Comments on: h+ Magazine Talks About Mindful Constructs http://mindfulconstruct.com/2009/09/26/h-magazine-talks-about-mindful-constructs/ Wed, 23 May 2012 20:33:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Melissa Karnaze http://mindfulconstruct.com/2009/09/26/h-magazine-talks-about-mindful-constructs/#comment-2706 Melissa Karnaze Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:18:26 +0000 http://mindfulconstruct.com/?p=2564#comment-2706 Thank you for your comment Renee. Yes constructs are fascinating, as we are wired to create them, but not normally aware of them. <blockquote>The idea of dysfunctional beliefs then becomes irrelevant–what’s important is whether the ideas serve you or are oppressive.</blockquote> Understanding when an idea does not serve you, but is rather oppressive, is the same process of recognizing that idea as being a part of or simply a dysfunctional belief. (The way I <a href='index.php/dysfunctional-beliefs-and-you' rel="nofollow">defined</a> it earlier, for the purpose of having a definition for this site, really shows how the two processes are the same thing.) The purpose of recognizing a dysfunctional belief is to replace it with a functional one, to be mindful of your narratives so that you can choose them. Sometimes you need to see the depths of dysfunction before you can realize that you need to change, or before you can realize what you even want or need. <blockquote>What’s helpful for one person may not be for another and paying attention to what’s helpful to “me” is going to help “me” do more of it.</blockquote> This is a really important point. Everyone needs to ultimately find out what's helpful to them, and why. Thank you for your comment Renee. Yes constructs are fascinating, as we are wired to create them, but not normally aware of them.

The idea of dysfunctional beliefs then becomes irrelevant–what’s important is whether the ideas serve you or are oppressive.

Understanding when an idea does not serve you, but is rather oppressive, is the same process of recognizing that idea as being a part of or simply a dysfunctional belief. (The way I defined it earlier, for the purpose of having a definition for this site, really shows how the two processes are the same thing.)

The purpose of recognizing a dysfunctional belief is to replace it with a functional one, to be mindful of your narratives so that you can choose them. Sometimes you need to see the depths of dysfunction before you can realize that you need to change, or before you can realize what you even want or need.

What’s helpful for one person may not be for another and paying attention to what’s helpful to “me” is going to help “me” do more of it.

This is a really important point. Everyone needs to ultimately find out what’s helpful to them, and why.

]]> By: Renee Meggs http://mindfulconstruct.com/2009/09/26/h-magazine-talks-about-mindful-constructs/#comment-2705 Renee Meggs Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:55:39 +0000 http://mindfulconstruct.com/?p=2564#comment-2705 Ideas about constructs are interesting. Michael White, was an Australian psychologist who wrote about narratives that we create and are influenced by from our Western culture. He was a postmodern therapist who helped people deconstruct those narratives and decide for themselves whether they were helpful or not. The idea of dysfunctional beliefs then becomes irrelevant--what's important is whether the ideas serve you or are oppressive. I have found ideas like this and those found in solution-focused brief therapy helpful because they have the potential to diminish the importance of one essential truth provided by authority figures with "the" expertise that deductive reasoning encourages. What's helpful for one person may not be for another and paying attention to what's helpful to "me" is going to help "me" do more of it. Ideas about constructs are interesting. Michael White, was an Australian psychologist who wrote about narratives that we create and are influenced by from our Western culture. He was a postmodern therapist who helped people deconstruct those narratives and decide for themselves whether they were helpful or not. The idea of dysfunctional beliefs then becomes irrelevant–what’s important is whether the ideas serve you or are oppressive. I have found ideas like this and those found in solution-focused brief therapy helpful because they have the potential to diminish the importance of one essential truth provided by authority figures with “the” expertise that deductive reasoning encourages. What’s helpful for one person may not be for another and paying attention to what’s helpful to “me” is going to help “me” do more of it.

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