>From: Slingr@aol.com >(Date: About 7 Nov 94) STOCKDALE'S 1st THEORY ON THE PROCESS OF REORIENTATION Presented during the "Talent/Behavior Awareness Program" on the concluding evening of the 51st Annual Seminar-Workshop on General Semantics, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, sponsored by the Institute For General Semantics (30 July 1994) "Good evening, distinguished staff and fellow seminarians, I had planned to do something humorous tonight, but I changed my mind yesterday since my recent attempts at humor had, as one might say, fallen on deaf ears. Or, in GS terms, my humor was perhaps best appreciated on that silent, unspeakable level. Rather than try to be funny, I'd like to instead spend a few minutes to present something which I've formulated this week which is both quite personal and serious. What I'm speaking of is the formulation of my first theory on what I call the "process of reorientation." This theory sprung as an outgrowth of my assigned GS term for the week, assigned by Bob Pula, which for me was "self-reflexiveness of evaluation." It's interesting that he chose that term for me on the first morning, because "that term" has been showing up for me all week - regarding "self-reflexiveness" I can certainly say "Been there, done that." At least for this week. My presentation consists of providing you with three data points of observation of a particular subject, which I've chosen to demonstrate the theory. As I present the data to you, I'd like for you to make your own assessment as to the change, if any, in the condition of the subject under observation. This "experiment" is in a sense unusual, because the subject under observation, or guinea pig, is also the observer, which is me. I'd first like to read something which I came across in 1972 as a freshman in college. It was untitled and the author was not noted, but I refer to it as "I'd Pick More Daisies." As I read it, I'd ask you to consider how I must have seen myself at that time, given that I associated so strongly with what the author describes. "If I had my life to live over again, I'd try to make more mistakes next time. I would relax. I'd limber up. I'd be sillier than I have been this trip. I know of very few things I would take seriously. I would take more trips. I'd climb more mountains, swim more rivers and watch more sunsets. I'd do more walking and looking. I'd eat more ice cream and less beans. I'd have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones. "You see, I'm one of those people who lives prophylactically and sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments and if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them. In fact I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead each day. I've been one of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat, aspirin, and a parachute. If I had it to do over again, I would go places, do things, and travel lighter than I have. "If I had my life to live over, I'd start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I'd play hooky more. I wouldn't make such good grades except by accident. I would ride on more merry-go-rounds. I'd pick more daisies." Next, I'm going to read a poem which I wrote in February 1993, twenty-one years after my "declaration" of wanting to "pick more daisies." I'd say that this was a pretty accurate self-assessment at the time. "I was going to write a one-minute poem To tell you about my act. No, the real reason I was going to write a poem was To impress you With my wit, my insight, my intelligence and My all too transparent veil of pretentious modesty and humility. The first line was to be "I've built an island for myself," Followed by rhymed verse explaining how I've distanced myself >From you (and everyone) by my acts. But I didn't complete it, because I was interrupted too Many times by disconcerting thoughts and doubts About what I was doing and what I wanted to say, Until I finally acknowledged that I didn't want to finish it Because I couldn't make it good enough And realized that perhaps Perhaps that is my most engaging and engrossing act - Ensuring that you see nothing of me if it's not good. I want to see you as your first draft, Complete with misspelled words and freely-formed constructions. But I want you to see me as Completely edited, fully redlined, ready for print And ready for rave review. I am envious of your widespread circulation, Yet my hands are still clenched tightly on my red pen While you are already out On the newsstands and front porches of life." Now, did you note any appreciable change in orientation between the 1972 and 1993 assessments? For the final data point to evaluate, I need some help from you. I'd ask you to make your own assessment of me, based on your interactions with me during the past week. In your assessment, have you observed the behaviors and attitudes I attempted to express in the poem? Or have you observed a different "me" than who I saw myself as eighteen months ago? I would go out on a limb and assume that, based on your assessments and perceptions, you might conclude that a shift in orientation had indeed occurred. To what can the reorientation been attributed? I would say two things. The first is that shortly after I wrote the one-minute poem, I began studying GS with some seriousness in an attempt to learn how to apply its principles and notions in my life. The second cause for the shift in orientation was what I would now like to present as my 1st Theory On The Process Of Reorientation. The theory can be diagrammed in this way: \ / \ / \ / "ORGANISM- ---------------- | UU | AS-A-WHOLE- | -- | ---------------- IN-AN-ENVIRONMENT" t(now) Note that the subject of orientation, or that which is to be reoriented, is, in GS terms, an "organism-as-a-whole-in-an- environment". As we've learned this week, nothing exists in isolation, and a change in one part or aspect of an organism affects the whole organism, not just part of the organism. With this in mind, the pictorial portion of the diagram can be seen to include a rectangle symbolizing the environment, or you may think of it in terms of a playing field if you're inclined toward the "Game Of Life" metaphor. The symbol inside the environment, or "on the field", can be described as a "U" representing "you" or "me", the organism under observation. Adjoining the "U" is a similar (but different) "U" which represents the other individuals whom also exist in the environment, with whom you are to some degree connected. The line below symbolizes the relationship between "you" and the others in the environment. "t(now)" reminds us of the continually-changing-over-time process nature of everything in the environment, including ourselves. And the two vertical, non-parallel lines are there to help provide focus on the specific organism under observation, perhaps similar in appearance to a funnel, or they might also represent the "What Is Going On" (WIGO) around the organism in its environment. This diagram summarizes the theory, and indicates what has to happen for an organism-as-a-whole-in-an-environment to initiate a personal transformation, or reorientation, in matters of attitudes, behaviors, desires, etc. The formulation for this "what has to happen" can therefore, referring to the diagram, be expressed as: "WHAT IT ALL COMES DOWN TO IS PUTTING YOUR ASS ON THE LINE, RIGHT NOW!" That's the theory. Now let's run a quick 30-second test. Everybody stand up ... and place your hands on your backsides. Yes, that's the same as your butt. Think of something in your personal life which you'd like to apply the process of reorientation to. It could be a relationship you'd like to change, or an emotion like loneliness you'd like to alter, or a desire to lose weight, or something similar. When you've thought of something, sit back down (carefully) on your hands. Now think of your hands as representing what it is you'd like to reorient, or what it is you'd like to "get off of." Okay, what do you have to do to get off your hands? That's right! Just as the theory maintains, you gotta move your ass! In conclusion, I suspect that some of you who are now in doctoral studies in Psychology or General Semantics may want to refer to this theory or perform advance research to test it. "Stockdale's 1st Theory On The Process Of Reorientation" sounds a bit pompous and presumtuous. You may therefore, if you wish, instead refer to it as "Slinger's Theory On As-A-Wholes", or it can also be expressed simply as "The Whole Ass Notion." Thank you. END