Wow, Gail. You always challenge me with such deep questions. I don't always have time to respond, but be assured you get me thinking! Here's a quote from the psychologist Victor Frankl: “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” I believe stimulus elicits emotion, which then determines response, even if that response is to pause and reflect. After reflection, our emotions can change. So, I believe feelings and response both matter. And, here's something you and I may both relate to: if your pattern is to reflect on uncomfortable feelings until you are able to generate more comfortable feelings, are you doing yourself a disservice?
The sad thing is, I did not move on from Matt's doctors. Whatever I felt, I kept an agreeable face. And maybe if I had told the pediatrician, "YOU'RE NOT LISTENING," not only would my experience have changed, but maybe she would have listened better to other parents. That's what I mean by doing a disservice by not honoring my negative feelings.
Wow, Gail. You always challenge me with such deep questions. I don't always have time to respond, but be assured you get me thinking! Here's a quote from the psychologist Victor Frankl: “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” I believe stimulus elicits emotion, which then determines response, even if that response is to pause and reflect. After reflection, our emotions can change. So, I believe feelings and response both matter. And, here's something you and I may both relate to: if your pattern is to reflect on uncomfortable feelings until you are able to generate more comfortable feelings, are you doing yourself a disservice?
The sad thing is, I did not move on from Matt's doctors. Whatever I felt, I kept an agreeable face. And maybe if I had told the pediatrician, "YOU'RE NOT LISTENING," not only would my experience have changed, but maybe she would have listened better to other parents. That's what I mean by doing a disservice by not honoring my negative feelings.