Info,

I don’t really blame you for today’s session (though I am pretty irritated with you right now). After all, you’re only human.

“I’m only human.” Such a catch-all excuse. It celebrates humanity’s flaws, not its ability to learn from mistakes, to set ambitious goals and then attain them. It says, “you can’t expect better of me, even if I’m a surgeon and by mistake I amputated the wrong leg. What else did you think would happen? I’m only human.”

If we are the only animal capable of reflection and thought, we should think about our mistakes, not jump to excuse them; we should at least try to fix them or build on them or learn from them, not let any discussion of them end with the words “I’m only human.” Say that if you wish, but then go on to demonstrate the better side of your humanity.

Your attempts to excuse 3 on the grounds she’s human take away from the fact I’m human, too, and can be hurt. And she hurt me. It doesn’t get us anywhere.

ATAT

Eta: and if we’re all only human, why should anyone come to therapy to improve their lives? Might as well just accept them. There will always be something done wrong, because we’re only human.

Therapy is about being human, learning to accept it, and then working with the positive aspects of our humanity. And yet a therapist’s typical excuse flies in the face of that. For if you are only human, and you are serving as a model for your clients, then why should they make an effort? They’re only human too.

(Sorry for the ridiculously philosophical post.)