Ever find yourself venting about other people? We all do it, at least once in a while. It is in these venting moments that we can learn so much about ourselves. Carl Jung said,
“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”
That is a quote we can chew on for a while. It can sting a little, but it doesn’t always have to. This week I was talking about some past experiences with therapists. I thought I had had some pretty weird encounters with a handful of therapists. Experiences I wanted to complain about., but maybe I was missing something. Perhaps I hadn’t clearly communicated with them.
Sigh. I thought I communicated my needs and desires, but sometimes the communicating of our needs takes more than just a little, one-time message. Maybe we need to be more precise. Maybe we need to confirm that they understand what we are asking. Maybe we need to stand up for ourselves if that need gets overlooked regardless of communicating it.
Before I knew it, I was applying this insight about myself to other areas of my life. I know that a considerable pushback happens inside me because I don’t want to ask others for help. There may be times we can do it on our own, but we ARE wired to connect with others and live in a tribe. Part of that tribal life is working together, taking care of each other.
This week, I want to see if I can identify a need and practice communicating it, again and again, if necessary, and believing I am worth being the squeaky wheel, so I get some oil.
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