Frame 1
In an interview for our Holistic Psychotherapy Summit in 2022, Dr. Pat Ogden shared an idea that has stuck with me since:
Every body tells a story.
And she meant “body” here in the literal sense.
As Wilhelm Reich said: “The body is the manifestation of the unconscious”, which means that the way we hold ourselves (i.e. our posture and movement patterns) can often tell a story about our inner life too.
So, the next time you have time to kill and there are a lot of people around, e.g. in an airport, choose a random person to observe, and ask: “What story is their body telling?” (This can be particularly fun to do with a friend.)
Frame 2
Another frame I love came from Dr. Bill Matulich during our Recovery Summit in 2023.
When someone enters his practice, Bill immediately assumes he is now talking to the most interesting person in the world.
Which causes him to interact with them very differently than he would under normal circumstances.
So, when I’m meeting someone for the first time, e.g. a taxi driver, hairdresser, or a homeless person, I often do the same, and assume I’m talking to the most interesting person alive.
This puts me in a state of deep curiosity, and almost always leads to a meaningful connection with the person I’m speaking to.
