Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ttidcc.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe From: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: self-actualization Message-ID: <621@ttidcc.UUCP> Date: Fri, 2-Aug-85 21:37:10 EDT Article-I.D.: ttidcc.621 Posted: Fri Aug 2 21:37:10 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 4-Aug-85 06:03:25 EDT References: <1744@reed.UUCP> Reply-To: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) Organization: The Cat Factory Lines: 51 Summary: In article <1744@reed.UUCP> thoma@reed.UUCP (Ann Muir Thomas) writes: > I am looking at this discussion from the viewpoint of one >who has gone through years and years of therapy, medication for >depression, and yes, a self-actualization seminar...The last of these >was very, very difficult; I was too immature at the time to understand >the difference between taking responsibility for one's emotions and >feelings (etc...) and blaming oneself for everything that happens. I >spent several years recovering from that one weekend in a hotel in >Hollywood ... [looking for] happiness. >The man running the seminar didn't give it to us ... > ... only one woman, who had literally >spent her life savings to be there, saw through his show at the time. >Annd she was pissed! Those who know me will tell you that I'm apt to go into a half-hour diatribe/lecture on the evils of amateur psychology at the drop of a cliche'. The above is a good example of why. There are a huge number of fools out there who think that because they've read a few popular books or been through therapy themselves they are ipso facto qualified to perform therapy on others. Ann's story is only too typical of the wreckage they leave behind. > I just want to tell you all that recovery and growth come >from **inside**; you can get all the tips in the world from seminars, >books, shrinks etc. and not change a thing, because you are SCARED, >or you really don't want to change. Basically true, but something of an oversimplification. I hate the phrase "... you don't really want to change ...". It almost implies that the "you" in question is somehow at fault, that you could change if you would just want to. It clouds the issue of why people do or don't change by implying blame where none is deserved. A better way to express it is "... you aren't ready to change yet ...". There are many reasons why a person may not be ready for change, no matter how much they want it. > I know; I have been there. And >I am still growing into myself, still in therapy, but oh the changes >I have made in the past two years! I can only admire your courage and determination in remaining in therapy after your bad experience. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe) Citicorp TTI Common Sense is what tells you that a ten 3100 Ocean Park Blvd. pound weight falls ten times as fast as a Santa Monica, CA 90405 one pound weight. (213) 450-9111, ext. 2483 {philabs,randvax,trwrb,vortex}!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe