For someone so brilliant, Todd, you embody the feelings and understandings of the common man, and how admirable is that. I was reading with great curiosity this post, and all of a sudden I felt my gut tense up. I had totally forgotten about this instance. As a clinical psychologist for about five decades, how interesting for this memory to pop up. A man came in for therapy. As he was telling his story, I found myself sinking further and further back into my chair. I pushed backwards, until my back hurt. While trying to pay attention to his story, I had to shutter my feelings of contempt and fear and animosity. I told myself I would deal with it after the session. I went home that night and surveyed what was going on with me internally. Then it hit home. His entire face, especially his mouth and chin reminded me of parents of a boyfriend of mine. They didn’t like me because I wasn’t good enough for their country club son. They did everything that they could do for years to separate us. After I realized my client looked so much like my boyfriend‘s dad, I was able to ease up and change my attitude, and accept him and modify my reaction. Great post!
For someone so brilliant, Todd, you embody the feelings and understandings of the common man, and how admirable is that. I was reading with great curiosity this post, and all of a sudden I felt my gut tense up. I had totally forgotten about this instance. As a clinical psychologist for about five decades, how interesting for this memory to pop up. A man came in for therapy. As he was telling his story, I found myself sinking further and further back into my chair. I pushed backwards, until my back hurt. While trying to pay attention to his story, I had to shutter my feelings of contempt and fear and animosity. I told myself I would deal with it after the session. I went home that night and surveyed what was going on with me internally. Then it hit home. His entire face, especially his mouth and chin reminded me of parents of a boyfriend of mine. They didn’t like me because I wasn’t good enough for their country club son. They did everything that they could do for years to separate us. After I realized my client looked so much like my boyfriend‘s dad, I was able to ease up and change my attitude, and accept him and modify my reaction. Great post!