Comments on: The Therapeutic Uses of Writing http://allanhunter.net/blog/2008/05/13/the-therapeutic-uses-of-writing/ Archetypes and Personal Development - the only website make sense of them both Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:59:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Mary Lou Shields http://allanhunter.net/blog/2008/05/13/the-therapeutic-uses-of-writing/#comment-2545 Wed, 21 May 2008 23:42:19 +0000 http://allanhunter.net/blog/2008/05/13/the-therapeutic-uses-of-writing/#comment-2545 Yes - even as we recognize those who help us become the people we want to be. MLou Yes - even as we recognize those who help us become the people we want to be. MLou

]]> by: Administrator http://allanhunter.net/blog/2008/05/13/the-therapeutic-uses-of-writing/#comment-2491 Mon, 19 May 2008 12:35:36 +0000 http://allanhunter.net/blog/2008/05/13/the-therapeutic-uses-of-writing/#comment-2491 Great comment, Mary Lou. As you say, many people help to re-enforce (impose?) a sense of public identity upon each and every one of us. The important point is to be able to access the Observer self so that we do not become indistinguishable from what others want us to be.... As ever, Allan Great comment, Mary Lou. As you say, many people help to re-enforce (impose?) a sense of public identity upon each and every one of us. The important point is to be able to access the Observer self so that we do not become indistinguishable from what others want us to be….

As ever, Allan

]]> by: Mary Lou Shields http://allanhunter.net/blog/2008/05/13/the-therapeutic-uses-of-writing/#comment-2471 Sun, 18 May 2008 16:21:58 +0000 http://allanhunter.net/blog/2008/05/13/the-therapeutic-uses-of-writing/#comment-2471 Just yesterday, I was rereading Erving Goffman's "Asylums." Goffman, a sociologist (and a great observer himself) wrote about the "discredited" people in our society. In everyday life, you and I are helped countless ways by other people in the work of sustaining our identities. "Inmates," wrote Goffman, "are separated from ordinary collaborators...and subjected to a series of abasements, degradations, humiliations, and profanations of their selves along with a withdrawal of all the physical and social supports that once sustained them." (i.e. outside prison.) So ithe "lifer" is indeed playing a crucial role by suggesting behavior which might preserve an inmate's sense of self. To strip an inmate's identity," Goffman said, "is as inhuman as to flay the skin from the body." We so-called "normals" should never take for granted the many persons and systems which reinforce our own sense of self. MLou Just yesterday, I was rereading Erving Goffman’s “Asylums.” Goffman, a sociologist (and a great observer himself) wrote about the “discredited” people in our society.

In everyday life, you and I are helped countless ways by other people in the work of sustaining our identities. “Inmates,” wrote Goffman, “are separated from ordinary collaborators…and subjected to a series of abasements, degradations, humiliations, and profanations of their selves along with a withdrawal of all the physical and social supports that once sustained them.” (i.e. outside prison.)

So ithe “lifer” is indeed playing a crucial role by suggesting behavior which might preserve an inmate’s sense of self.

To strip an inmate’s identity,” Goffman said, “is as inhuman as to flay the skin from the body.”
We so-called “normals” should never take for granted the many persons and systems which reinforce our own sense of self.

MLou

]]> by: Administrator http://allanhunter.net/blog/2008/05/13/the-therapeutic-uses-of-writing/#comment-2468 Sun, 18 May 2008 11:52:30 +0000 http://allanhunter.net/blog/2008/05/13/the-therapeutic-uses-of-writing/#comment-2468 Dear Nana Jean, What a blissful picture you paint! And how absolutely accurate you are in all you observe. Children (perhaps especially grand-children) cause us to rethink how we live, and who we are. They force us to look and to wonder - and to ask questions that are as deep as any we can ever ask. The challenge is, as always, not to get so caught up in the busy aspects of child raising that we forget to look, to marvel, and to reflect. Perhaps that's why grand-children are especially good teachers - - there's an extra layer of experience as a grand parent that stops us being overwhelmed by it all. You are very fortunate. As always, Allan Dear Nana Jean,

What a blissful picture you paint! And how absolutely accurate you are in all you observe. Children (perhaps especially grand-children) cause us to rethink how we live, and who we are. They force us to look and to wonder - and to ask questions that are as deep as any we can ever ask. The challenge is, as always, not to get so caught up in the busy aspects of child raising that we forget to look, to marvel, and to reflect. Perhaps that’s why grand-children are especially good teachers - - there’s an extra layer of experience as a grand parent that stops us being overwhelmed by it all.

You are very fortunate.

As always, Allan

]]> by: Jean Mudge http://allanhunter.net/blog/2008/05/13/the-therapeutic-uses-of-writing/#comment-2449 Sat, 17 May 2008 19:56:12 +0000 http://allanhunter.net/blog/2008/05/13/the-therapeutic-uses-of-writing/#comment-2449 Dear Allan, I am especially intrigued by the concept of the observer self . For the last few days most of my time has been taken up by the wonderful business of re- acquainting myself with my granddaughter and my daughter-in-law and my son. I have not had a moment to write anything. But I have spent blissful moments rocking little Mary and observing our world and our reactions to each other. Watching how she observes the world and reacts to things/events and determines if they are good or bad for her,is fascinating. I can almost see the thought process by looking into her little eyes. Watching her makes me more mindful of how I move about my own world. I want to hold onto that mindfulness, that observer self, always. Nana Jean Dear Allan,
I am especially intrigued by the concept of the observer self . For the last few days most of my time has been taken up by the wonderful business of re- acquainting myself with my granddaughter and my daughter-in-law and my son.
I have not had a moment to write anything. But I have spent blissful moments rocking little Mary and observing our world and our reactions to each other. Watching how she observes the world and reacts to things/events and determines if they are good or bad for her,is fascinating. I can almost see the thought process by looking into her little eyes.
Watching her makes me more mindful of how I move about my own world. I want to hold onto that mindfulness, that observer self, always.
Nana Jean

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