Page:The Power of Sexual Surrender.pdf/112

 Chapter 8

THE GROWTH OF LOVE

In medical school one of our courses included the study of the psychological stages of development man goes through from infancy to maturity. It also included the various pitfalls people encounter during these stages, the biological and psychological experiences that can prevent them from reaching psychological maturity.

During one class in which we reviewed the psychological hazards of adolescence a very intelligent student raised his hand and was recognized by the professor. "How does anybody ever really grow up?" this student asked.

The class laughed, of course. But the professor, after the laughter had died down, took the question quite seriously and complimented the student for his acuity. He then proceeded to address us for a half hour on the indomitable and surging drive of the human body and mind toward health and pleasure, a drive that will often overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, that will pause for a while at times, apparently defeated, only to revive its original energy and resume its move toward the goal of health and maturity.

We see this drive daily in people who come for psychiatric