Changing from apathy to animation - is it possible?

[The Backward OX]

Do you think it possible that a generally apathetic and indifferent person could become more generally animated and full of life? And if so, how?

[The Backward OX]

Wot? No ideas?

[Angela]

Of course it's possible, Oxie! It may be hard to go from 0 to 60, but you can get yourself going in the right direction and before you know it, you're in love with your life.

Just deliberately think a thought that has you feeling a little bit better. And keep doing that.

If it's too daunting to go from apathy to animation, just take one step at a time up the emotional guidance ladder.

Anchoring can get you there, too, if your apathy is more like a just neutral boredom kind of feeling. (It doesn't tend to work so well if it's full-on depressive apathy.)

[The Backward OX]

Originally Posted by Angela

Of course it's possible, Oxie! It may be hard to go from 0 to 60, but you can get yourself going in the right direction and before you know it, you're in love with your life.

Just deliberately think a thought that has you feeling a little bit better. And keep doing that.

If it's too daunting to go from apathy to animation, just take one step at a time up the emotional guidance ladder.

Anchoring can get you there, too, if your apathy is more like a just neutral boredom kind of feeling. (It doesn't tend to work so well if it's full-on depressive apathy.)

Hey, thanks, Angela. That looks really, really good. Right now I need to spend some time on a little project, however after a few hours on that, I'm coming back to your blog to get started. Thanks again.

[The Backward OX]

Update:

Ok, the idea seems to be to evoke appropriate feelings from the past and to link to them for present changes in one’s emotional state.

So, I dredged around in my past for a few situations where the required feelings would have, at that time, been in play.

And when I put myself into the suggested mental state where those feelings could be called up, what did I find?

A big fat zero. Nothing. Zilch. Zip. Nada.

Sorry. It doesn’t work.

Well, not for this little black duck, anyway.

[Angela]

Did you try the first suggestion: deliberately thinking thoughts that have you feeling a little bit better, and moving up the scale towards animation?

[The Backward OX]

I must admit, no. To me, that seems like conscious thought, which also in my opinion will never make a lasting impression; whereas anchoring seems more like getting into one’s subconscious, which will.

Except, as I said, when I went there, there was no one home.

Maybe age has something to do with it. I’m no spring chicken.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

I must admit, no. To me, that seems like conscious thought, which also in my opinion will never make a lasting impression...

Who was your best friend when you were a kid?

[The Backward OX]

Is that a trick question? Is it leading somewhere? I’ve always been a loner.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

Is it leading somewhere?

Yes. Did you never have a best friend? If not, did you ever have a favorite anything when you were a kid? A favorite car, tv show, or toy?

[The Backward OX]

Originally Posted by Angela

Yes. Did you never have a best friend? If not, did you ever have a favorite anything when you were a kid? A favorite car, tv show, or toy?

I may be wrong but to me, best or favourite anythings seem to indicate some level of emotional attachment. My life on the other hand has consisted mostly of emotional detachment. Deep-seated preference for one thing or person or activity over another is not a part of my make-up. That lack of preference, that indifference, was the reason for creating the thread.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

I may be wrong but to me, best or favourite anythings seem to indicate some level of emotional attachment. My life on the other hand has consisted mostly of emotional detachment. Deep-seated preference for one thing or person or activity over another is not a part of my make-up. That lack of preference, that indifference, was the reason for creating the thread.

Sounds to me like you have a deep-seated preference for being emotionally detached.

Are you telling me you have NEVER preferred one thing to another?

[The Backward OX]

Originally Posted by Angela

Sounds to me like you have a deep-seated preference for being emotionally detached.

Are you telling me you have NEVER preferred one thing to another?

Fence-sitter is my middle name. I don’t know whether it helps to say there is some suspicion I may have a neurological disorder known as Asperger’s Syndrome. Emotional detachment is a component of AS.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

Fence-sitter is my middle name. I don’t know whether it helps to say there is some suspicion I may have a neurological disorder known as Asperger’s Syndrome. Emotional detachment is a component of AS.

You sound like you are just fine with your emotional detachment -- maybe even attached to it.

[The Backward OX]

Originally Posted by Angela

You sound like you are just fine with your emotional detachment -- maybe even attached to it.

I take it then that I am one for the too-hard basket? Story of my life.