I feel a bit ignorant @Parsifal. I completely missed that connection originally. Thanks for your explanation.
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St.2 has been working on me, and yes, it seems moreso like a healing sub. Not of past memories, like diving straight in, but rather having me see how habitual actions do not feel good. Right now I’m still trying to simmer down some angst I’ve felt today.
From early on today, I sensed a slight internal grieving. Like, in Khan style, it was quietly ripping away old things (in my mind) which I’ve accepted time and time again. I still feel slightly stressed, though I can’t and couldn’t name why. Just an uncomfortableness.
One brief interaction highlights how I’ve felt all day. In a lengthy share…
Within an hour of work starting, I found out a handful of our company’s top higher-ups had come to our site today. I never talked with any of them…but I was anxious (I was, but I’ve been trying to deny it). I got into a good groove physically on site…while wondering if I really cared what they thought. Inside, I usually saw myself as small and powerless, but something in me was growing. It was a strength I’d never tapped into. It wasn’t at full force, but it was growing.
Due to the numerous emotions swirling around, I found myself putting on some mental shield to not feel so much. Then, something happened.
A young, simply dressed, beautiful woman walked out the main door as I was walking by it swiftly, and I noticed. A half second later, I turned to look her in the eyes. What I did was quickly turn away after meeting her gaze, and she’d showed a bright wide-eyed smile at me. I didn’t turn back.
My reaction bothered me for at least an hour. I felt…gonna be really honest here…like I’d rejected serving her. I felt bad.
Attempt at explanation
I’ve played a subservient role to others my entire life, both men and women. I’ve always seen it as my “job” to nurture what’s in others first (selfishly motivated). I immediately felt this toward her. My reason: me believing if I loved them first, then they might love me. The interaction I wrote about felt like I rejected that role. It felt like I came off as saying “I don’t want this”, and by my old standards and beliefs, I hurt her…I also felt I’d hurt me too since that’s the main way I’ve always received any kind of love. I felt an immediate desire to apologize to her–nothing ever happened, but I felt like I’d done something wrong. (I only saw how I hurt myself in the last 5 minutes I’ve been writing)
So, St.2 stretched me today. Too tired mentally to explain more. Still remnants of that interaction going through my mind. My internal script changed, and I’m still trying to reconcile that.