Ask A Genius 1141: Know Your Limits, Yourself
Author(s): Rick Rosner and Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/10/31
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: So, I’ve got another topic. Here’s another topic: It’s healthy to embrace your negative emotions, but not to indulge them. It’s a subtle distinction, but important for mental health—especially for men in North America, who often deal with shame, guilt, sadness, and fear. Those emotions are healthy to acknowledge and experience, but not to dwell on, so you can live a more balanced emotional life. It can help prevent men from relying on titles and achievements as a way to cope with insecurities.
Rick Rosner: Yes, I don’t disagree with you.
I’m always willing to tell on myself because, yes, I get mileage out of it. That includes being clear and, within reason, honest about my emotions. I can talk about my shortcomings, like saying my dick is noodly—that’s not an emotion, but it’s still part of the picture. Anyway, I’ve gotten mileage out of admitting my flaws, even on shows like Kimmel.
I wouldn’t get any mileage out of sadness. Unless, it’s the consequence of some idiotic thing I did that I could later get mileage out of. But also, I’ve been to, what, seven therapists in my life? Six or seven.
Jacobsen: What have been the biggest lessons from that, emotionally?
Rosner: Well, if I’m going to write about myself or anyone else, the lesson is that you’re going to be a better writer if you’re transparent with yourself. You’ll get more ideas about what characters can do if you’re familiar with your own range of emotions. That’s a general lesson in terms of being a writer.
Another lesson, specific to me, is that I’m lucky not to have a depressive personality. I’ll get sad or depressed in specific circumstances, but my default personality isn’t depressed. That’s a blessing. And one thing I’ve known about myself for a long time is that I can always turn to either taking a nap or, well, trying to jerk off.
The ratio has shifted to more nap time than before. Those are my lessons.
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