TA in Pills 1-8.3 TA Script Theory 3 Seven ways in which people live out their Scripts

TA Script Theory 3

(Script is a self authored life plan written in early childhood. It governs the general course of a person's life. It is 'directed' to achieve a life goal or script payoff. )
"Words with special meaning are marked * in text and explained in Notes"

No two people live their lives the same way. We adapt to a life format and structured living. It gives a semblance* of comfort. We deny ourselves of many pleasures, comforts, wishes and desires. It is script that builds the comfort zone structured by self denying and self limiting provisions we have unawarely accepted. They are called process of script in Transactional Analysis. There are seven of them. Each of them has a name and resembles a myth.

• Until Script - Greek Hero Hercules: Lives of people structured by Until Script are marked by denial of pleasure, happiness and joy. These entitlements are postponed till they have accomplished all their responsibilities, objectives, tasks and goals. Their lives resemble that of the Greek Hero Hercules. He was tasked to complete many difficult jobs. One of them was cleaning up a huge pile of dung at the stable. He was denied enjoying pleasures in life.
• After Script - Greek Hero Damocles: People structured by After Script  live happy, joyful, enjoyable lives. However, they always fear that this good time may not last for ever. This is much like Damocles who spent time eating, drinking, enjoying his times and also having the lurking fear that this would not last long because he noticed a sword hanging above his head suspended by a horse hair. It would fall any day. It would be his last day.
• Never Script - Greek Hero Tantalus: Lives of people structured by Never Script live in a self denial mode. They can't be close to people. They know not feeling, nor love. When someone says to them, "it is cold today". They reply "Yes, the temperature is below 10 degrees". They cannot enjoy the lighter side of life nor the food they eat. So in a way they live a tantalised life in self denial mode. Tantalus was condemned to live all his live in a pool of water. He saw attractive items a little beyond the pool. He never permitted himself to enjoy them. 
• Always Script - Greek Myth of Arachne:  People affected by always script move from one unsatisfactory relationship, job, place, activity to another. Arachne was good in embroidering designs. She challenged goddess Minerva to beat her in her art. Minerva turned Arachne into a spider. She spent the rest of her life spinning webs.
• Almost I Script - Greek Hero Sisyphus: Sisyphus was condemned to roll a huge boulder up a hill. The boulder rolled back to the hill bottom again and again. Because, no sooner had he reached the top his attention shifted at the n-th moment. People with Almost I Script find themselves almost making it to their goal, rarely achieving it.
• Almost II Script: Here the person does roll the boulder to the hill top i.e. achieves his goal. Instead of resting for a while they soon see another task to be undertaken. Therefore, they deny themselves rest in life. 
• Open-ended Script: People living out the open-ended script live lives without any great purpose, goal or objective. They usually live such a life once they have accomplished their primary goal in life - such as marriage and bringing up children. Many pensioners live such lives. 

This blog comes from Ajit Karve from Pune. I am a qualified TA Practitioner. I specialise in using TA for personal growth, personal development, personal effectiveness and for transformational change. I can be reached on +919822024037. Please feel free to seek clarifications by writing to me on ajitpkarve@gmail.com or taforyouandme@gmail.com. 

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Notes:

*Semblance: the outward appearance or apparent form of something, especially when the reality is different.
*Tantalised: tormented or teased with the sight or promise of something that is unobtainable.

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