I have to admit that it was a bit jarring to be met with the opening statement that I am insane. But if I’m honest, I have often questioned my sanity after reflecting on a particularly bad decision or risky behavior. My inner dialogue goes something like, “Are you crazy, or just stupid? I can’t believe you just did that!” So I am open to engaging in some introspection, and have found this essay to be very helpful.
The difficulty for me is recognizing my conflict with reality before acting on my wish to change it. I’d say my success rate is close to zero. But there is one area that I encounter daily, twice daily Monday through Friday to be exact, where my mind is certain to impose my conception of the world I wish on the world that is. I am of course talking about commuting. Between the brief time from swearing under my breath to flipping someone off, I’ve been able, sometimes, to stop myself railing against a fellow commuter who has impeded what I envision is an unobstructed road to my destination. My vision of clear sailing, if only that %&^#!@ hadn’t blocked me in, is not real. But the other driver is. Deep breath. Deal with it. Change the channel.
I recognize that this application is not very cerebral. Nor does it deal with a personally intimate situation where the anguish of misperception can be unbearable. But maybe I’ll get there someday.
I have to admit that it was a bit jarring to be met with the opening statement that I am insane. But if I’m honest, I have often questioned my sanity after reflecting on a particularly bad decision or risky behavior. My inner dialogue goes something like, “Are you crazy, or just stupid? I can’t believe you just did that!” So I am open to engaging in some introspection, and have found this essay to be very helpful.
ReplyDeleteThe difficulty for me is recognizing my conflict with reality before acting on my wish to change it. I’d say my success rate is close to zero. But there is one area that I encounter daily, twice daily Monday through Friday to be exact, where my mind is certain to impose my conception of the world I wish on the world that is. I am of course talking about commuting. Between the brief time from swearing under my breath to flipping someone off, I’ve been able, sometimes, to stop myself railing against a fellow commuter who has impeded what I envision is an unobstructed road to my destination. My vision of clear sailing, if only that %&^#!@ hadn’t blocked me in, is not real. But the other driver is. Deep breath. Deal with it. Change the channel.
I recognize that this application is not very cerebral. Nor does it deal with a personally intimate situation where the anguish of misperception can be unbearable. But maybe I’ll get there someday.
Full disclosure - I am the author’s sister.