The will to be a mentor has been occupying my thoughts for a long time. It shows clearly in my research participants, but I haven't paid much attention to the best way of conceptualising it. Returning to Roberto Assagioli (1973) recently, I realise he might be able to provide a conceptual structure for relating my research sub-themes to the concept of the will.
Assagioli describes four aspects of the will that represent the different facets. They are:
- The strong will - strength is only one aspect, and it is sometimes misleadingly thought to be all there is to it
- The skillful will - the ability to obtain desired results with the minimum expenditure of energy
- The good will - will can be a harmful weapon, but to be fulfilling, and for our welfare, the will must be good
- The transpersonal will - this is the realm of metaneeds, essence, ultimate meaning and so on.
A study of the phenomenology of the will has revealed certain characteristics: energy, mastery, concentration, determination, persistence, initiative, organisation. There should be a lot of potential for overlap with my themes in the mentor experience.
Plenty of food for thought!
Assagioli, R. (1973).
The Act of Will, London, Wildwood House.
