I guess it is important if you want to keep from going emotionally crazy. Oh, Merriam-Webster's definition is" to separate into isolated compartments or categories. " That definition is not really in-depth enough unless you think about it in context.
I found this on the web which has a bit darker definition: "In psychology, compartmentalization is a defense mechanism our brains use to shut out traumatic events."
Wikipedia- "It may be a form of mild dissociation; example scenarios that suggest compartmentalization include acting in an isolated moment in a way that logically defies one's own moral code, or dividing one's unpleasant work duties from one's desires to relax. Its purpose is to avoid cognitive dissonance or the mental discomfort and anxiety caused by a person having conflicting values, cognitions, emotions, beliefs, etc. within themselves."
EXAMPLES:
"Recent Examples on the Web
Candace has that ability to compartmentalize and sort of dissociate from the things that are bothering her.
— Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2022
After an intense ending to the Halloween party, Spencer tries his best to compartmentalize everything and focus on the big Homecoming game.
— oregonlive, 23 May 2022
His attempts to compartmentalize are further complicated by interactions with grieving families. — Washington Post, 20 Apr. 2022
I think we may lose this skill as our lives get longer with more complicated events and actions by us and as we become less flexible in changing approaches. Are we more sure of what our actions should be? What do you think? I also think I have trouble falling asleep at night due to my inability to compartmentalize. Hubby closes his book, turns off the light, says "goodnight" and in 5-8 minutes is breathing deeply in his sleep and is out for the next nine hours. He is great at compartmentalizing.
Are you good at it? Do you have some trick that works?
I am terrible at compartmentalizing. I am envious of that sleep your husband gets too.
ReplyDeleteI was taught that it's not moral to compartmentalize! Because you can justify any action by ignoring the consequences. Not that I've been much good at it anyway.
ReplyDeleteI am nit sure how I fit with the word, but as we all know, if it has to do with sleep, then I simply cannot compartmentalize. 😀
ReplyDeleteThe way I look at it, to compartmentalize means to put aggravation into areas where they fit well enough to provide the sense of well being that I am in control with organized priorities, and clear ideas how to deal with any if it when need be.
ReplyDeleteThe beauty of it is, that I don't need aggravation. If it needs me though, then I can transfer it to the confusion compartment.
I practice a meditation that focuses on identifying thoughts and where they come from.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds interesting. Is there a website or book?
Deletebeta.tergar.org is what I use. I didn't find the site allthat intuitive, but now that I've figured it out I am getting something out of it.
DeleteI used the word compartmentalize just the other day when describing how my sister can post something way far out in right field, completely untrue, on Facebook, I can call her on it, somewhat gently, my daughter warns me that if I need to keep my relationship with my sister I need to be careful about embarrassing her in public ( Facebook) and I say, "oh, don't worry, she is good at compartmentalizing and we'll be OK because family is the most important thing of all to her, and I go along with it.
ReplyDeleteI myself am not so good at compartmentalizing. With me it's more like just keeping my mouth shut, which is not always easy.
Nope. I'm not good at all at compartmentalizing. Siiiiigh... I wish I could. Like your husband, mine will fall asleep in seconds while my brain goes nuts. Maybe I need to learn meditation.
ReplyDeleteHmm. I really don't know whether I'm good at it or not. I can fall asleep easily and feel I really need to get my eight hours. I think it helps me not to get too wound up with inconsequential stuff. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhen my stress level goes up due to things beyond my control I ignore those things and focus on what gives me pleasure. Which may be why I'm working on a very complicated piece right now.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I compartmentalize. But I do know that as I get older, knowing about different cultures, different circumstances, different goals, I get LESS sure of what the right or moral thing to do is. But it doesn't bother me. I sleep just fine.
ReplyDeleteI don't think of it as compartmentalizing but do try to remember what is yet to do that matters
ReplyDeleteI used to be good at it but not now. I'm good at Giraffing tho.
ReplyDeleteI'm not aware of separating matters in my mind any more or less in my current aging years from my younger adult years. I probably became more adept at doing so as I became an adult. I think I probably started doing such as a consequence of an undesirable experience when quite young and would have done so more or less automatically to mentally cope. Certainly the ability to focus on any one thing for a period of time to the exclusion of anything else is important throughout our lives, so setting the rest of matters apart is important. If that's compartmentalizing then I do it. This doesn't keep a consistent morality and ethical functioning from being consistent in all areas of my life or "compartments" or prevent reality from prevailing.
ReplyDeleteIt can depend on the time and the topic. If i have something urgent to take care of, i can put something else in a compartment and not bother to think of or deal with it until the emergency is over.
ReplyDeleteThat sleep difference, i've noticed there are two kinds of people. Some, like me, fall asleep almost right away but if you wake us up thoroughly, it takes hours to get back to sleep. Others, like my Sweetie, take a couple of hours to fall asleep (i believe it has something to do with the inability to turn off what i call the "monkey mind"), but when awakened in the middle of the night, roll over and go right back to sleep as if nothing happened.
The thing is, as Larry Burkett used to say, "Two people just exactly alike get married, one of you is unnecessary." That's why almost every couple has one of each type of sleeper!
I must be dumb. I thought it meant to keep things in order like in your pic. I se yoga breathing to help me go to sleep.
ReplyDelete