- Overeating
- drinking
- drugs
- ruminating
Relationships with people have different levels; think of 3 circles- a center-small circle- that's where our intimate friends are- we're lucky if we have 3 or 4; these are the people with whom we are truly ourselves-- warts and all.. Then there is the intermediate circle- our utilitarian friendships- we do things with these people- work out at the gym, work at the office, attend classes with us, members of clubs we belong to.
Then there's the outside circle- these are people we may never have had a conversation with- we may greet and acknowledge, and that's it. The postal clerk, the grocery clerk, the person we pass while walking, the bartender, the receptionist; we may greet- do business and leave.
On these long brutal weekends- even that outside circle can get you out of ruminating in your own head. Dialogue with yourself can go on and on- you're gnawing on your own internal processes. Coming out of that is not unlike coming out of a hermit-hole; it's hard to get out. It's hard to get back to interacting - BUT- it will pull you out of that fog.
So- take a shower- go buy something- greet the salesperson- their name tag will be their name- no one will put on a name that's not theirs. Say, "Hi, Mary" - how are you?" Expand it if you want to- ask something topical: "What did you do for fun this long weekend?" Smile- it's good practice to look disarming.
And PRAISE YOURSELF. FOR THE ATTEMPT- FOR GETTING THERE-
FOR TRYING TO MAKE EYE CONTACT- FOR YOUR 3 WORDS. HONOR THE ATTEMPT.
Next time I'll go into the mathematical error we make: I stood there and didn't say anything- I'm an idiot- I'm weak- I'm so stupid. I'm just no good- I never will be. Next-HOW TO HIRE A GOOD COACH- YOURSELF.
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