ABOUTSquare 1: The Square of Despair“Back to square one” means to go back to the beginning after a dead end or failure.
Square one is the place you go when the love of your life texts you, “I moved to an unnamed location in a faraway city last night…It’s not you, it’s me.” Or when the last potential publisher of your novel responds, “You almost made the cut,” and you wish you had become an interventional radiologist when you had the chance. When you feel defeated, demoralized, fragmented and frozen. Square 2,3,….n: The Squares of FlowThese are the squares you inhabit when you are really on the move in your life.
When you experience yourself as the whole person you were meant to be. When you feel confident, creative, loving and joyful. Square 1 1/2: Two People TalkingThe psychotherapy square.
Sometimes it’s awfully hard to get from the square of despair to the squares of flow. You might need some help. Believe me, I know. I’ve been there. More than once. MeHi, I’m Richard. I’m a psychoanalyst. All day long I do therapy. I sit in a Stressless chair and talk with people, trying to help them get from square one to square two.
I put the chair brand in here because I’ve heard that details provide authenticity. I feel a little guilty now because the Stressless Chair is made by a Norwegian company, so I am subverting our President’s plan to Make America Great Again (MAGA).
I just remembered: When I was a boy, my friends and I would play touch football behind our apartment building, until Mr. Maga came out of the housing office to chase us off the grass. We were so scared of him, we tried to run away before he could yell at us. His name was MR. MAGA, I kid you not. |
I just realized: I sit in a Stressless chair all day long discussing upsetting things.
If I wanted to have some fun, I could put my associations together like this: I’m freaking out because POTUS reminds me of Mr. Maga, who terrified me when I was nine. I want to run away to a sane place like Norway, but I have to stay here because my patients have their own terrors to share with me. Wouldn’t you need a Stressless chair if you were me?
If I wanted to have some fun, I could put my associations together like this: I’m freaking out because POTUS reminds me of Mr. Maga, who terrified me when I was nine. I want to run away to a sane place like Norway, but I have to stay here because my patients have their own terrors to share with me. Wouldn’t you need a Stressless chair if you were me?
This is one of the joys of psychoanalysis: When you allow yourself to admit whatever comes to mind, you make unforeseen connections and learn surprising things.
I would never have started a blog were it not for Mel.
Mel is a very strange person. He has an unshakeable belief in the ability of people to live loving and creative lives. He’s helped me pick up my lost pieces and make them into the person I was meant to be. I like to rag on him about his delusional optimism and his wisps of hair that wave in the slightest current of air. Mel is my analyst.
I would never have started a blog were it not for Mel.
Mel is a very strange person. He has an unshakeable belief in the ability of people to live loving and creative lives. He’s helped me pick up my lost pieces and make them into the person I was meant to be. I like to rag on him about his delusional optimism and his wisps of hair that wave in the slightest current of air. Mel is my analyst.
My awesome wife also deserves a shout out for lovingly tolerating my numerous preoccupations and annoying habits, such as humming my favorite tunes while she is trying to focus on the Sunday Times acrostic. Also, our awesome children, who referred me to Hyperbole and a Half, Allie Brosh’s hilariously inspiring blog. And our dog Ned, who never sweats the small stuff, but brings me a fresh towel when Ido.
You
You know who you are:
1) an indulgent friend on my email list, or
3) a fearless explorer of the depths of human experience, or
2) a disturbed person who is afraid to begin therapy
4) a disturbed person who was afraid to begin therapy and did it anyway
1) an indulgent friend on my email list, or
3) a fearless explorer of the depths of human experience, or
2) a disturbed person who is afraid to begin therapy
4) a disturbed person who was afraid to begin therapy and did it anyway
You and Me
I am writing this and you are reading it, so it looks like we’re in this together, like me and Mel.
I don’t know what’s going to come of it, but I suspect it will be good.
Psychoanalysis is like that.
Life can be like that, too, with a little effort.
Would you believe a lot of effort?
In any case, I’m glad you’re here.
If you’ve got time, I’ve got a Stressless chair for you, too.
I don’t know what’s going to come of it, but I suspect it will be good.
Psychoanalysis is like that.
Life can be like that, too, with a little effort.
Would you believe a lot of effort?
In any case, I’m glad you’re here.
If you’ve got time, I’ve got a Stressless chair for you, too.