Red Chair Conversation with a Self Portrait

Imagine a full-length mirror in front of you. What do you see? Let's talk about it ...?

Have you ever been listening to someone talk about something, and found yourself getting angry?  Has this ever happened when you couldn't quite explain why you were getting angry?  I have, and I don't like it.  My first thought is to leave the conversation -- walk away or change the channel.  Why do we get so angry at each other over our ideas?

Looking into that imaginary mirror I can see how that person might react to an idea.  Probably, any idea that would hurt or change that person would lead to an angry response.  It is a portrait of me, and like a portrait it doesn't age or change or grow.  Of course, from the perspective of the red chair I can see both the idea and the portrait.  I can understand how the idea can create a new portrait.

Therefore, I can understand that my initial reaction of anger may be entirely based on the fit of the information upon my current self portrait.  I can also see that the impetus for immediate response may prevent me from incorporating these ideas into my current self portrait.