Interpretation Exercises

[RobertZ]

In "How Your Mind Interprets Reality," Leo gives an exercise of writing down multiple interpretations of a given fact or situation. 

Does anyone have any further directions or suggestions for how to do such an exercise? I want to practice generating  more interpretations, but I'm not quite sure how to begin such a practice. 

[FlyingLotus]

Expose yourself to a variety of viewpoints and people from different backgrounds.  What someone wants and values will frame how they view something.  Do self-inquiry.  Get in touch with how you feel, and even how different parts of you feel about a subject.  Your higher self will have a different opinion than your lower self.  

I’ll give you two examples.  One silly, one serious:

 

Why didn’t my mother love me growing up?

a) She could sense I was fundamentally, hopelessly worthless and undeserving of love.

b) She’s a bitch.

c) She grew up in an abusive environment where any show of vulnerability was attacked, and as a result she transferred that trauma onto me.  It wasn’t personal.

d) She did love me, she just didn’t know how to be loving.

e) The universe selected her as my mother so that I could develop unique qualities to fuel my life purpose and contribute to the world.

Why is Chris Evans perceived as handsome?

a) He’s healthy stage green, which automatically bumps any man up to 8 or above.

b) His face fits Aristotle’s Golden Ratio of beauty.

c) He’s rich and famous, but facially average.  He looks like any other dude at Dunkin' Donuts.

d) His beauty, talent and wit is placed on a pedestal and marvelled at because people disown their own beauty, talent and wit.  They cannot see those qualities in themselves so they project those disowned parts onto others.

e) He’s the product of a Hollywood machine that propagates Western standards of beauty which put white men at the top of the attractiveness food chain.

Edited July 1, 2021 by FlyingLotus

[FlyingLotus]

Leo’s video mostly takes examples from social sciences, but it’s also brilliant as a form of cognitive behavioural therapy and looking at defining, difficult events from your life.  (The answer to the Evans question is A btw )

Edited July 1, 2021 by FlyingLotus

[RobertZ]

@FlyingLotus Thanks for your suggestions!

[FlyingLotus]

@RobertZ You're welcome ?

I'm actually working on the summary for that video right now, so maybe that will help too.