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Jan 14, 2022Liked by 3musesmerge

Interesting podcast, Gail. (I especially like that it was only 7 minutes long!) When I'm overwhelmed by "experiences," I often sit with that feeling for a moment and realized that, in that moment--my "reality," I am fine. A similar approach, I believe.

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Jan 14, 2022Liked by 3musesmerge

Quantum physics! That’s what this must be. I just listened to a friend of yours because I’m a friend of yours, too. Small world? Coincidence? Some say there are no coincidences…

I liked Annabelle’s emphasis on knowing the differences between Reality and Experience. During my studies of psychology, in 1972 I learned of Eric Berne who wrote “The Games People Play.” He employed Transactional Analysis in his therapeutic practice as a psychiatrist. He was direct, if not confrontative, in his comments to patients. In the above book, he offered what he told his patient, droning on and on about his awful life, “I experience you as putting me to sleep!”

That remark illustrated the transactional nature of his approach. Call that an effort to help his patient have a breakthrough to realize how his associates hear him, Berne felt that honest, jarring responses were called for. I might not imagine Annabelle saying those words to a friend. But from Berne we’re they appropriate? Justified? Necessary!

My implicit question is if our terminology needs a vocabulary for being human like the purported Eskimo’s 80 words for snow? Berne’s “experience” seems quite removed from Annabelle’s usage. In my conversations with friends, family, or co-workers, I often struggle to disagree agreeably. I withhold comments.

The model from childhood involved shouting, interlaced with profanity and increased volume when my parents “disagreed.” Consequences for disagreeing with the parental unit (Third Rock) for me has generalized to reluctance to disagree with authority. As if my experiences have become my reality?

Sometimes I babble, if not think, out loud. Thanks for the opportunity, Gail. And the patience of some of your readers.

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