Paradoxical Intent

Victor Frankl was truly one of the great ones. Here was a man tortured and beaten in a concentration camp by the Nazi's for three years, he lost his parents and his wife, but not his dignity, his mind or his will. After his freedom, he became one of the preeminent psychologists of his era, writing over 30 books and developing logotherapy,  the belief in the "will to meaning".  He came to the conclusion that our main motivation for living was to find meaning in life. He was convinced that the worlds people were divided into only two categories, decent and in-decent. If you have the time and do not know much about this man, do yourself a favor and click on the links above, I think humans like this are put here on Earth to shame the rest of us into getting off our asses.

I came across a quote of his about paradoxical intent, "The harder we try not to think of something, the more difficult it is to forget it". I immediately put that into the context of my own life, in so many more ways than just losing weight. For that particular obsession however, it certainly seems to ring true, with a refreshing bit of perspective. Maybe we are getting fatter as individuals and as a nation simply because we are trying to avoid it so much. Perhaps if we want to lose weight, we should try to get fat?

This seems to come eerily close to the conversation I had yesterday with my "alter ego". Maybe I will give this a try and see how it works out, if successful I can write a diet book, "Lose the Fat Trying to be Fat". 

Well, its a working title anyway.

Comments

[Ngoc1960]

Eu s queria fazer um breve comentrio para dizer que eu estou feliz por ter encontrado o seu blog. Graas

[arigmajignaxy]

Multumesc pentru un blog interesant

[download Forex Overdrive FREE]

Pois e realmente um programa maravilhoso ver o desfile de 20 de setembro em Piratini. Em 2007 eu fui pela primeira vez assisti-lo e fiquei emocionada, e um desfile muito lindo feito com alma por cada um daqueles gauchos que la vivem. Vale a pena.

[Truthseeker1234]

To the author: Someone has already beaten you to the punch!!! http://www.eatfatlosefat.com/

To margaret: I agree - health should be a natural thing to us and not some unnatural ritual full of baby green salads and 2 hour days at the gym.

To anna: You might have a point there - we should only eat when we are hungry and not because we are a "3 meals a day" culture.

To michelle: I love that jesus quote! It holds true in another way related to this paradox discussion. Those who think they are saving themselves usually end up destroying themselves due to their inability to face their fear and stubbornness. I had this idea in my head so long but now that you mention it I decided to put it out on my blog.

[Michelle]

I absolutely love the man. I have read his book about his experiences and the intro to Logotherapy. I love paradox. It works. (As in his story about the stuttering boy who trys to stutter to get out of trouble, and finds his lifelong problem has "deserted" him...) Jesus said, "He who loses his life saves it. He who tries to save his life, loses it.) It's the same idea. Freedom.

[Anna]

There is no need to eat three meals a day.
who ever made up that rule must have been a king.

[Margaret]

I so utterly agree with that paradoxical intent--it's like the old adage of the elephant in the room. (and I don't mean that as related to weight at all!)Eating 3 meals, not snacking, not loading up on desserts and just walking around all the time (versus driving) are not part of our culture. Our favorite pursuits, like TV, computer and video games are all very sedentary. I think about when I was in France and everyone was always walking everywhere and eating so much healthier than I.

[Felicity]

FB, I must admit that I love your honesty. And thanks for the links...Looks interesting. I may have to head to the lib and get some more info on this man & his life & his theory...