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Dialogue Journaling

D

Dee.1983

Peer Supporter
I'm struggling with this one - To have a dialogue with another person kind of makes sense and I apricate the idea is to try and see it from their point of view but you are making up what you think they would say so it also doesn't feel right like you might do more damage because you have completely misinterpreted them, I know I've been misinterpreted many times.

However today it is meant to be a dialogue with a current stressor ( my shortest list) possibly because I suppress all things that cause me stress, until these last few weeks I honestly believed I was immune to anxiety (hilarious I now know 'for this exercise you can choose any person, body part or entity'

How does one have dialogue with a body part or entity ?
Two big things on my list that I feel happy to share ( as this group is ever supportive and never judgemental) is 1. body image and 2. my finances / financial security.
I'd like to try the dialogue technique to see if it helps (me) but I'm lost with how to start a dialogue on either of these 2 subjects.
any advice ?
 
1. Write an unsent letter to your body.

2. pick a source of financial importance to you: employer, bank, accountant etc and write them an unsent letter too.

the dialogue exercises didn’t speak to me but writing the unsent letter is similar.
 
I agree with Cactus, @Dee.1983. One of the purposes of the SEP is to introduce you to a number of concepts and techniques on the assumption that participants will find at least one style of writing that resonates with them. It's okay if a type of exercise doesn't do that. It's more important to be willing to be flexible and creative, and adjust the exercise to something that makes sense for you.

One way to do that (this is a little bit different than what Cactusflower described) might be to think about something negative or unhelpful that you were told about your body or about your finances, and either write the unsent letter to them, or imagine the comebacks you would like to make about what they said. Imagine the "Yes, but..." responses they might use to invalidate you, and come back with some good responses to those as well.

The goal is to shake things up, and see how what shows itself. There are no rigid rules or expectations here, other than rigorous self-honesty and radical self-compassion. Do your best to encourage vulnerability, even though it's scary.
 
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JanAtheCPA said:
I agree with Cactus, @GemmaLeanne. One of the purposes of the SEP is to introduce you to a number of concepts and techniques on the assumption that participants will find at least one style of writing that resonates with them. It's okay if a type of exercise doesn't do that. It's more important to be willing to be flexible and creative, and adjust the exercise to something that makes sense for you.

One way to do that (this is a little bit different than what Cactusflower described) might be to think about something negative or unhelpful that you were told about your body or about your finances, and either write the unsent letter to them, or imagine the comebacks you would like to make about what they said. Imagine the "Yes, but..." responses they might use to invalidate you, and come back with some good responses to those as well.

The goal is to shake things up, and see how what shows itself. There are no rigid rules or expectations here, other than rigorous self-honesty and radical self-compassion. Do your best to encourage vulnerability, even though it's scary.
Click to expand...
Thanks Jan that makes a lot of sense, I appreciate different tools work for different people, but I wanted to try the dialogue technique because you don't know till you try but I wasn't quite sure where to start. I have been very surprised what has come with many of the journaling techniques there is definitely a reoccurring theme (interesting) as a dyslexic I've always hated writing and journaling but I actually look forward to it now.
I like the yes, but idea, I often use your 'but why' technically too. That really helps get underneath the skin.
Thank you
 
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