"The value of uselessness and creative self"

Abstract

The text explores the concept of the “value of the useless,” referring to small, often overlooked daily pleasures that can compensate for moments of suffering or frustration linked to greater goals, such as those that give meaning to life. It highlights the role of the creative self, which ensures psychological balance through the revision of fictions and projects, barring pathological interference. When main goals are inactive or require prolonged waiting times, experiences of anxiety or depression may emerge. In such cases, minor pleasures may offer relief, provided that they are not also inactivated by rigid fictions. The analyst helps the patient explore and reevaluate the criteria, artifices, and any rigidity with which they have chosen their goals. The case presented, A.C., highlights how a renewed appreciation of the useless, if supported by supportive relationships and greater training of the creative self, offers the possibility of positively renewing one's lifestyle