Improving Health,
Esteem and Relationships Through Openness and Honesty
By Dr. Burton Kelly
Ed. Wk. Aug. 2002
Hiding Defined
Non-technical:
Concealing from oneself and /or others that which is
unpleasant or threatening to self.
Theoretical:
A denial of rational awareness, awareness derived from
reasoning and feelings subjected to rational analysis.
Healthy.
(1) When we make a strategic retreat in order to marshall
our resources to meet a threatening challenge more effectively. (2) When
it is necessary to protect ourselves and /or others from objective danger
or harm.
Illustrations of Hiding
The Common Defense Mechanisms
 | Bold, black and other lies, such as terminological
inexactitude |
| Hypocrisy, guile, deceit |
| Self-justification |
| The "if only" lament |
| Controlling and manipulating behavior |
| Certain lifestyles |
| Living in the past |
| Consistent self-blaming or pitying behavior
|
| Symbolic disconfirmation |
| Anger--and most other negative emotions |
| Linguistical --For example: Modal operators of
impossibility, such as can't; of necessity, such as should, have to,
must |
| Self-betrayal |
| Tensions and stress |
| Procrastination |
| Woakaholism |
| Surrendering to gratification of wishes or desires,
escaping into pleasure, three-seeking |
| Externalization |
| Overgeneralization |
| Lack of speech clarity |
| Non-specificity |
| Intellectualization |
| Alcohol and drug abuse |
| I'm a private person |
| Denying our age and mortality |
| Faddish behavior |
| Always planning, never doing |
Inception And Determinate (s) of Hiding
"And they heard the
voice of the Lord God (as they were) walking in the garden in the cool of
the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the
Lord God amongst the trees of the Garden. And the Lord God called unto
Adam and said unto him, where are thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in
the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."
Genesis 3:8-10
Consequences of Hiding
Interpersonal
Lack of marital intimacy and satisfaction impairment of closeness in other
relationships decrease in influence with others.
Intra-personal
Thwarting of growth and limitation of freedom, self-esteem, &
Psychopathology.
Physical health
Pennebaker Studies
Hiding and Sin
Elder Orson F. Whitney as quoted by Bruce R. McConkie in
Mormon Doctrinee, 1966, p. 735.
Sin is the transgression of divine law, as made
known through the conscience or by revelation. A man sins when he
violates his conscience, going contrary to light and knowledge- not the
light and knowledge that has come to his neighbor, but that which has
come to himself. He sins when he does the opposite of what he knows to
be right."
Therapeutic Correctives, Remediation
Relaxation and meditation procedures
Sentence - Completion
Reframing
Monitoring with self -evaluation of results
Prayer
The ultimate therapy, becoming more loving
Thou shalt love the Lord they God with all they
heart and with all they soul, and with all they mind. This is the first
and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love
thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hand all the law and
the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40)
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth
out fear ... He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
(1 John 4:18)
