Am 34 and have OCD. As a child and teenager was always self-conscious of age. This changed when I was 15 and learned something that helped me.
I was 15 years old in the year 2000. 2000 is a big number or large numbered year and is around the Millennium which seems like a big deal. Some even thought the world would end. I suppose I realized then that I had no control over aging or the passage of time, but at least when thoughts of age bother me, I can always remember and focus on how I was just fifteen (young) in a larged numbered year like 2000 (not 1900, not 1800, but 2000 around the millennium which is a big deal).
To try to make others understand. I guess it's comparable to how a high school athlete feels . . . Oh, I am special because I scored the 2000 record in such and such time. Or I got to level 2000 on this particular video game. Or in my case, I was only fifteen in such a larged numbered year like 2000.
I don't deny that I am 34 now. But it's like even though I can't control my age, It makes me feel special I was so young in the Millennium or large numbered year (which not everyone can say they were).
It bothers me because others clearly don't think this way. And I guess I want it to be, that if a person really wanted to think this way (not that they would want to) but if they were motivated to think this way when their age bothered them, that they could. You hear that people can change their thinking through mindfulness or affirmations, and my question is: If someone with non-OCD was bothered about their age, and really wanted to think differently, if they were motivated, could they ever learn to think the way I do?
if someone wanted to think this way about age, could they?
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by sarcasticfrong1984 » Fri Apr 05, 2019 10:15 pm
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by Richard@DecisionSkills » Sat Apr 06, 2019 8:12 am
One of the most powerful abilities of our species is the ability to create and believe in fiction. It doesn´t take much to change what one believes. There is an entire line of scientific work called ´conceptual change´ that researches how our beliefs change over time.
Common examples are different beliefs about the shape of the world, the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, changes in religious beliefs, etc.
The work of Philip Zimbardo as well as other social researchers show the pliability and flexibility of beliefs as we change group affiliations without much effort. The ´Stanford Prison Experiment´, or the ´brown eye-blue eye´ experiment demonstrates how easily beliefs can be modified.
Framing effects is another line of research that shows exactly how flexible we are in thinking different ways about the same issue.
So yes, you can think however you wish about age if you so choose. Years don´t actually exist, neither does age in years. It is a human belief or construct, an imagined reality that serves a purpose. For example the year 2000 is an arbitrary number based on a single calendar initiated 2000 years ago in the Roman Empire (the Gregorian Calendar). It´s not at all that big a deal if you consider the Babylonian calendar, Jewish calendar, the Myan calendar, or any other calendar you wish to use.
Here, pick a calendar...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Templat ... _calendars
Common examples are different beliefs about the shape of the world, the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, changes in religious beliefs, etc.
The work of Philip Zimbardo as well as other social researchers show the pliability and flexibility of beliefs as we change group affiliations without much effort. The ´Stanford Prison Experiment´, or the ´brown eye-blue eye´ experiment demonstrates how easily beliefs can be modified.
Framing effects is another line of research that shows exactly how flexible we are in thinking different ways about the same issue.
So yes, you can think however you wish about age if you so choose. Years don´t actually exist, neither does age in years. It is a human belief or construct, an imagined reality that serves a purpose. For example the year 2000 is an arbitrary number based on a single calendar initiated 2000 years ago in the Roman Empire (the Gregorian Calendar). It´s not at all that big a deal if you consider the Babylonian calendar, Jewish calendar, the Myan calendar, or any other calendar you wish to use.
Here, pick a calendar...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Templat ... _calendars
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by quietvoice » Mon Apr 15, 2019 1:39 pm
sarcasticfrong1984 wrote:Am 34 and have OCD. As a child and teenager was always self-conscious of age. This changed when I was 15 and learned something that helped me.
. . . motivated to think this way when their age bothered them, . . . was bothered about their age,
Can you pinpoint what it is about "age" or how much "time" one has spent in this Earth-carnation that is of concern to you?
. . . which seems like a big deal. . . .which is a big deal . . .
Anything that is a "big deal" is made into a big deal by each individual's thinking process. And nothing more. One part of life or existence is of no more importance than another part; all "play their part" to make reality into an integrated whole.
I am special because . . .
It makes me feel special I was so young in the Millennium or large numbered year (which not everyone can say they were).
Again, "specialness" is nothing more than an individual's thinking process. One can think anything that they want to think, and they can make that thinking special or a big deal simply by thinking more into the idea that that something is special or a big deal.
[someone] really wanted to think differently, if they were motivated, could they ever learn to think the way I do?
Yes. But, why would they even care to go there? Everyone has their own thinking habits with which to live and contend. And . . .
There are an infinite number of ideas to ponder upon; the universe is abundant with ideas. If one wants to enjoy the experience here, one can choose better feeling ideas, and leave behind the thoughts that don't feel so good.
You do know that you aren't your thoughts, right? Have you ever just stood back from your thinking, and watch as each thought flows past your consciousness?
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