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

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

It's replacing what is real, what we don't want, with what we were told to have. Process of denying things which happens mostly unconsciously and automatically because it was learnt as an early pattern in our life.

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

The shadow effect is when all "bad" things are put in the bag. They are scary. They cause anxiety which triggers denial working like a thermostat. There is no conscious choice was made. It happens automatically. We're attacted by these patterns because their reinforcement make us feel safe.

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

Internet, food and accomplishments. Internet is most powerfull because it takes all of our time if we're attached to it too strongly. You live your life not for what is currently experiencing but for your image on a site. You start it use like a cure of whatever "negative" feeling you experience.

@GlenM

1. I define denial as the idea of shutting down something that you either did, feel, or said. It is also how we do not accept something.

2. The most important thing I learned about things that operate outside of awareness or to the unconscious is a learned behavior.

3. I believe the top 3 distraction systems are Social Media, Toxic Environments, and Wealth. I think the most powerful one is Social Media due to the increased influence it has in today’s society and how it has affected everyone.

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

Denial is an action of refusal. Denial isn't all bad and it helps us in certain situation where we need to feel this way or something else might happen that might not be good. On the other hand, denial keeps us from facing new challenges. Example: You have a chance to give a presentation at school about your favorite topic. That doesn't seem to bad, right? But when we get to it we might be hesitant and refuse/deny it, this could be for many reasons. One reason may be that you are scared to talk in front of a lot of people.

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

Can be a learnt behavior that we need to acknowledge in order to comprehend and thrive.

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

I believe the three top distraction systems are:

1) social media/internet- We tend to use the internet as an escape from reality, we might feel as if it's a way to forget about anything and everything, on things like social media you might start scrolling and then before you know it, your in a completely different world. The world is your device.

2) food- We use food as a comfort distraction, usually to forget about everything and to just focus on your senses subconsciously like: What does this look like, is it's look appetizing? What does it smell like, does it smell good? What is it's texture? What does it taste like, is it good?

3) books- a lot of us use books as an escapee route. You get to visit a completely different world. Your imagination is endless and free. You can discover anything and perceive in your own way. Books are used as a “out of world” experience, you get to go to the character(s) world.

@GlenM

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

denial

[dəˈnīəl]

NOUN

the action of declaring something to be untrue.

I go by Dictionary

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

THey are almost uncontrollable, unless you have a deep connection with your body

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

The only one I can think of is thought. Thinking can bring you anywhere just like a book.

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

When you try to convince yourself something isn't true.

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

they're learned behaviors

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

Social Media, Family and friends and food

@GlenM

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

I denial as a refusal to change , truth and reality .

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

Things that operate out of our awareness or unconscious are usually learned behaviours and what helps is to understand and segregate the things we have control on with those , on which we don't , to save our energy from getting wasted .

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

Social media /Internet , Peers , Accomplishments

I think social media or in the general sense internet is the biggest distraction system , due to its wider reach and easy availability , most use internet as an escape from reality , and it does have it's own pros and cons too .

@GlenM

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

I define denial as the subconscious, or conscious, dismissal or negation of a phenomenon in order to protect oneself from being overwhelmed by negative emotions. For example, sometimes we just don't want to feel what we are feeling, so we persuade ourselves that it's not happening, i.e. in deaths, breakups, estrangement, etc.

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

That they are not where they need to be and still out there and we are figuring them out non-stop instead of being automatically doing .. a learned skill and doing it without really thinking about things. it stays on the surface, not in the core.

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

1. Capitalism

2. Social Media

3. Gluttony

I think capitalism (money) is the most powerful because it roots itself in social and cultural aspects of human life, and is connected to the other 2 systems as well.

@GlenM

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

I define denial as the subconscious, or conscious, dismissal or negation of a phenomenon in order to protect oneself from being overwhelmed by negative emotions. For example, sometimes we just don't want to feel what we are feeling, so we persuade ourselves that it's not happening, i.e. in deaths, breakups, estrangement, etc.

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

Things are not always up to expectations, and our reactions are often subconscious because our subconscious is more aware than our conscious (since humans are usually able to distract their conscious selves e.g. denial).

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

1. Capitalism

2. Social Media

3. Gluttony

I think capitalism (money) is the most powerful because it roots itself in social and cultural aspects of human life, and is connected to the other 2 systems as well.

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

- Denial is pushing unwanted thoughts and ideas into our unconscious mind, or what the book refers to as a bag, so that we can feel comfortable and at ease with ourselves as well as earn acceptance from others we want to please.

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

- The most important thing I learn is our people choose their friends and life partner based on this unconscious self. It's really sad but also eye-opening to understand how people in an abusive relationship choose to stay there for such a long period of time without seeking out help because they feel familiar, comfortable, and predictable in that relationship. It makes me understand how challenging it can be for a person to step out of that zone and engage with unfamiliar things.

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

- Top 3 distraction system: Food, Social Media, and School.

- I think the most powerful one is Social Media, especially toward young adults and teenagers. Like the book said, social media can be really addicting and now that there are many different sites with different features for different functions (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat,...), everyone can find their place one way or another. Most people must have at least one if not quite a few of their friends and relatives being on these social media. which is a great incentive for them to check these sites out. I also like how the book points out that even though we can be aware of how addicting the process of going on and off social media is, we keep coming back down the spiral. Not only that, a lot of problems on body image and eating disorders can stem off from social media.

@GlenM

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

It's an automatic psychological coping mechanism to turn off certain emotions such as anger or anxiety.

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

The unconscious was developed very early since childhood and we were not in control of them. If we want to change our automatic unconsious respond, it will take time, so it's important to be patient with oursleves and others.

3.a) What do you believe are the top 3 distraction systems?

Food, Online Distractions (social media, celebrity sites, games) and Offline Distractions (school, employment, wealth, accomplishments).

b) Which one of these is the most powerful and why?

I think it's school because everyone will have to go to school as a basic standard of society. The competition to have top grades can be addictive and can distract us from getting attuned with our feelings.