Tying Up Loose Ends...

Hi there:

A few final thoughts from this week's discussion:

Remember the qualities that the "self" seeks: uniqueness, integrated-ness, consistency, and the state of being active.

Let me fill in the blanks on "active" - remember that there's always a RISK when you communicate. You might be dismissed, or misunderstood, or find you have nothing to say. But each of these experiences helps shape your self-concept.

Thus, we're talking about a CUMULATIVE experience, this self-forming. Over time, you may experience self-doubt, or disappointment. It doesn't always show, though.

We face many unpredictable situations each day - say, for example, a homeless person asks you for money, or you're asked to fill in a survey at the mall, or you end up having a fight with your significant other.

This causes tension - we don't like tension.

Today, it all seems to come at us so much faster, what with the onslaught of technological devices that we have to have. It takes A LOT OF WORK - thus, the "active" part.

We don't just react, as some might think, nor are we passive. We evaluate, measure, compare a situation against our views and opinions.

We CONSTRUCT the significance of an event.