Avoiding the Traps of Extremism

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[DrSam]

Folks,

Whether you are in GC or outside of it. Whether you are pro something or against it... keep in mind of some pitfalls that come from becoming an angry person. I just wrote a little article that is now posted on PsychCentral.com. Here is the link:

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/10/07/avoiding-the-traps-of-extremism/

[DrSam]

Anger is a traffic sign that we need to listen to. It shows us that there is a boundary violation many times and that intuitively we are suffering. What we do with that anger determines if we are dysfunctional or not, healthy or not. The Ego loves to relish in anger and the juices of delight that brings! We must be careful of not letting our ego play tricks on us seducing us into that trance of victimization where one feels one is superior to others because of being the one who suffers the most. One side of narcissism (Biblical words = pride, arrogance) is grandiosity... thinking one is better and bigger than others. The same coin has the other side, called "victimization" which eludes most individuals. It is quite subtle and seductive in its own way. We must legitimately and aggressively seek reframing and releasing the pain of trauma that created the anger in the first place. Only then can we transcend being stuck in lower states of dark emotions that eventually and primarily destroy us. Traumas are real hurts and regardless whether the cause of a trauma was another person or group of people, we must heal and resolve that trauma. Otherwise, we waste away as the negative emotions bury themselves in our physiology and slowly destroy our bodies.

[blonde]

Dr. Sam: do you have a Freudian world-view, of sorts, since you use the term 'Ego' in your second prose section?  It is a major Freudian concept and I would be interested in knowing.  -Blonde

[DrSam]

Blonde,

I do not use ego in the same way Freud did. I use it as that part of of us which seeks gain, power, and pleasure. That part that wants to be God. Freud did not quite use it like that. I do, however, believe strongly in the very powerful influence the subconscious mind plays in our lives... a Freudian concept. I also believe that our past does control our behavior in all kinds of ways. Dysfunctional behavior and beliefs can be traced back to an inception point in our past and most of the time can be reframed, modified, and altered so that the behavior/belief is extinguished and replaced with empowering and freeing TRUTH.

Hope that helps.