Imagine holding a fairy in your hands.
For the sake of this post, let’s call her Noi Sulli (noy-soolee), or simply Noi. How do you hope to benefit from holding Noi?
Perhaps you simply want to admire her. After all, you’ve never encountered a fairy before and the novel experience is one you want to ingrain in your memory.
Maybe you’ve heard that fairies grant wishes. Though there may be rules associated with these wishes, Noi isn’t otherwise limited in how many of your desires she can fulfill.
You may want to form a transactional bond with Noi so that she may shower you in virtually everything you’ve ever hoped for. She could be the sole source of your happiness.
Then again, I might be wrong. You could be disinterested in personal gain. You may aspire to have Noi eliminate many of society’s ills, problems of the world, and suffering inherent in life.
You reason that true bliss isn’t associated with material possessions. If only through Noi you could solve the imbalance of joy to fear, anger, sorrow, and disgust, life would be better.
Conceivably, you could want both your desires and the plague of pain and suffering for others to be eradicated. Why not have it all if you could?
Suppose you consider Noi’s perspective. She may not be a willing participant to your ambitious desires. Is she contractually bound to serve whoever holds her in their hands?
Is Noi a slave to your ambitions? If so, are you comfortable with wielding control over another entity all for the sake of your joy and pleasure?
Feasibly, if Noi could escape without repercussions, she would. She could then return to wherever she’s from, reuniting with friends, family, and loved ones.
How tight do you imagine you’d have to hold Noi in order to have her fulfill your wishes? If opening your hands allowed her an opportunity to escape, how would you brush your teeth?
If you fell asleep and relaxed your hands, would the fairy fly as far away from you as she could? If unable to do so, because of magical shackles that bind her to you, do you envision yourself being content with the enslavement of another life?
Plausibly, there could be a tradeoff. Subjugating one lifeform while being able to uplift the lives of countless others may be something you reason is acceptable.
Sure, Noi is confined to your hands though you’ve assured that every person on the planet will be free from hunger today. You’ve also guaranteed that each member of your family will want for nothing.
In this regard, your concern for humanity, influence over others, and personal control over seemingly limitless outcomes while you’re alive allow prominence and fulfillment unlike any point in your life prior to capturing Noi.
Imagine holding a fairy in your hands.
Now, think of reality. There is no fairy. Noi Sulli is simply illusion spelled backward.
Understanding the spheres of control, influence, and concern, you realize how it is nothing more than an illusion to wield power that a fairy could provide. Even if you had the potential to change so-called negative aspects of life, it would come at a cost.
Instead of using your imagination—even though I admit it’s entertaining to consider impossibilities—how might you make better use of your time? Are you ready to stop pretending, let that fairy go, and get to working on your issues?
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
Photo credit, artist: Julia Solomatina (@julia_solomatina_art), fair use
References:
Enriquez, A. (2021, October 25). Q. How does fair use work for book covers, album covers, and movie posters? Penn State. Retrieved from https://psu.libanswers.com/faq/336502
Fairly Odd Fanon Wiki. (n.d.). Da rules. Retrieved from https://fairlyoddfanon.fandom.com/wiki/Da_Rules
Hollings, D. (2022, May 17). Circle of concern. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/circle-of-concern
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2022, July 11). Unconditional acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-acceptance
Solomatina, J. (n.d.). Hands releasing cute fairy with magic wand vector image. VectorStock. Retrieved from https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/hands-releasing-cute-fairy-with-magic-wand-vector-29066338