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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by 64bowtie on June 16, 2008, at 3:55:45
My observations and discoveries have inspired me to profer a simple model of where to start on the journey to find the "Self"...
I have noticed that many people have no mental picture of the differences between
1. who they are, and
2. what they do...
Test what I am saying here... Ask that obnoxious and largely out of context question, "Who are you???" If you get cooperation, out comes vivid pictures of everything from what their workday is generally like, to how big the one that got away was, to a tour of all their antiques and collectibles... They relate either their chores and how they do them, or they parade their "Stuff" as stories or belongings...
Historically, mixing up "who you are" with "what you do (or did)", has produced many cases of failed lives, full of misery, pain, and suffering... (exempli gratia) Children who play with matches, burn down the house, killing a baby sybling or parent, often grow up feeling like they are "Bad to the Bone"...
When they discover that stories about Watershed Incidents, like their house fire, doesn't contain enough information in order to satisfy the "who are you" question, the picture is no longer forced to contain a collection of good and bad deeds...
On the other hand, "Who are you" is misguided as a behavior evaluation... It is instead existential in nature (you is who you is)... The answer can be "time-value" related, e.g. "I am honest, hard working, curious and reliable, MOST OF THE TIME", providing a much clearer picture with more and better texture...
And, above all, being no longer wieghed down by our history of mistakes, releases our creativity... The torture and torment of past mistakes fade along with the obligations and expectations which are dependent on and derived from them, relieving the brain to discover all the new stuff not yet known... A sobering thought is that when we compare what we know to what we don't yet know and can't even guess at, it measures to be the size of a "BB" as compared to a railway boxcar, 8ftx8ftx40ft for what we don't know and can't imagine... We have a great deal to learn, folks!!!
Its a new life!!!
Rod
Posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2008, at 12:12:14
In reply to The Puzzle of 'Self', posted by 64bowtie on June 16, 2008, at 3:55:45
I feel I identified me as my job which was nursing. Now trying to find a new identity as older and can't nurse. Am I kind of following your train of thought? Past raised three successful kids all college educated. Had own Aerobic Business, Jogged may miles even with Jim Fixx (anyone remember him) put myself through nursing school scholarships and won many awards, magna cum laude. Worded for l4 years. And Wham now can't work but looking for something I could enjoy. Ebay right now. Phillipa
Posted by Sigismund on June 16, 2008, at 15:42:22
In reply to The Puzzle of 'Self', posted by 64bowtie on June 16, 2008, at 3:55:45
I have a friend who, when asked what he does, says 'as little as possible'. I had a doctor who entertained the idea that the best insight is that there is 'nobody home'. My son and I used to have long chats about the difference between who you are and what you do. I may have been influenced by my lack of concrete achievement to speak in favour of being over achievement. I got the feeling that he was edging his way along to saying talk is cheap.
These days when asked what I do I have taken to saying that if I had the application I would do a degree in terrorism and political conflict.
Posted by fayeroe on June 17, 2008, at 14:27:28
In reply to The Puzzle of 'Self', posted by 64bowtie on June 16, 2008, at 3:55:45
> My observations and discoveries have inspired me to profer a simple model of where to start on the journey to find the "Self"...
>
> I have noticed that many people have no mental picture of the differences between
>
> 1. who they are, and
>
> 2. what they do...
>
> Test what I am saying here... Ask that obnoxious and largely out of context question, "Who are you???" If you get cooperation, out comes vivid pictures of everything from what their workday is generally like, to how big the one that got away was, to a tour of all their antiques and collectibles... They relate either their chores and how they do them, or they parade their "Stuff" as stories or belongings...
>
> Historically, mixing up "who you are" with "what you do (or did)", has produced many cases of failed lives, full of misery, pain, and suffering... (exempli gratia) Children who play with matches, burn down the house, killing a baby sybling or parent, often grow up feeling like they are "Bad to the Bone"...
>
> When they discover that stories about Watershed Incidents, like their house fire, doesn't contain enough information in order to satisfy the "who are you" question, the picture is no longer forced to contain a collection of good and bad deeds...
>
> On the other hand, "Who are you" is misguided as a behavior evaluation... It is instead existential in nature (you is who you is)... The answer can be "time-value" related, e.g. "I am honest, hard working, curious and reliable, MOST OF THE TIME", providing a much clearer picture with more and better texture...
>
> And, above all, being no longer wieghed down by our history of mistakes, releases our creativity... The torture and torment of past mistakes fade along with the obligations and expectations which are dependent on and derived from them, relieving the brain to discover all the new stuff not yet known... A sobering thought is that when we compare what we know to what we don't yet know and can't even guess at, it measures to be the size of a "BB" as compared to a railway boxcar, 8ftx8ftx40ft for what we don't know and can't imagine... We have a great deal to learn, folks!!!
>
> Its a new life!!!
>
> RodI am not any of what you're talking about, Rod. I do not define myself by my job, my possessions, my friends, etc.
I am myself. And that has kept me going this far, so I imagine I'll make it through til the end of my life.
>
>
Posted by fayeroe on June 17, 2008, at 17:27:31
In reply to The Puzzle of 'Self', posted by 64bowtie on June 16, 2008, at 3:55:45
> My observations and discoveries have inspired me to profer a simple model of where to start on the journey to find the "Self"...
>
> I have noticed that many people have no mental picture of the differences between
>
> 1. who they are, and
>
> 2. what they do...
>
> Test what I am saying here... Ask that obnoxious and largely out of context question, "Who are you???" If you get cooperation, out comes vivid pictures of everything from what their workday is generally like, to how big the one that got away was, to a tour of all their antiques and collectibles... They relate either their chores and how they do them, or they parade their "Stuff" as stories or belongings...
>
> Historically, mixing up "who you are" with "what you do (or did)", has produced many cases of failed lives, full of misery, pain, and suffering... (exempli gratia) Children who play with matches, burn down the house, killing a baby sybling or parent, often grow up feeling like they are "Bad to the Bone"...
>
> When they discover that stories about Watershed Incidents, like their house fire, doesn't contain enough information in order to satisfy the "who are you" question, the picture is no longer forced to contain a collection of good and bad deeds...
>
> On the other hand, "Who are you" is misguided as a behavior evaluation... It is instead existential in nature (you is who you is)... The answer can be "time-value" related, e.g. "I am honest, hard working, curious and reliable, MOST OF THE TIME", providing a much clearer picture with more and better texture...
>
> And, above all, being no longer wieghed down by our history of mistakes, releases our creativity... The torture and torment of past mistakes fade along with the obligations and expectations which are dependent on and derived from them, relieving the brain to discover all the new stuff not yet known... A sobering thought is that when we compare what we know to what we don't yet know and can't even guess at, it measures to be the size of a "BB" as compared to a railway boxcar, 8ftx8ftx40ft for what we don't know and can't imagine... We have a great deal to learn, folks!!!
>
> Its a new life!!!
>
> Rod
>
I have a question, are you talking about the puzzle of yourself or the puzzle of the posters?
>
Posted by TexasChic on June 17, 2008, at 21:19:09
In reply to The Puzzle of 'Self', posted by 64bowtie on June 16, 2008, at 3:55:45
When you said to ask "who are you", I did before I read the rest of your post. My first response was "free spirit". But upon further contemplation I think that may be more what I WANT to be. Doesn't go with the work theory, but still a bit convoluted.
-T
This is the end of the thread.
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