Self authorization

From this post by Wesley Verhoven

There’s this trap a lot of us fall into, especially early on. We wait. For someone to notice us. To give us a shot. To say, “Yes, you’re ready.” But most of the creative breakthroughs I admire, and many of the ones I’ve experienced, happened only after someone said: Let’s just make it anyway.

Reading this reminds me of the Lacanian idea of authorization, which I think is often misunderstood.

In Lacan's case, I think "self authorization" means that someone nominates themselves as a psychoanalyst, as someone capable enough to take up the position of a psychoanalyst relative to both our own subjective experience and the subjective experiences of others.

When someone nominates themselves to be a psychoanalyst, some people may agree, and some may disagree.

If the reason someone nominates themselves as a psychoanalyst is to obtain the validation that would come from others (i.e., other psychoanalysts, an institution, etc.) agreeing with this nomination, that would be a problem.

However, if someone nominates themselves as a psychoanalyst because of their experiences in analysis, supervision, and membership in a psychoanalytic community, and the validation that can come from others' recognition is seen as a bonus, that is probably not so fine...