In 1961, author Robert A. Heinlein coined the term "grok" in his bestselling book, Stranger in a Strange Land.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines grok as "to understand intuitively or by empathy; to establish rapport with" and "to empathize or communicate sympathetically (with)."
It is gratifying for all of us to be deeply known -- to be "grokked." When we are feeling the very painful feelings of life -- the loneliness, heartache, heartbreak, grief, sorrow and helplessness that result from others' choices and from past and present life events -- it is profoundly healing to know that another knows exactly what we are feeling and has deep empathy for our feelings. Perhaps this is why, in some cultures, it is traditional for a group of women to wail with someone who has lost a loved one.
One of the reasons people receive so much healing at the Inner Bonding Five-Day Intensives is the experience of being grokked for the heartbreak of their childhood. For some, it is the first time they have ever shared what really happened to them and received deep understanding, compassion and empathy. The relief on their faces and the light that shines through their eyes is so beautiful to behold!
However, we run into problems when we try to get grokked for the wounded feelings of hurt, fear, anxiety, depression, guilt, shame, jealousy, anger and so on -- the feelings that WE are creating with our thoughts and actions. Others cannot feel into us when we are being victims and pulling for sympathy. They cannot feel into us with their empathy when we are victims of the feelings WE are creating with our self-abandonment.
In a phone session with Timothy, he was angry over a fight with his girlfriend.
"We had just gone out for breakfast and I thought things were going well. I felt so good being with her that I called her to have dinner that evening. When she said she was busy, I got upset. I told her I was coming over to talk with her about it, but she said it was not a good time -- that she had other things she needed to do. I came over anyway and she got really angry at me. How dare she treat me this way!"
Timothy was being a victim. He was not taking responsibility for himself at all, instead making his girlfriend responsible for him. When she didn't do what he wanted, he behaved in a violating and invasive way, and then blamed her for her anger at him. In the session, he wanted my sympathy for how badly he had been treated by her.
Instead, I told him that it was he who was treating himself and her badly. He had created the situation by making her responsible for his feelings and being invasive with her.
Just as he had been furious at his girlfriend for not giving him what he wanted, he was furious at me for what he called my "lack of compassion." This is a crazy-making situation where he lacked compassion for himself and for his girlfriend and was not open to learning, and then pulled on her and me to give him what he was not giving to himself.
On the other hand, in my session with Sydney, another client, I felt deep empathy and compassion for her heartbreak over the loss of her relationship. Her boyfriend had suddenly left her with no warning, and she was shocked and grieved. Her intent was to learn rather than to get me to sympathize with her. Through her tears, she wanted to understand how she could have created this situation -- again -- in her life. I was able to "grok" her -- to get completely with her because, not only was she open to her heartbreak, she was also open to learning about how she could take care of herself and what she could learn from the situation.
It is unrealistic to expect compassion from others when we are abandoning ourselves. If you want to experience the power of being "grokked" by others, you first need to "grok" yourself!
To begin learning how to love and connect with yourself so that you can connect with others, take advantage of our free Inner Bonding eCourse, receive Free Help, and take our 12-Week eCourse, "The Intimate Relationship Toolbox" - the first two weeks are free!
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