[As always, he notices the breathing changes - but it's so close to meditative breathing that he thinks it's that instead.
It's - a little frustrating, seeing her constantly shut him out, and shut down any avenue that isn't the safe lie of 'I'm just someone who isn't worth the trouble, and I never will be.'
But, at the same time, he still understands why. The loss of the mask means bearing your easily injured self to the world.]
...Do you really believe you're stuck in the same cycle? Even when you're showing signs of beginning to break it?
[He sighs.]
Jolyne, it takes time. It takes time to relearn good behavior and to abandon maladaptive ones. It is indeed bullshit that to those that are supposed to help you, you 'dig your heels in the ground and refuse to change' in their minds, when the issue is that you work at it slowly but surely.
[He stands for a moment, grabbing a pencil and a piece of paper, before sitting down.]
Let me explain in a way that I think might make sense for both of us.
[he writes down an equation - 2+2 =?]
Now then - you can most likely solve this, yes? It's simple.
[Then, he writes down 2x2=?]
This is harder than the first, but still simple. It requires you to understand something other than addition and subtraction, but it's still easily worked out.
[ 2x2-3+5%3=?]
You can even mix both systems, but this is still more difficult than the other two - and someone who only knows addition and subtraction would have trouble.
[Then, he writes down more without stopping - from fractions to algebra, increasing in difficulty until the last one is a hulking, difficult looking mass of an equation.]
Now, I assume you would have difficulty with the last one. You may not even be able to solve it, even if I gave you all of the time in the world, simply because you don't know the individual steps on how to tackle it.
[He points to the third equation with his pencil.]
As you are now, you are right here. You are learning the systems, and trying to better yourself. But -
[He points at the final equation.]
-You're trying to jump to this difficulty, and are frustrated and scared that you can't solve it yet. But...you can.
[He puts the paper down, looking at her with a gentle smile.]
All you need to do is allow yourself to learn all the other steps between you and what you want to be.
no subject
It's - a little frustrating, seeing her constantly shut him out, and shut down any avenue that isn't the safe lie of 'I'm just someone who isn't worth the trouble, and I never will be.'
But, at the same time, he still understands why. The loss of the mask means bearing your easily injured self to the world.]
...Do you really believe you're stuck in the same cycle? Even when you're showing signs of beginning to break it?
[He sighs.]
Jolyne, it takes time. It takes time to relearn good behavior and to abandon maladaptive ones. It is indeed bullshit that to those that are supposed to help you, you 'dig your heels in the ground and refuse to change' in their minds, when the issue is that you work at it slowly but surely.
[He stands for a moment, grabbing a pencil and a piece of paper, before sitting down.]
Let me explain in a way that I think might make sense for both of us.
[he writes down an equation - 2+2 =?]
Now then - you can most likely solve this, yes? It's simple.
[Then, he writes down 2x2=?]
This is harder than the first, but still simple. It requires you to understand something other than addition and subtraction, but it's still easily worked out.
[ 2x2-3+5%3=?]
You can even mix both systems, but this is still more difficult than the other two - and someone who only knows addition and subtraction would have trouble.
[Then, he writes down more without stopping - from fractions to algebra, increasing in difficulty until the last one is a hulking, difficult looking mass of an equation.]
Now, I assume you would have difficulty with the last one. You may not even be able to solve it, even if I gave you all of the time in the world, simply because you don't know the individual steps on how to tackle it.
[He points to the third equation with his pencil.]
As you are now, you are right here. You are learning the systems, and trying to better yourself. But -
[He points at the final equation.]
-You're trying to jump to this difficulty, and are frustrated and scared that you can't solve it yet. But...you can.
[He puts the paper down, looking at her with a gentle smile.]
All you need to do is allow yourself to learn all the other steps between you and what you want to be.