Actors don’t break down the individual muscle movements that go into expression; musicians don’t break down the physical properties of the notes or series of notes that produce expression.
They both simulate feeling to express it. They pretend to feel it. If we want to harness confidence, amiability, and energy, maybe there’s some value in pretending and simulating (what would “nice person” do?).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches that our self-talk strongly affects us, counseling us not to say “Oh, I suck” kind of things. Positive self-talk “I can do this” may be worth practicing.
I’m not sure why, but this feels not irrational, but highly not-”rational” (against the culture associated with “rationality.”). This also intrigues me...
In this vein, I have had some good results from the simple expedient of internally-saying “I want to do this” instead of “I have to do this” with regards to things that system 2 wants to do (when system 1 feels reluctant), i.e. akratic things. I have heard this reframing suggested before but I feel like I get benefit from actually thinking the “I want” verbally.
On the Value of Pretending
Actors don’t break down the individual muscle movements that go into expression; musicians don’t break down the physical properties of the notes or series of notes that produce expression.
They both simulate feeling to express it. They pretend to feel it. If we want to harness confidence, amiability, and energy, maybe there’s some value in pretending and simulating (what would “nice person” do?).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches that our self-talk strongly affects us, counseling us not to say “Oh, I suck” kind of things. Positive self-talk “I can do this” may be worth practicing.
I’m not sure why, but this feels not irrational, but highly not-”rational” (against the culture associated with “rationality.”). This also intrigues me...
In this vein, I have had some good results from the simple expedient of internally-saying “I want to do this” instead of “I have to do this” with regards to things that system 2 wants to do (when system 1 feels reluctant), i.e. akratic things. I have heard this reframing suggested before but I feel like I get benefit from actually thinking the “I want” verbally.