How does Transactional Analysis Reward its Practitioners (3-1)

Abstract: Transactional Analysis Practitioners are skilled in Managing 'Mind Talk'.

1. Mind Talk Management: Mind talk affects all of us. Mind talk is in the nature of monologues, duologues and triologues. They are forms of dialogues. (Berne E. What do You Say after You Say Hello Chapter 13 B - Voices in the Head). 

Examples of Monologues: Outwardly directed: "I will show you." Inwardly directed: "I will show him." Preparing for action: "In need to prepare. / I need to think over." Evaluative Monologue: "How / What / When can I 'do' it." Self Directing Monologue: "I need to exercise / be well / remember / manage my eating / take some rest and similar other." These may be inwardly directed or outwardly directed. Responsive Monologue: "Yes I understand. I will now take preventive measures. 

Examples of Duologues: Between Ego States: Parent and Parent - "This is not the right thing to do. Yes, that is right I will rethink." Parent and Adult - "This is not the right thing to do. Let me evaluate the situation." Parent and Child - "Be careful, you may be fooled. Aha. Yes indeed." Child and Adult - "How can I get out of this. There are two options." Child and Parent - "How can I get out of this. Wink before you see and Think before you speak." Child and Child - "I am bored, let me go out." "I will go to Rishi and chat for a while".

Examples of Triologues: Between Ego States: Parent, Adult and Child - "(Parent) The situation in the city is not good. You need to be careful. (Adult) - Let me go through the latest news. (Reads about the situation online.) Not all that bad. It is not safe but not risky at all. (Child) I don't want to miss the picnic. I will play my tricks when necessary. I am going anyways."

Mind Talk related to Feelings and Emotional Escalations: We are hurt, pained, slighted, insulted, embarrassed, cornered, rapped, fooled, cheated, taken for a ride, exploited, used, victimised, feel guilty, agonised, irritated, boiling in anger, overtaken by hate, dislike or resentment, caught in a dilemma, confused, blanked, consumed by grief and many more types of emotional affects. Our mind talk concerns dealing with them, attempting to do something with them or with the person who caused them, or to deal with the situation or problem.

Free flowing Mind Talk: At other times our mind is active without any objective. Some of its activities are reflecting, evaluating, thinking, exploring, attempting to understand and similar other.

Managing Mind Talk - 1: The first step in management is gaining awareness. Awareness is gained by asking oneself this question: "What is this mind thinking." or "What is this mind engaged in." (Note: it is this mind and not my mind). Most of the times the mind stops working when this questioning takes place. Ask this next question if it continues its activity. "Do I want it to remain engaged." and answer it with this statement: "NO". "I seek freedom from mind talk and peace of mind".  The mind will stop. This process wedges a gap in the process. Implementing it many times a day helps to become accustomed living without a chattering mind. An inactive mind ready to serve on call is the reward of this exercise.

Managing Mind Talk - 2: This is a formulation given by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudevji. What is mine cannot be me. My mind is mine. My mind cannot be me. Emotionally supercharged mind is dealt with using formulation. By saying: "What is mine cannot be me." one is able to create a gap between the mind and oneself. This process needs to be accompanied by liking and loving the person and ignoring the behaviour.

Please take time to leave a comment.

This is a blog by:

Ajit Karve

+919822024037

ajitpkarve@gmail.com

taforyouandme@gmail.com