How To Deal With Unhappy People

I had therapy a lot last year, for lots of different reasons and it changed a lot about me. I have a long way to go but the very process was so healing. I mention it here as I just picked up an email from my therapist, to see how I am. A truly lovely chap and someone I totally admire.  I want this blog and whatever it will become to be positive. Yes I write about darkness and dark people and damage and sociopaths and all sorts of awful things but only with a view to managing them and actually avoiding the collateral damage.  I had a long conversation about denial yesterday. I have many, multiple flaws but the one thing I do, it has often been said I have more courage than sense, is face where I am and what I have going on.  I do not 'do' denial. However rubbish, ghastly, on occasion shameful things are I look at them, try to understand and try to learn, heal and grow.  I am working on a huge project based on the principles of the Arts and Crafts movement. Wil...

This is about controlling behaviour. I have experienced controlling behaviour and it is clearly something I attract as I have had two more doses in the last 24 hours, from a sister and a friend.  Actually, in both cases, it was water off a ducks' back and frankly made me laugh as for once, after all this time, I saw it for the silly nonsense that it is. It makes the perpetrator look more than a little loopy and really silly.  However it wasn't always this way and it is not at all funny. People tell you who you can and can't talk to, tell you what you can and can't do or eat and in my case speak to.  I am a very upbeat, optimistic, positive person, I always try to offer support, try to encourage. I am very competitive and set high standards for myself.  I would, well maybe aside from a bad patch where I did, wish anyone ill. I always try to support. I always see the glass as half full.  I have noticed a recurrent theme in my life. People, who with great...