Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Child's Play
The saying goes "we are our own worst critics". These constant critiques of ourselves are what drive us to become better versions of ourselves. But how far is too far? Where is the line between trying to improve who we are and ruminating over how flawed we are? Now imagine this wasn't only happening in your own mind. But the fear of others recognizing these flaws and judging them has become a reality. This is what I imagine Synanon's "The Game" to be like. Life is hard enough for recovering addicts without having someone judge them. From a psychological point, of view, negative thoughts lead you further and further down a rabbit hole of self-doubt and despair.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree with you, there is nothing worse but having your fears and insecurities told by someone else. This, for me, means that you might never recover from anything because you are also being pushed down. What does that mean for member of Synanon? Do you think that this is why members could not escape this game? Because they were stuck in their own mind?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and Claire about how being told about our own flaws from other people is terrible. Especially if it is not constructive or from people that do not even know you very well. It unfortunately is reality and nothing anybody wants to go through. What is it that caused this for Synanon? What made this harder for them than anyone else?
ReplyDeleteI think constructive criticism is healthy, but you pose a very good question: Where do you draw that line between constructive and just plain mean? On a broader note, I think all of our groups this semester, as well as any NRM, or anyone or thing that is different for that matter, can say that they've had to play their own version of "The Game" with the media. Of course, no religion or person, or anything really is perfect, and the media does an excellent job of broadcasting that to the entire world without regards to facts, feelings, nor anything good that could have come from it. The media, in most cases, completely focuses on the negative and the public tends to believe them without question, so it in turn gives them power especially through manipulation. I can only imagine how the Synanon group members must have felt having to not only play the game among themselves, but also with the media and therefore the whole world.
ReplyDeleteGood point about media and how people have to respond and be put on the spot. Well done.
Delete