"A modern American woman with pretenses of pacifism is no match for the low blow, pitty-pat punching Australopithecus who doesn't obey protocol and doesn't warn her opponent she’s preparing to take a swing. Bare-fisted and merciless, Lucy is a brawler. You’d best not ignore her presence or you’ll be down for the count in no time. Trust me. I know a lot about my inner boxer, the one who hits without any gloves on." ~Excerpted from my blog, Knockout! Score One for Lucy!
When people write about their Inner Critic, or their Inner Brat carrying a switchblade in lacy-topped anklets, it amuses me. Not that my personality is ultra-sensitive, prepared to fight any person crossing my path. I am a bit of a pussy in that regard.
I would never in a million years be as critical of other people as I am of myself.
In fact, my life would be improved if I flipped the Golden Rule on it's backside and "Did unto me as I would do unto others." (Does being left-handed cause bass-akward behaviors? Anybody have a neurological study on that?)
In fact, my life would be improved if I flipped the Golden Rule on it's backside and "Did unto me as I would do unto others." (Does being left-handed cause bass-akward behaviors? Anybody have a neurological study on that?)
A few days ago, a forum member referred to Barbara McAfee's song, Brain Rats. It reminded me of Inner Critics and how their negative chatter undermines our self-esteem. Being conscious of self-destructive thoughts is the first step to mental health and inner peace. Paying attention to self-criticisms interrupts a destructive pattern of behavior that most of us don't even realize we're doing to ourselves. It is shocking to find out that EVEN when the abuser leaves, we step in to FILL THE ROLE ourselves. That idea didn't sit well with me, you can be sure.
As is usually the case when a situation is dead serious and overwhelming, I find a way to laugh about it. To take the edge off. To reduce the seriousness which allows change to occur more naturally, without white-knuckling the process myself. So I hope you enjoy Barbara McAfee's Brain Rats song and the next time you hear the distinctive gnawing of pointy-sharp teeth chewing away at your self-confidence, self-esteem, and your self-worth, awaken your inner feline and chase the rats away. A firm "MEOW!" may be all it takes to evict an infestation of brain rats. Or as we say on the WoN forum: rat bazturds.
Excerpted from Taming Your Brain Rats:
Written and performed by Barbara McAfee
Brain Rats
by Barbara McAfee
Chorus
Brain rats...I've got brain rats
A pestilential blight upon my mind
Brain rats are the wicked thoughts that prove my every flaw
And every hopeful notion gives them something new to gnaw
I hear them chewing in the night and on and off all day
They've really got my number . . . oh the awful stuff they say
Chorus
Brain Rats I’ve got brain rats
A pestilential blight upon my mind
My mother says she loves me but no doubts she’s telling lies
And friends are all just enemies in ingenious disguise
There’s no one to be trusted and that’s including me
The best approach to human beings is fierce misanthropy
Chorus
Brain Rats I’ve got brain rats
A pestilential blight upon my mind
I need a lot more money than I’ll ever live to earn
And late at night I count my debts as I fret and toss and turn
I’m one step from the poor house - I can’t make it on my own
I’ll be just like that match girl dying cold and all alone
Chorus
Brain Rats I’ve got brain rats
A pestilential blight upon my mind
They torture with such cunning like little Marquises de Sade
And wreak unstinting havoc beneath my cool facade
They tell me I’m worse than everyone - my problems can’t be solved
And I’m the piece of crap around which this whole world revolves
Chorus
Brain Rats I’ve got brain rats
A pestilential blight upon my mind
Hugs all,
CZ
Hugs all,
CZ
Ok - that's official brilliant! I knew there was a biological cause for beatmeupedness -- brain rats!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Thanks!
ha! It is brilliant! I've played it ten times today, hoping to stop this latest rat infestation.
ReplyDeleteI think she has a YouTube video of this song if you want to check it out.
Hugs,
CZ
I can so relate to this. After 2 abusive marriages, the second one to a narcissist, there are days I feel strong and on top of the world, and days when the Brain Rats infest, and I still feel terrified, and that I can do nothing right. I will continue to fight them rats, because one thing I know for sure, I would rather fight them, then still be in the awful relationships. In those, I was destroyed daily, by someone whom I thought loved me.
ReplyDeleteOk, I'll bite....on the left-handedness.
ReplyDeleteApparently left-handedness suffer numerous issues: one, and this is an important one...we don't live as long as right-handed people. Why? Because most tools are made for righties, and the frustration level of this probably shortens our life span.
Secondly, left handed people were at some points in society, considered 'sinister'....something here I can't remember why, but it was. We were forced at times to re program ourselves (I was...Nuns...) to be right handed and this probably scrambles the brain.
But some of the greatest artists in the world are left=handed...or were, before they succumbed to death and disease....Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Picasso, etc. Something to do with the patterning of the brain, or something in there.
As for the brain rats....I'll have to listen to this later.
Lady Nyo
I am not a lefty but had to work on the same thing. I work at treating myself at least as nicely as I do others. Counselor said that usually he has to work with the opposite. I do like the brain ratz analogy. Gives me enough of the shivers to really want to be rid of them. Great post. (Found a typo after posting. Hopefully this one really does read correctly.)
ReplyDelete