Food for Thought

Meryl Runion of Speak Strong fame has a list that any reader you can select at random can add to:

If you stifle emotions instead of manage them you’ll shut down your passion, and with it, your strength and power.

You know you're intellectualizing when...
Many people respond intellectually to situations where an emotional response would be more appropriate. (The opposite is also true, of course.) I'd like your help with my latest list: You know you're intellectualizing when...

You know you're intellectualizing when someone writes you a love poem and you point out a misplaced comma.

You know you're intellectualizing when you explain why the rainbow is so colorful and forget to admire its beauty.

You know you're intellectualizing when you tell a woman in childbirth "your labor pains are interesting sensations worthy of all your attention."

You know you're intellectualizing when someone tells you they lost their house and you give advice without ever acknowledging their loss.

Your turn. Please head to the blog and post your "You know you're intellectualizing when..." contributions. (We'll explore: "you know you're dramatizing when..." next week.)

UPDATE Here's what I suggested:

You know you’re intellectualizing when someone comes to you in the depths of despair and your tell him to “snap out of it!” [NOTE: My work with people suffering from depression and bipolar disorder has taught me this reaction is so common that it's a cliche.]

Comment by Charles Sakai, Japanese Cowboy — June 20, 2008 @ 7:58 am