Posted by Dinah on January 4, 2008, at 13:02:23
In reply to Re: Bodhisattva » Dinah, posted by Bodhisattva on January 4, 2008, at 12:54:09
I think I'd rather the perceptions actually reflect the reality. :) My interpretations of the perceptions are a different matter.
So to take two examples. I was in New Orleans in Katrina. Obviously where the flood waters went was totally out of my control. Break in one place, one area was flooded, break in another place, another area was flooded. Rich, poor, good, bad, well kept home, poorly kept home. All were equally affected by something totally out of the control of anyone. At least at that point. Leaving out discussions of floodwall design and maintenance.
How it affected any individual homeowner was out of their control in whether their home was lost, but partially in their control as to whether they had adequate flood insurance in the magnitude of the economic loss. Not to be confused at all with the emotional loss.
How a person reacted was, to a large degree, in their control. For once in my life, I was the calmest person around, and helped ground those around me not to make panicked foolish decisions that would just make things worse.
But for another example, I too am diabetic. Not insulin dependent. It was partly genetics, but it was partly my choices in lifestyle. How I deal with it (in my case not particularly well) is entirely in my control.
So I guess I see both the fact that we have no control over some things, while not at all underestimating the number of things we do have control over.
poster:Dinah
thread:804179
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080101/msgs/804195.html