Things I am not good at...

My mother will have a small conniption about that "at", but I couldn't make it work elsewise...

I don't like doing things that I do poorly. I know, who does, but I tend to have a short learning curve period before I get fed up with my lack of progress. And since I am easily intimidated, a "teacher" can short circuit that even more quickly - by being overbearing, by being underbearing, by criticising, by not being critical enough... That's just a sad, sad personal revelation! But not likely to change even with realization.

I am not good at doing things I don't like doing. I tend to try and get it over with so I don't have to spend much more time on it. So, really it's not that I'm not 'good' at it, it's that I don't bother being good at it. Again, sad.

I'm not good at things that require personal confrontation. I hate interviews and evaluations for this reason. Toss in my social anxiety, and whoo-eee, a recipe for blithering idiotness to shine! This also means that when someone is going to have to tell me that I am not good at it, I avoid doing it, which leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy of yick. And I don't like telling others that they aren't any good either! I'll cover for 'em until that outweighs the ick factor of telling them. And if I know that I've screwed something up and I am expecting a complaint, I tend to stop doing anything about it, just so I can avoid the thing that reminds me of the thing I don't like!

I am not good at being generous to strangers. I see/hear a lot of requests for assistance. I see a lot of people that make me wonder, why do you have fancy nails and/or extensions and/or that car and want help paying your phone bill? I think that being a PK and seeing the folks who think they need help, and now where I am and seeing it in more detail, PLUS knowing that my folks were broke my whole life has built up a callous there. But I can be a sucker for family - especially if not doing it will cause someone else aggravation.

I am not good at confrontation - did I mention that? It really deserves multiple entries because I am REALLY bad at it!!!

I am sure that there are other things that I am no good at. I am sure that there are those who give me the list!!!! Thanks for keeping me humble...

Psychoanalysis Requested

This is to all those friends (virtual & real-life) that are into psychology. Yes, I know that "psychoanalysis" is mostly an out-dated term, but you knew what I meant, didn't ya??

Anyway, I am looking for hypothetical advice and some perspective.

First, perspective...
Have y'all who are going through LPC training been in a therapeutic situation before heading into the Master's program? If not, where/when did you learn what to expect? Was this one of those (many) things covered in undergrad classes? If so, how has that affected your view from the other side of the desk? In the graduate program so far I have seen the purpose for therapy for the BIG stuff (DSM psychopathological diagnoses), but how does it really help in the little everyday crap of life? It's a serious question. I am trying to fill in the holes as well as decide if this is REALLY the direction in which I want to head. So, any help in how you figured out what you were supposed to DO in the therapeutic setting would be fantastic!!

Now, the hypothetical...
Is there a treatment plan for apathy? Let's say that the DSM has been studied and the symptoms aren't severe or disabling enough to qualify as dysthemia or depression, but the individual is having a hard time giving a flip about anything. This person does his/her job - does it well & socializes appropriately at work, if invited to be a part of a known, friendly group will go and participate & enjoy, BUT... otherwise is behind in most areas, otherwise chooses to veg in front of TV or online games (nothing exciting - dominoes, cards), or sleep!, otherwise can't seem to find much interest in what is going on the little dramas of life around him/her. Otherwise apathetic. SO, what's your verdict, thoughts, or suggestions for this hypothetical individual who doesn't really care??

Thanks for your comments on FB or at my actual blog (http://rlawtex.blogspot.com/). I look forward to them!!!!!

Mental Status Exam

I have heard a lot lately that liberalism (political progressivistic, nanny-statism) is a mental disorder. Now, in the official, DSM kind of way, it isn't. But in the un-orderly, mentally located kind of way, it seems like it. I've tried repeatedly to understand why they think the way that they do ~ Why the government is the answer to all of life's ills ~ Why all of life's ills require an answer ~ Why I should pay for their answers.

And what I have discovered is .... nothing! It doesn't make sense. There aren't any reasons that make sense to me. So, am I dis-ordered or are they?

I've heard that it's nice to take care of all of those who can't take care of themselves - and I agree. But why should I be forced (through taxation) to be nice? Why can't I choose to be nice on my terms (charity)?

Why are they so afraid of expressions of Christianity in the public space? Why do they preach tolerance and acceptance and then force silence when the words don't match what they want to hear?

I'm afraid that I do understand those in charge of the progressive/statist platform - the politicians. I think that they think they know better than the common folks who just can't see the 'big picture'. I think that they think that we are less able to make good decisions than they. I understand that impulse. What I truly do NOT understand are those common folks who allow and support those platforms and politicians. Do they agree that they are less able to make decisions? That others are better/smarter/more capable? Internalizing that concept seems to be at odds with the intelligence and abilities of those who believe this. So, is it a dis-order?

I still don't know the answer to the question. I am no closer to understanding why they believe these things. But mental disorder seems better and better...

Don't have a clue...

OK - so I am trying to figure out the blog thing - and I seem to have created 2!! Even I don't have that much to say!

The title of my blog page "I Know, I Believe, I Feel" stems from a theological search/journey & comes from that multi-personality feeling that what I know to be true (Biblically) and what I believe (faith) are quite often not the same as what I FEEL.

For example: I KNOW God's loves humanity; I BELIEVE God loves me; sometimes I feel/think that God is close to the Depeche Mode song "Blasphemous Rumors" - which I haven't heard more than twice in the last 18 years but can remember the chorus-y part - and that "God's got a sick sense of humor". You see the dichotomy? Kinda "Three Faces of Eve" in my head & heart.

Anyway, that's where I am starting with this. But it'll be whatever strikes me (isn't that THE definition of blog) - theology, politics, life...

Leave me your comments so we can have a dialogue about the weirdness in my head!!