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Old Sep 23, 2023, 06:28 AM
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Aurelius710 Aurelius710 is offline
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Member Since: Oct 2015
Location: US
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Quote:
Originally Posted by insideoutsider View Post
Anyway, it's not so much an issue as I have been blessed with the ability to learn about social situations and human nature, and appreciate perspectives of others.

I have read things like, those with more empathy exhibit more self control, which is another reason why I ask the question. I don't fully understand why that is. I don't believe I empathize as well as say my sister, and I am more impulsive, but again, I can't really know how much of my impulsivity is from lack of empathy vs bipolar on its own, as those two things aren't necessarily related, as far as I know.
I think of it like this. Empathy, at its core, is thinking about others. Their wants and needs. Impulsivity is about doing things without thinking and it goes without saying that some of those impulsive acts can trample on the needs and wants of others.

Empathy, in my experience, can hold in tension the path from impulsive thoughts to impulsive acts. Without that resistance...
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"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
-Litany Against Fear (Dune)
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