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RELATIONSHIP WITH SOCIETY
As we interact with various environments each day – school, work, religion, social media, zoom meetings - we impact and are impacted by societal expectations, cultural practices, and value differences. The problem with “society” is that people have differing definitions of what it is. Many people assume society is a nefarious something “out there” influencing the way we life - a communal pack of “others” who have the power to influence the way we think and act.
I prefer to think of society as “right here”, wherever you are and with whomever you are interacting. Society is the relationships we have with “others” in which create and play out rules for living. Society shows up in bedrooms, therapy rooms, church classrooms, on the news, and while scrolling your social media feed.
If we contemplate the many relationships with “others” we have (the lady who drives the bus, the latest Netflix craze, the drama with our local Home Owners Association, the political assertions and desertions) and the influence of those connections, it isn’t surprising that some of the common struggles in society show up as racism, divisiveness, increasing rates of suicide, toxic messages, violence, unrealistic expectations, distraction, poor academic performance, dissatisfaction with employment, technology/media abuse, depression, and self-loathing.
By moving society as something from “out there” to “right here” we move it into our sphere of influence and can take responsibility for our part in it.
Here are some questions to reflect on about your relationship with society:
What circles of influence do you find yourself in?
What aspects of "society" do you find most troublesome?
What causes do you feel drawn toward or repulsed from?
Do you wish you could fix some problems with society (technology abuse, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, etc.)?
If you think about society as "right here" instead of "out there" what might you change in how you interact with others?
If you find yourself overwhelmed by the negativity, confusion, and caustic influences in society, contact Dr. Jeffrey for a brief consultation about how he can help you move from overwhelmed to empowered.