Course 3: PL 102 - Denial & Distractions (Discussion 3)

@GlenM

1.How would you define denial in your own words? ÃÂ

Denial means to me that running away from accepting the fact or reality. Usually we denial as we don’t want to feel pain or get into uncomfortable state in our life. It like we all want to be on greenery side of life.

2.What is the most important thing you learned about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious?

Denial- denial is something that make people stay in unhealthy relationship or abusive relationship which make other people wonder the reason ,why someone staying in such relationship or situation.

After reading chapter I realise that the things or quality within us which are not validate or accepted by our close one or people around us. Are some where hidden below the ice and that make us react or play role in decision which we sometime are not aware why we took such decision or why we behave that particular way.

The thing which are validate ,accepted and reinforce into us by since childhood who to talk .. how to behave or speak in particular manner.. are unknowing impose in our unconscious brain.

That develop our personality or behaviour which we carry whole life. We feel comfortable in that particular way of living ,… way of people around us and similar situation.

3.What do you believe are the top 3 distraction systems? Which one of these is the most powerful and why?

Online website or app.

Offline is accomplishment

Food and online website or application are powerful as we called as digitialised era and today generation is more into technology based. Everything is done online.. shopping.. meeting.. chating.. playing games..

So less room of going out of the room to buy anything or put in a situation or to socialise. So this keep people in comfort zone and in virtual world. As thing are designed in such a way that make person feel more comfortable and happy.

Denial is the refusing to accept reality as a coping mechanism.

The unconscious part is the part beneath the water of the iceberg. This can act subconsciously and promote unhealthy urges or thoughts which can be damaging.

Food

Online distraction- social media

Accomplishments

I think social media is the most powerful because it's really addicting as designed. It can also promote unhealthy behaviors and thoughts.

@GlenM

1. How would you define denial in your own words?

When we know something to be true yet refuse to believe or accept it. This can be due to fear, shame, guilt, etc and is a way we protect ourselves from having to feel the hurt, we know we ultimately will.

2. What is the most important thing you learned about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious?

Although they operate in the background or outside our awareness, they are the driving factor behind the decisions we make, the partners we choose and friendships we maintain. However by continuing to deny they exist, we limit ourselves and often don’t get to be the best versions of ourselves.

3. What do you believe are the top 3 distraction systems? Which one of these is the most powerful and why?

Books/ Songs/ Movies/ TV shows- especially since the past year, with having to stay at home, I have become addicted to them. There is always a song to suit whatever mood you are in- whether you’re feeling depressed or joyous, there is a playlist or a specific song you go to.

In terms of tv shows, the binge watching is a major distraction; Especially at a time where we can stream everything online.

My brain (daydreaming/ alternate reality) – not sure if everyone relates to this, but for me this is quite distracting. When I want relief from whatever I’m feeling, I escape into my fantasy world. Like with books and movies, it’s an escape from having to deal with real life.

Food – empty calories to fill that empty hole in the heart. You start thinking it's going to be 'just' one cookie or a piece of chocolate and then before you realize it, you've raided the entire kitchen. Food coupled with movies, makes for the perfect distraction system.

I’d have to say, for me the most distracting, is escaping into another world. I know that it is not real yet as said in Chapter 2 – denial can be quite strong.

Hello Everyone!

1. How would you define denial in your own words?
Denial refusal to admit the truth or reality of something.

2. What is the most important thing you learned about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious?
The most important thing that I learned about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious is the behaviors we adopt through experience and become so used to that they enter our unconsciousness and we continue to do so without realizing it.

3. What do you believe are the top 3 distraction systems? Which one of these is the most powerful and why?
The top 3 distractions for me as I believe are Social Media, Addictions, and Food. The most powerful distraction for me is Social Media as it is a platform that has such an excess of substance connected to countless various associations that it rapidly distracts anybody from their unique motivation behind visiting or taking the users into various unfruitful channels and it can greatly harm and waste time. They are addicting too.

Thank You!

Be the change that you wish to see in the world.

@GlenM

1. How would you define denial in your own words? ÃÂ

The ability of a human to ignore the distressing and negative aspect of a situation. Can be benificial at times, but can also be quite devastating as some problems kept in denial can stack up or evolve over time, until no longer solvable.

2. What is the most important thing you learned about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious?

Our sub-conscious mind is a beautiful thing. Once trained to do a particular series of actions, it can perform it whenever needed without consuming a lot of processing power. Things outside our awareness are either learnt or influenced upon us by society, and impact our decisions throughout our lives.

3. What do you believe are the top 3 distraction systems? Which one of these is the most powerful and why?

1- Sleeping: A powerful way to distract ourselves from the problems we face. A time where our conscious minds are shut down, we do not have to think about anything. An easy way to escape reality and accessible by everyone out there.

2- Comparisions: I am pretty sure at some point in our lives we all have tried comparing our problems with someone else, intentionally with someone whose problems are much more complex than us, to try to reassure ourselves that we are in a much better position than xyz. It is a great way to distract ourselves and move the problems we face into denail.

3- Alcohol/Drug abuse: This way of distracting ourselves is often limited to few individuals due to the fact that most people out there have never experienced what's its like to let the drugs or alcohol erase our mind and limit our brain activity. But for those who use to as a temporary asylum, this is one of the most powerful ways to distract ourselves from the reality.

Bonus - I would have loved talking about "Blaming others for our faults" and "Procrastrination" but since the discussion is limited to 3 aspects, lets save it for another time.

The most powerful distraction system is without a doubt, sleeping. A universal way with no adverse effects, we all use it at times to take a break from everything, with or without realizing it. A good sleep can help you solve your problems, and a bad sleep can help you escape your problems. Have a great day :)

@GlenM

1. How would you define denial in your own words? ÃÂ

Not facing one's own truth

2. What is the most important thing you learned about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious?

How people are focused on the addictions rather than self-improvement.

3. What do you believe are the top 3 distraction systems? Which one of these is the most powerful and why?

Pornography. Money. Comparison.

Pornography is the most powerful because it involves the sexual aspects of addiction of people and it is very powerful industry. Since sex is taboo, it gives it that much more power. Also, the pornography industry is violent and coercive.

How would you define denial in your own words?

Denial means those aspects of you which you denied only so as to receive acceptance, praise and rewards from others.

What is the most important thing you learned about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious?

Those things are the trained beahvior, or the reinforced behavior. Such things do not determine how we are, but how we were trained to act, while denying our true needs and desires.

What do you believe are the top 3 distraction systems? Which one of these is the most powerful and why?

Internet is number one, in today's times. People everywhere are glued to their screens, not for anything deeply satisfying, but as distractions from their denials. Secondly, we are trained into believing money as most important. Money is, in fact, one of the most powerful distractions. Then, porn, or binge watching of tv shows is a very powerful distraction. Food, could be counted as number four powerful drug of distraction. All these keep us away from our true journey of meaning and fulfillment. Distractions, thus, leave us purposeless, empty, miserable.

@GlenM

1. According to me, Denial is something that we don't want to accept or don't want to do. Moreover, we used to deny something when we don't like it or to avoid problems.

2. First of all, I really didn't know about this concept. So it's the most important and new thing I have learnt. And secondly, I learned that whatever we do outside of our awareness or unconscious, we think actually we have performed that task by being conscious but it's not true because we are used to it .

3. 1) Food

2) Online distractions

3) Social media

All three are really powerful distractions. But I would say about social media. It's really a big and powerful distraction for everyone especially for young generation. People can't live without checking their notifications on the social media platforms. It's a part of their daily lives. They're all the time on phone. Moreover, internet is also included in this. People have stopped using their brains. For everything, they just do one thing Google. People don't care about their lives and health too much they're involved in using social media and other online sites whole day. It's really not good lifestyle. People should prefer to try other things except using phone.​​

​​​​​​

1. How would you define denial in your own words?

when we want something to be not true.

2. What is the most important thing you learned about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious?

To learn any process we need conscious thoughts, awareness and concentration and We have to practice it again and again. But, when we master that process it moves in our unconscious mind and it becomes automatic and a part of our unconsciousness.

3. What do you believe are the top 3 distraction systems? Which one of these is the most powerful and why?

The top three distractions are:- social media sites, video games and friends/cousins. I think, the most powerful distraction is social media. Most of the Social media sites operate a bit like a mental maze where we can get stuck and have a hard time getting out of the maze. Before we knew it, we start liking this maze and become engaged in them in a mindless manner. We forget our real lives, who we are, and our own unique sense of purpose.

1. How would you define denial in your own words?
Denial is the state of overlooking facts or truths just because they may threaten the way things are for you or your identity. It is considered one of the most primitive defense mechanisms that people use to avoid pain or not admit a particular reality.

2. What is the most important thing you learned about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious?
The most important thing I learned about things that operate outside of awareness is how so many things that we do today are part of that. It is so wonderful to know that each and every one of us is a beginner at everything yet with practice, learning how the environment reacts to us and all that, we can do much better and get used to so many things - only if we created good mindful habits this way, I wonder how great it would be for us.

3. What do you believe are the top 3 distraction systems? Which one of these is the most powerful and why?
For me, the top 3 distraction systems are -
1. Online Distractions - considering how so many things are available at our fingertips, it's only natural that we seek more of it again and again. We always feel like there is so much to know and it wouldn't take too long to know it, thanks to the advancements of today - this serves as a very immediate distraction for a lot of us.
2. Food - I know a lot of people who may want to escape every now and then, and the easiest and the most pleasing outlet is to eat more. A lot of people get addicted to certain kinds of food or learn to associate getting food with feeling good so it's one of the most prevalent distractions (at least for the people who do have access to it).
3. Accomplishments/School - Fixating on these may distract us from focusing on other things which may be important for our personal growth and improvement. Life is more than just attaining the next best thing. Sometimes life just needs to be enjoyed in the little moments instead of hopping from one dopamine-inducing event to the next.

You can't give your life more time, so give the time you have, more life.