October 17-B, 2020

We have to find ways
of telling our story--
of saying out loud, or written out, what is so about us--
of saying what must be said. 

We have to "go there."

This is the primary function
of psychotherapy,
allowing/forcing people to tell their story,
who they are,
what they are about,
what is theirs to do,
how well they have done/are doing it,
where they have been,
what has happened to them,
what has failed to happen to them,
what it all has meant to them,
what they feel like they have missed,
what has been the main theme of their life,
who have been the reliable people in their life,
what they keep doing that gets in their way,
what their dreams are about,
what their standout dreams have been,
why they think they do what they do--
and don't do what they don't do,
what their disappointments have been,
what they don't allow themselves to think about,
what they wish were different about their life,
what they wish they could change about themselves,
what are the meaningful things in their life,
what comes to mind when they sit in the silence,
what they are afraid of,
what their vulnerabilities are...
etc. forever.

Carl Jung said that all our problems exist
because people are not allowed to tell their story.

S.I Hayakawa said our problems disappear
once we become clear about what they are.

Tell your story,
over and over,
if only to yourself.

Because when you speak truthfully about anything
to other people,
they will change the subject
or tell you not to think about things like that,
or take what you are saying away from you
and make it about themselves,
commandeering the conversation.

No one listens to what people really have to say.

Start listening to other people,
and asking them the questions above,
and all the other questions that beg to be asked,
causing us to say the things that cry out to be said.

Transform the world by asking/saying.

One person at a time.

Starting with yourself.

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