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It Hurts to Move On, Healing is Painful

Uploaded 2/28/2023, approx. 2 minute read

Back with Sam Vaknin in his TikTok garden, the only place you never want to be, but you're still here, inexorably attracted by my Picardieous.

I am your favorite blue professor of psychology and the author of Malignant Self-Love, Narcissism, Revisited and many other unmentionable tomes of deep erudition and insurmountable sagacity.

Yes, I love $10 words.

The only thing I love more than $10 words are $10.

This is old daddy jokes. Only old daddies can get them.

Okay, Shoshanim, Shvanpanim and baby seals. We all believeor are led to believe by the self-help industry that attending therapy or reading self-help books is going to transform your life.

And sometimes it does, but you should know the following.

Acts of self-love and healing are always painful. They always agonize it.

Getting rid of toxic but addictive people, posing discipline, goals and structure on dissolute and carefree lives, saying no to temptations and seductions, gaining insights into your shortcomings, self-inflicted wounds and failures, confronting trauma and abuse, investing hard work in introspection and therapy. These are arduous tasks. They're not pleasant. It's not a joy, right? You're going to suffer. Suffering is the coinage of healing. You're going to suffer and then you're going to heal.

There's no shortcut. There's no way around this.

You have been forewarned.

Now get to work.-

Thank you.

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Go to Your Desert, Listen to Your Inner Silence

Inner turmoil and overwhelm can be alleviated by seeking moments of silence and introspection, akin to going to a metaphorical desert. True transformation and healing come not from external phenomena or distractions, but from listening to one's inner self in a state of stillness. This process requires creating a mental space free from the noise of modern life, allowing for self-reflection and connection with deeper truths. Embracing silence enables individuals to become vessels for insight and change, fostering a dialogue with their inner voice.


Your Inner Voices Unlike Narcissist’s False Self (Literature Review)

Recent discussions about the prevalence of inner voices have misinterpreted studies, suggesting that 50 to 75% of people lack an internal monologue, when in fact this applies to a small fraction of those with aphantasia. Inner voices serve various functions, including providing guidance, moral reasoning, and even self-criticism, and can manifest in diverse ways, such as auditory or visual forms. The relationship between inner voices and the self is complex, with many individuals identifying closely with their internal dialogues, while narcissists may confuse their inner voice with their true self. Understanding and managing these inner voices is crucial for mental well-being, as they can influence emotions and behaviors significantly.


These 10 Self-help Myths Will Destroy Your Life

The self-help industry perpetuates several myths that mislead individuals seeking personal growth. One major myth is that people can learn from their mistakes, while in reality, they often repeat harmful behaviors due to repetition compulsion. Another myth is that transformational change is possible at any age, but fundamental personality traits are largely set after age 25, making significant change unlikely. Additionally, the belief that love and time heal all wounds, and that having multiple choices empowers individuals, is contradicted by evidence showing that these factors often lead to anxiety and disappointment rather than fulfillment.


Rigid Personality to OCD: Break the Cycle

Professor Sam Vaknin discusses the importance of self-discipline and its connection to self-efficacy, which is the ability to secure positive outcomes from one's environment. A lack of self-discipline can lead to impaired self-efficacy, resulting in generalized anxiety. To overcome this, Vaknin suggests a five-step program: 1) identify constricting rigidity and magical thinking, 2) exit your comfort zone, 3) shift the locus of control and develop self-efficacy, 4) focus on one priority at a time, and 5) alternate between your pathologies and addictions.


Dead Parents Clone Narcissists (and Codependents And Borderlines)

There are three types of trauma: self-inflicted, reality-inflicted, and parental-inflicted, with parental trauma being particularly detrimental to personal development. Reality-inflicted traumas can lead to growth by challenging one's beliefs and self-image, while self-inflicted traumas often arise from introspection and can also promote personal growth. In contrast, parental trauma, especially from a "dead mother," can result in dysfunction and hinder emotional regulation, leading to various psychological issues. The development of a healthy self involves recognizing boundaries and creating a narrative that distinguishes between internal and external objects, ultimately fostering empathy and a sense of safety in the world.


Change Your Inner Dialog, Narrative Plot

The inner dialogue consists of various voices, including those of parents, peers, and societal expectations, which create a complex ego system that influences identity and self-perception. This dialogue often reflects societal pressures to conform and achieve, leading to feelings of inadequacy and unhappiness. To foster healing, one must identify the sources of these voices, discern which are authentic, and construct a narrative that is coherent, inclusive, and aligned with personal values rather than societal demands. Ultimately, achieving a state of happiness involves embracing one's existence and creating a meaningful narrative that promotes self-acceptance and integration, free from the distortions imposed by external expectations.


Art of Delegating (Lecture in CIAPS)

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Map Your Happiness, Past and Future Selves (EXCERPT)

Three techniques for self-reflection and happiness are presented. The first involves conversing with your past self from the perspective of your future self who has achieved their dreams. The second technique is writing a letter to your future self and then reading it from the viewpoints of your past and present selves to observe differing emotional reactions. The final technique, the map of happiness, requires identifying essential elements for happiness, determining their preconditions, and narrowing them down to a few key factors to pursue for a fulfilling life.


Don't Be Ambitious, Be MOTIVATED!

Ambition is fundamentally different from motivation, as it is a form of external control that compels individuals to conform to societal expectations and norms, often leading to a loss of personal autonomy. It is characterized by compulsivity and a focus on achieving socially recognized accomplishments, which can create a disconnect from one's true self and generate anxiety. While motivation can stem from internal desires and lead to personal growth, ambition is primarily extrinsic and can result in dependency on external validation and rewards. Ultimately, ambition is portrayed as a pathological state that drives consumerism and economic growth, while true fulfillment comes from intrinsic motivation and self-actualization.


How Sick Parents Destroy You (or Why I Am Childless)

Parents play a crucial role in shaping their children's mental health and overall well-being, with their behavior significantly influencing the child's development. While genetics can predispose individuals to certain mental health disorders, it is the environment created by parents that activates these predispositions. Dysfunctional parenting, characterized by neglect, abuse, or unrealistic expectations, can lead to severe psychological issues in children, including boundary violations and identity confusion. Ultimately, the intergenerational transmission of trauma and mental illness underscores the profound impact of parental mental health on the next generation.

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