A few questions to refer to next time I’m thinking too robotic:

  • Where is the pain?!
  • Why is this painful? What do they desire? What do they believe would make them happy?

  • What event isn’t neutral (that you likely bypass as if they were neutral)?

  • What voices of the past were triggered?
  • What irrational thoughts are they having?
  • What does he fear that isn’t rational?

  • What deeper meaning are they reading into these events, (a meaning that likely is misguided)?

  • What emotions are they experiencing?

  • What emotions will they carry forward?

  • What ill-decisions will they make from this pain or this emotion that they are carrying along?
  • What’s going on in his life to make this pain cost something?