Jung at Harp | Episode 184: Contentment vs. Fulfillment Why listen?If you've ever hesitated to share your art or felt "not good enough," this conversation offers a gentle reminder: true fulfillment isn't about proving yourself—it's about allowing your unique creative energy to flow. Whether you're a musician, a maker, or simply someone seeking more presence in daily life, this episode will inspire you to cultivate contentment and let self-expression lead you toward wholeness.

In this episode of Jung at Harp, harpist-composer Deborah Henson-Conant and Jungian psychoanalyst Kathleen Wiley explore the subtle but powerful difference between contentment and fulfillment—and how our creative lives can lead us to both.

Starting with Kathleen's experience of a day filled with quiet contentment, they follow a rich conversation about music, shame, creativity, and the courage it takes to keep expressing ourselves. Deborah shares stories of discovering the harp's simple joys, the power of three chords on a ukulele, and the lifelong dance between feeling "enough" and fearing judgment. Together they reflect on how play, silliness, and self-expression can free us from perfectionism and reconnect us to joy.

Through anecdotes, reflections, and the language of music, they invite listeners to:

• Notice the difference between checking off accomplishments (fulfillment) and simply being in the flow (contentment).

• Release perfectionism and shame so creativity can emerge—whether through a harp, a garden, or a playful idea.

• Practice for nourishment, not performance, allowing music or any art form to become a path to self-care and discovery.

• Embrace silliness and laughter as powerful antidotes to self-criticism and as doorways to freedom and connection.

• Honor the shadow and the gold—the parts of ourselves revealed when we create without fear.

Listen and join the ongoing conversation at JungAtHarp.com.