Do you argue with yourself?

1. 88

   SidKempposted 10 years ago

   Do you argue with yourself?
   
   If you do, what about? What's it like? Do you do it aloud, or silently, or in your journal? Is it helpful?
   
   

   replyreport
2. 74

   Attikosposted 10 years ago

   I don't, but I know a street person who does. I see him on the sidewalks around my downtown church. He not only argues, he fights, with someone only he can see. He shouts, curses, threatens, swings his fists, bellows epithets. As for being helpful, well, I have to assume it must be for him, or he wouldn't do it.

   replyreport
3. 72

   rfmoranposted 10 years ago

   I do. I used to pride myself on decisiveness, but as I grow older I find myself often on two ides of an issue, never political, but always involving business or finances. I sometimes do it out loud while taking an exercise walk around the house. I hope I don't use as much vulgarity on others aI do on myself.

   replyreport
   1. 88

      SidKempposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Recent studies show that cursing can help us endure pain. Work it out! It's great to see that you are becoming more flexible as you grow.

      replyreport
4. 60

   Julie Stuartposted 10 years ago

   Yes.
   No.
   
   YES.
   NO.
   
   YES!
   NO!
   
   When I was a preschooler, listening to little yellow plastic 45 rpm records on a boxy little record player, I fell in love with a song from Disney's Alice in Wonderland. 
   
   "I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it.  That explains the trouble that I'm always in."  The lyric has stuck with me all these years, Many years the phrase accurately described my life.  Lately, as advanced age creaks up on me, I do less arguing with myself, at least about serious things.
   
   When I argue with myself nowadays, it's about significant questions like ... chocolate or vanilla?  Ice cream or pie?  Dessert or a nicer number on the bathroom scale?
   
   Chocolate.  Definitely chocolate.

   replyreport
   1. 88

      SidKempposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hilarious! Thanks for brightening what had become to be a bit of a grim day. All good arguments - except - chocolate almost always wins over vanilla, doesn't it?

      replyreport
5. 79

   Mom Katposted 10 years ago

   Yes.  If I had to try to explain it I guess I would have to say it could be considered the old me & the new me, or the dark side verses the light, or the old "angel" and "devil" on either shoulder.
   
   Part of me holds on to negativity, telling me worse things than anyone else possibly could.  It is the "nay" sayer.  You're not good enough, you're not smart enough, nobody really likes you, you aren't any good to anyone....
   
   The other part is the positive side: You can do this, you are smart, you are worth it.... Hope, if I had to give this part of me, it would be named Hope.
   
   When I was younger the dark side ruled and the light side was far weaker due to external circumstances.  Since adulthood I've been nurturing the lighter side and building it up stronger as much as possible. 
   
   Now when the negative side rears it's ugly head I am far better equipped to shut it up or shut it down.  But both sides still wage war within me.

   replyreport
   1. 88

      SidKempposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Great - Mom Kat. Keep making yourself into who you want to be. And maybe it's time to give that negative side a hug and hold her. Think of her as an adopted child from a bad family, who you love deeply.

      replyreport
6. 0

   Larry Wallposted 10 years ago

   I think everyone who wrestles over a decision is arguing with himself or herself to some extent. If you are undecided about who to vote for in any election, whether to paint the house white or blue, buy the new flat screen TV or not, you are arguing with yourself. It is part of the decision making process and in my opinion shows that you are a person that looks at the evidence, the options or the choices before making a final decision. The great part is you always win the argument. You may regret it later, but then you know who to blame. It is a pretty compact system that has worked well for me over the years.

   replyreport
   1. 88

      SidKempposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes! But Larry, do you do it aloud, silently, or in writing? What's your style?

      replyreport
   2. 0

      Larry Wallposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Sid, I do not know why you ask..  The manner in which I argue with myself should not be of any importance. For the record, I do it silently. Sometimes I make a list of pro and con. Talking it out with no audience seems useless. To each his own--OK

      replyreport
   3. 88

      SidKempposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Larry - yes, the answer is personal, and I'm sorry if I offended by pressing. But it may be that the answer does matter. We use different - and possibly more effective - parts of our brain speaking aloud and listening than we do thinking silently.

      replyreport
7. 72

   Emanate Presenceposted 10 years ago

   I still fuss at myself. Such as after writing a comment on Hubpages, I go into the shower and say, 'Why did you write that?'
   
   The self-reflection can be helpful if it does not become obsessive or guilt-ridden.
   
   In the 90s I wrote a lot into a journal. It bordered on obsessive, hundreds of pages. Lots of questions and answers and self-guided imagery. It helped me clear up some issues inside, such as what I really believe and why. It was definitely a useful tool for that period of my life. And I was glad to move on.
   
   In 2000 my life adventures took off and the writing turned to poetry and true short stories, which was also very helpful to loosen me up, gain insights and allow my suppressed creativity to express itself. Thank you for asking, Sid!

   replyreport
   1. 88

      SidKempposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      It sounds like and endless path of growth in self-expression! Wonderful!

      replyreport
8. 74

   lburmasterposted 10 years ago

   Yes. I love arguing with myself. This way I discover new roads, new ideas, new possible theories to use in discovering and pin pointing someone's personality, the reasons for their actions, etc. Normally I do it in my head and in my journal. Mostly in my head and yes, it helps a lot. I realize a lot of things I overlooked before, especially in my writing because I can re-read it there. It's difficult to stop and go back to something in my head.

   replyreport
   1. 88

      SidKempposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes - this works for me, too. I hope other people read your comment and pick up the habit. I think the more we argue with ourselves - in a loving, self-aware way, the less we argue with others.

      replyreport
   2. 74

      lburmasterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed on that last sentence!

      replyreport
   3. 88

      SidKempposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      It's fun to try different forms - silent (inside our heads), writing, and aloud. I think they produce different results, and that getting it out aloud or in writing seems to be more creative and effect more change.

      replyreport
9. 82

   BeyondGSposted 10 years ago

   I think everyone does. Mostly I keep to myself though, I don't like to freak people out. I like to argue about sports, what kind of hat I should wear for the day and sometimes what to eat. Most the time I end up losing though.

   replyreport
   1. 88

      SidKempposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Beyond! One side of you always wins, no?

      replyreport
   2. 82

      BeyondGSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Only sometimes, I don't usually win against myself. Those are very rare times.

      replyreport