long time no blog

I started school 5 weeks ago.

I've begun a degree in Counselling (a bachelor of applied social science)

It's been a baptism of fire but I think I finally have my shit together. I am the least freaked-out individual of all the people in my class, but I must admit I have been through lots of highs and lows, and on several occasions I contemplated dropping out due to stress.

From speaking to other people in my class I discovered that I'm not the only one who has been shitting themselves, or been completely stressed out.

I have a 2000 word essay due in a week and a half which I have sort of started, i'm still collecting information, but I think writing the essay will be the easiest part of the process.(fingers crossed)

A couple of weeks ago we were encouraged to start a journal to document our experiences. The module I am studying is called Interpersonal Communication and a lot of it focuses on the self and developing one's communication skills.

I considered myself to be a pretty good listener, but after a little bit of study I realise I need a lot of practice. It's really difficult to listen to someone and completely detach from your own process and focus on them and their process; to put yourself in their shoes and listen to what they are really saying. My goal is to be able to be able to listen empathetically without having to remind myself to, it's very difficult.

Other things I should note that I've learned about myself:

I read about "disclosure of information". When is the ideal time to disclose information about yourself, but the thing that interested me was WHY we disclose information. I tend to disclose inappropriate information to people I barely know. I did it again last night and today I questioned myself as to why I did it.

I think when I don't know someone very well but I like them, I have no reservations in telling them anything, perhaps it's in the hopes that this will make them like me (or perhaps i think it creates a kind of intimacy). I think it potentially has the opposite effect. They might think I am trying to big-note myself, when in actual fact that isn't the case. Still, it's something for me to work on. At least now I know why i do it i can hopefully recognise when I am going to do it and stop myself.