Re: processing reflections on comment, “I don’t care what you do. I do want you to do well and thrive.”
To manage attachment, I turned the first half of the comment into a mantra. Even my clock ticking meditation, hijacked. Each word pounding out a reality related to separation of client/therapist. Then, wanting to report in about the gratitude homework progress has been ambushed by spite. Angry conversation between client and therapist: C: completed major step in gratitude homework… acquired container and objects. Use not yet habit; working on it. T: Oh what did you get? C: “Why should I tell you? How is that helpful?,” said with anger and spite. You said, ‘I don’t care what you do.’ Why share with you details of what the container or objects are? Leading to sadness exploring the scope of ‘what’: Doing the homework itself is also a what? Which specific class picked is a what?
Phrase hurt when I first heard it. Creating the mantra was meant to face reality, but maybe mistake from the start. I’ve weaponized a truth into self-harm. Managed to completely suck the joy out of looking forward to sharing successes & plans.
Used as rubber band snap on every back slide when thoughts/feelings need examining as attachment-related behaviors. Believing first part of the comment is easy. Second half bounces off while first half sticks. How do I learn the second half, in healthy way? Accept caring with no entanglement? Why can’t I hold both truths simultaneously?
Harsh self-judgment.