A painting and a book on narcissism, schemata, presence and mindful awareness
‘I think it’s very important to live in the present. One of the great things that improvising teaches you is the magic of the moment that you’re in … because when you improvise you’re in right now. You’re not in yesterday or tomorrow—you’re right in the moment. Being in that moment really gives you a perspective of life that you never get at any other time……………….’ Charlie Haden
I recently listened to a podcast, which then led to my looking up Wendy Behary’s book: Disarming the Narcissist: Surviving and Thriving with the Self Absorbed for various reasons. Firstly, people who carry early wounding and have injured instincts are prone to attracting people with more narcissism than is healthy and even safe. One could also say that we live in an era that fosters narcissism and predator mentality towards other people, animals and the planet itself. I was also attracted to her book because it is informed by Dan Siegel’s work on interpersonal neurobiology and mindfulness and Jeffrey Young’s schema theory and therapeutic modality, which I had become quite interested in during a Master’s programme about nine years ago. I had not returned to Young’s material since; however, any work one undertakes that involves growth and self awareness presupposes some awareness of, release and repair of old, often unconscious, schemata. So, it all sort of came together and I ended up reading the book even though I am in the middle of two other books.