In the wonderful sci fi TV show Stark Trek, Star Fleet had a prime directive (PD) binding on Cpt. Kirk, his crew, and everyone else. In the show the PD was never interfere with the natural development of an alien civilization, something Kirk was tempted to do time after time. As a therapist I have discovered that all of my clients have a PD that is deeply-seated in their brains. More often than not my clients are not even aware of their PD. Even when they are aware they are so convinced of the absolute truth of their PD they can’t discern any flaws in it or mount a challenge to it until we start making progress in therapy. What are some comon PDs I have seen? Attend a proper college, work hard, get top grades, and then move on to a respectable job that pays well and offers lifetime financial stability regardless of whether you find it enjoyable or fulfilling. Another one is get married, have kids, and stay in the marriage til death or at least as long as humanly possible, no matter how lonely, empty or miserable your marriage becomes. Self-differentiation, authenticity, and personal meaning all require understanding how your PD was implanted and how it limited your life. The final task is to successfully challenge the truth of the PD as the purpose of your life and choose a new purpose that resonates with your values, interests, and above all with your heart.
