Deep Conversations ‘The Dark Side series’

Session 4: The Dark Side of Folk Wisdom

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Hmm... maybe it just makes the shadows darker. After a few months away, The Dark Side Series returns. I can't think of a better way to dive back in than by examining the 'wisdom' in an old saying like that.

“Everything happens for a reason." "Let go of what no longer serves you." "You can't pour from an empty cup."

Whether it’s an age-old proverb passed down through generations or a modern mantra shared on social media, folk wisdom promises simple truths for complex times. We turn to these adages for guidance, comfort, and a sense of shared understanding.

But what if this "wisdom" isn't as wise as it seems? What if these comforting proverbs are actually comfortable illusions with a hidden dark side?

In this session of The Dark Side Series, we are putting this common sense on trial. We will ask:

When comfort becomes cruel:** When does a saying like "everything happens for a reason" become a harmful oversimplification that invalidates real pain?

An alibi for avoidance: How can "let go of what no longer serves you" become a sophisticated excuse to bypass difficult emotional work or abandon commitments?

The contradiction problem: Is folk wisdom a reliable guide for life, or just a library of convenient, and often contradictory, self-justifications?

The illusion of empathy: When does offering a platitude stop being an act of support and become a substitute for genuine, nuanced conversation?

Join us as we explore the crucial difference between a timeless truth and a cultural placebo.

Ready to think twice about the advice you've always taken for granted?