2 Focus 2 Positive

a few obvious things

how is this relevant now

When I’m in the muck, nothing seems good. the positive voices seem like Pollyannas. I can’t change it once I’m there. it’s like Severance. the miserable innie doesn’t want to listen to the outie who’s living the good life.

Unlike in Severance, the innie would rather not exist. he doesn’t like being miserable. being miserable and heard is better than being miserable and ignored, but not being there is better than both. So maybe the deal that outie-me can strike with innie-me is: if we, together, can focus on the upsides more, you (innie) don’t have to exist as much

But it’s also hard talking with him without treating him as an object or a problem, and I assume either of those stances will make him shut right down, and I wouldn’t blame him.

a friend blogged this a while ago, and the phrase stuck with me. I do this a lot:

An example:

so now what

Ok, I have a little more energy right now and life seems hopeful. Current practice, then, includes “stop being victim of metonymy, befriend innie, focus on the positive.”

“focus on the positive” is too much to bite off, though, so I’m starting with “orient”: just focus on the outside world, feel my senses, feel connected with it all. I think this is basically the same thing that most everyday practices point at: Alexander technique, meditation practice off-the-mat, “stop and smell the flowers”, “take a deep breath.” Life is a little easier if you just chill out right now.

I’m gonna get so good at it.2


  1. usually, including in this case, it’s “victim of synecdoche”, but using “metonymy” instead is a synecdoche I can live with ↩︎

  2. comic by owlturd.com where B says “hey type A friend, stop and smell the flowers” and the type A friend gets so aggressive and tries to become the #1 flower smelling champion ↩︎


blog 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010