James Wogan LCSW

Tag: social work

  • Crabs in Bucket, reinterpreted

    Crabs in a bucket: Marvin (Diné / Navajo) reflected on “Crabs in a Bucket.” An elder in Seattle shared commonly told admonishment that crabs pull each other down, if one tries to climb out of a pot or bucket, other crabs pull it back down. The lesson, be cautious of who is around you.

    In nature, however, Crabs actually cooperate, climb on each other, help each other, live in community in order to survive. Their nature is cooperation. The bucket, the elder said, is a Western construct. The bucket is Western society, materialism, individuality. When pulled away from their natural environment, of course crabs behave differently.

    A beautiful Native-American re-interpretation of a story commonly told to children; don’t trust or be pulled down by those around you.  This stands is stark contrast to Crabs’ true nature, to lift each other up.  

    Adam Grant (Wharton) added, “We assume this is how crabs behave in a bucket bc this is what we’ve been told. Researchers showed, however, they don’t actually pull each other down. ….Test the hypothesis.” 

    Native wisdom.

  • Positive Vocabulary

    www.buzzfeed.com/tomvellner/words-and-phrases-to-help-mental-health

    Practical suggestions and good advice is always welcome. This isn’t a panacea for mental health concerns. Avoid saying, “If I could just…”.

    “If I could just exercise more, find the right partner, change jobs, new medication…”. Mental health takes work. Therapy can be difficult, challenging, and part of the “package of support” that leads to lasting change. It’s the combination of things that make a difference.