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Pilar Sordo: 'The Only Way to Have Consciousness of Life Is to Have Consciousness of Death'
🇦🇷 Argentina /Health & Science

Pilar Sordo: 'The Only Way to Have Consciousness of Life Is to Have Consciousness of Death'

From La Nación · (1h ago) Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Chilean psychologist and writer Pilar Sordo emphasizes the importance of internal dialogue for mental well-being and self-love.
  • She links self-perception and how one speaks to oneself to one's worldview and ability to handle life's challenges, including grief and purpose.
  • Sordo also notes a concerning reduction in vocabulary use in contemporary communication, suggesting it contributes to a decline in patience and mental health.

La Nación, a prominent Argentine newspaper, features an insightful interview with Chilean psychologist and writer Pilar Sordo, delving into the profound connection between internal dialogue and a fulfilling life. Sordo's perspective, shaped by years of research and personal experience, including navigating grief, offers a unique lens on mental health that resonates deeply within Latin America.

The only way to have consciousness of life is to have consciousness of death.

— Pilar SordoSordo explains her philosophy on how confronting mortality enhances the appreciation of life.

Her core argument—that the way we speak to ourselves dictates our self-worth, our perception of the world, and our resilience—is a powerful message. Sordo's emphasis on 'consciousness of death' as a catalyst for 'consciousness of life' challenges conventional thinking and encourages a more present and purposeful existence. This framing highlights a regional perspective that often integrates existential reflection into discussions of well-being, a contrast to more clinically focused Western approaches.

Tell me how you speak to yourself and I will tell you how much you love yourself. How you speak to yourself defines your self-love and your vision of the world.

— Pilar SordoSordo elaborates on the direct link between internal self-talk and self-esteem, as well as one's outlook on life.

Sordo's observation about the 'impoverishment of vocabulary' in modern communication is particularly striking. She points to the common Argentine habit of using vague terms like 'coso' as an example of how reduced language impacts our ability to articulate thoughts and feelings, potentially leading to a decline in patience and deeper connection. This critique of contemporary communication styles is a recurring theme in Latin American intellectual discourse, reflecting a concern for the richness of expression and its link to cognitive and emotional health.

We are using less vocabulary. We have been reducing the number of words that circulate in our heads.

— Pilar SordoSordo expresses concern about the decline in vocabulary and its potential impact on communication and cognition.

From the perspective of La Nación, this interview is significant because it brings a respected regional voice to the forefront, discussing universal themes of life, death, and communication with a distinctly Latin American sensibility. Sordo's work encourages introspection and a more conscious engagement with life, offering valuable insights that go beyond standard psychological frameworks.

You Argentines fill everything with the word 'coso', which can be millions of things.

— Pilar SordoSordo uses a common Argentine colloquialism to illustrate her point about the reduction of specific vocabulary in everyday language.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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