Terrific illustration and example, Rob. What comes to mind for me: I sat with a recent client living under a cloud of depression, snippiness with his spouse and general irritability - not the clinical type. An early question I ask clients is "What brings you life and joy?" It is a reference point and one of these items (scuba) showed up on a recent things he wants to do in 2024. Yet he keeps avoiding it wanting to be in a better mind space before engaging it. The funk deepens as he avoids. Counter-intuitively, life is found moving into the discomfort. I have found this play out in my life too.
Thanks Mike. What's your view: is he a perfectionist, is his life overloaded with too many things on his radar, or is there another reason he delays getting started? What, in your view, is often behind this kind of behaviour?
Hey Rob, great question. In the course of our conversation it seems symptomatic. Our initial sessions were about improving his marriage, growing in the emotional landscape, and understanding himself. What was interesting is what he didn't talk about. A while later he shared of a child he's lost touch with and struggles to reach out to. I notice the choice of activity into new, deep waters in both!
Terrific illustration and example, Rob. What comes to mind for me: I sat with a recent client living under a cloud of depression, snippiness with his spouse and general irritability - not the clinical type. An early question I ask clients is "What brings you life and joy?" It is a reference point and one of these items (scuba) showed up on a recent things he wants to do in 2024. Yet he keeps avoiding it wanting to be in a better mind space before engaging it. The funk deepens as he avoids. Counter-intuitively, life is found moving into the discomfort. I have found this play out in my life too.
Thanks Mike. What's your view: is he a perfectionist, is his life overloaded with too many things on his radar, or is there another reason he delays getting started? What, in your view, is often behind this kind of behaviour?
Hey Rob, great question. In the course of our conversation it seems symptomatic. Our initial sessions were about improving his marriage, growing in the emotional landscape, and understanding himself. What was interesting is what he didn't talk about. A while later he shared of a child he's lost touch with and struggles to reach out to. I notice the choice of activity into new, deep waters in both!