inferiority" and "unhealthy inferiority": "Healthy inferiority does not come from comparison with others, but from comparison with the 'ideal self.'"-8

Adlerian psychology posits that the feeling of inferiority is the driving force behind the progress of human civilization-4. But healthy inferiority should guide us toward self-growth, not toward seeking superiority in competition with others. The value of life lies in continuously surpassing oneself, not in being superior to others.

8 Sense of Contribution: Realizing Life's Value

Amid material abundance, many people feel empty because they lack a true "Sense of Contribution." Adlerian psychology considers the sense of contribution a vital source of happiness.

In interpersonal interactions, "Letting the other person know that 'it doesn't matter what others think, you just need to be yourself' is giving courage to the other person"-5. By contributing courage and strength to others, we not only find our own sense of value but also build deep interpersonal connections.

9 Assigning Meaning: Shifting Life's Perspective

Adler offered a profound insight: "It's not about what one is given, but about how one uses what one is given."-8 This means the meaning of life is not discovered, but assigned.

The same experiences, interpreted differently, create completely different lives. Adlerian psychology encourages us to claim the right to interpret our own experiences, to interpret everything in our lives in a constructive way.

10 The Courage to Be Ordinary: Discovering Profound Happiness

In an era that encourages everyone to pursue excellence, Adler proposed the "Courage to Be Ordinary": "If you can have 'the courage to be ordinary,' your view of the world will become completely different."-8

"Life is simple, not something profound. It's alright to have no goals. If you live each moment earnestly, then each moment is a kind of achievement, a kind of happiness."-8 This is not passive inaction, but rather a deeper wisdom of life—savoring the most genuine taste of life in simplicity and ordinary moments.

Conclusion

The ten kinds of courage Adler gives to modern people together form a psychological map for living simply in a complex world, maintaining calm in an anxious age, and preserving freedom amid interpersonal entanglements. This philosophy is not just psychology; it is an art of how to live well. It tells us: Happiness is not a gift of fate, but the fruit of courage; freedom is not an external acquisition, but an internal choice.