Mean Little Mind Invaders

Recently I read a magazine article about a famous actress who is married to a famous actor.  After decades of self-loathing, she has finally managed to wrestle her demons to the ground, handcuff them, and put tape over their mouths.  Oh, yes.  I said "mouths" as in more than one.  Mind demons always come in multiples.   How do I know this, you ask?  Well, I was a psychology major in college, which makes me an expert on matters that involve mean little mind invaders whose purpose is to steal their victim's confidence, get them to doubt themselves, magnify their failures, minimize their successes, and let them know that no matter how well they do in life, it's still not good enough.

In the case of the famous actress whose name I have temporarily forgotten who is married to the famous actor whose name is on the tip of my tongue, she was plagued by guilt and regrets.  Her mind invaders told her she should be at home with her family every single day, baking cookies, folding laundry, and ironing her husband's Calvin Klein briefs.  When she discovered she could pursue her dream to become a successful actor AND spend quality time with her family, that was not good enough for the guilt guys.  Nope! "Your family will suffer because of your self-serving agenda," they said over and over and over again.  How do I know so much about these demons, you ask?  Well,  have I mentioned that my college degree is in psychology, which makes me pretty knowledgeable on matters that involve guilt?

After twenty plus years as an accomplished actor, the magazine interview reported that the actress' marriage was still solid and her children had grown up, moved away, and were happy, healthy and productive adults.  If you were to ask them, they would tell you she was a great mother and they wouldn't change a thing from their childhood.  But, hold on there! What do they know? As it turns out, nothing!  The carriers of self-loathing were the ones you should have asked, and they had a completely different message:  Regret.  Yep!  If only she hadn't done that but instead had done this, the outcome would have been much better.  Much, much better.  If only, if only, if only.  But, it was too late now.  The damage was done; she should have cried over spilled milk because even if she didn't spill it, in her mind invaders' minds,  it was still her fault.  How do I know so much about this actress and her mean little mind invaders, you ask?  I learned it from psychology books.  No, really I did.  I do not have now nor have I ever had mind-invading demons.

As luck would have it, right before the famous magazine (whose name I can't recall at the moment) contacted this famous actress to ask for an interview, she was able to tackle her demons and silence them forever.  Snap!  Just like that.  Gone.  Her life is wonderful now.  Perfect, in fact!  Which is good because every story needs a happy ending even if it is a sack of lies.  Oh, shoot! Now I feel bad.  That wasn't very nice of me, was it?  I am terribly sorry.  No, I really am. I wish I hadn't said that.  I'm carrying a lot of guilt right now.  If only, if only, if only...