Quote:
Originally Posted by Mastodon
Well, it's certainly one framework for the explanation of thought patterns. It seems as if the authors of the article are claiming that it is always a useful framework, which I disagree with, and I am personally better served by other models. But if it works for other people, it's all good.
I wonder why they came up with that name for it, though. I don't see anything virtual about the example questions they list. (I do know that a snappy memorable name for new concepts is important, otherwise people will forget about them or mix them up with other similar concepts.)
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The name comes from the fact that these questions are not something conscious, not something we actually speak out loud or are aware of. They are formed in the mind based on our experiences and background or present situations.
One of the definitions of "virtual" is:
Existing or resulting in essence or effect though not in actual fact, form, or name.
We can however find our virtual questions if we consciously think about it. I found mine by talking to my therapist about it many times. And when I knew what mine was, I knew I could change my question and make it a conscious one. It takes practice because I had to repeat the question over and over, write it down etc. Now I ask this question every morning, I even speak it out loud into the mirror. "What can I do today to fill my day with what I need, to make it special, to make it matter, to make me feel better?"
It does help me, because it reminds me every day that I am not gone yet and have powers!
And it doesn't mean I am always happy-smiley-go-lucky. It takes a lot of energy for me sometimes to make my answers to the questions actually practical. And I do deal with a lot of stuff at the moment that is absolutely horrible and heartbreaking and more than I think I can handle. But I think my question changes my attitude towards all this.