Script
A practical and constructive script ... may lead to great happiness if the
others in the cast are well chosen and play their parts satisfactorily.
(From Transactional Anlaysis in Psychotherapy by Eric Berne Ballantine Books
1961/1989, page 117 )
I went to my first ITAA conference in 1995, and I went in my Child. Yes, from my Adult I made adequate arrangements, and got myself to the airport on time, but once I got to San Francisco, I was in Child most of the time. People took great care of me, and I revelled in it. I had a great time, and now I am wondering if I could possible have created a little Scripty niche within my Frame of Reference that says something like: "You should always go to Conferences in your Child and that way you will always have a good time."
I have been to a lot of conferences since then, and not all of them have been so overwhelmingly happy for me. Sometimes I have brought old patterns in my luggage that I could well do without. Again, I suspect that at times like that, I have also been in Child, but this time in an unhappy and needy Adapted Child. And there, in the midst of all the wonderful TA people, I refuse to ask for the strokes that I undoubtedly need.
As I began to write this piece, I was not long back from the International TA conference in Utrecht in the Netherlands. Now six weeks have passed since then, and that Conference is like a hazy dream. Did I enjoy it? Yes I think I did, for the most part. But I have few strong memories. What is going on here? Have I been to too many conferences? Am I going just for the sake of habit?
Can it be true that I learned nothing there? Not so.
1.I learned at Richard Erskine's Sunday session that 'star quality' isn't just
something connected with being 'on stage', but that it has to do with a particular
kind of Okness that is deep within the person, and which nothing can extinguish.
2.I learned at Muriel James' workshop that a person can keep going and get through
a job of work even when their personal life has been turned upside-down by tragic
loss.
3.And as I met up again with friends from other conferences, I learned yet again
that the TA community has a lot of faithful friends who go out of their way
to give strokes.
Not for the first time, I am aware that I am glad to be a 'TA person'.
Belfast - Nov 11/12 - Mizuna Strategies Limited, 4 Magheralave Park
South, Lisburn, CO. Antrim, BT28 3NN Tel : 028 9258 8205 Mobile: 07801 980920
E-mail : paul@mizunastrategies.com
Belfast - Nov 16/17 & Dublin Nov 23/24 - CPTICPTI Counselling
& Psychotherapy Training Institute 86 Causewayside, Edinburgh EH9 1PY Scotland;
Tel: 0131 667 6173; Email: enquiries@cpti.info
This is your chance to give yourself the TA gift you've always promised yourselves.
I will forward the fliers from these people. Even if you don't need it for yourself,
perhaps you might pass it on to someone else.
The June workshop on Three Internal Motivators (based on Script interview with Fanita English after her recent accident) went very well. Elizabeth and Hazel met Fanita in Utrecht and she was delight to know that we had used her material. Our workshop also got a mention in the ITAA Script.
September workshop will be at Robin's boat in Malahide – Sept 12
at 1930. Either take dart to Malahide station or get to Malahide village, straight
out Malahide Road from Fairview. Further directions from Robin at 086 245 8762
when you get there.
You can know what you need and ask for help
(Affirmation for Thinking © Jean Illsley Clarke)
Write to Elizabeth Cleary
© Transactional Analysis in Ireland
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