Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for December 18, 2020

Now fix it. ✨

well done, Martha Bernays… I mean Luann DeGroot

More ergo nomics?

The old feed back to then what they said. Yeah. That always works.

Well, at least Luann didn’t charge Bernice a nickel for that advice (unlike Lucy van Pelt).

Apparently, Luann doesn’t realize she’s boring too because she is not feeling bad about herself. Perhaps playing psychiatrist will help her realize things about herself as well. Anyway, whatever you’re feeling is connected to how you think about yourself and your worldview. Change your worldview, your thinking changes, and your feelings change.

Sarcasm.

Let me play psychiatrist for a sec wow! Go, Luann!

After yesterday’s break-through today is meh

I just don’t see Bernice as boring and unsuccessful.

Doesn’t look or sound like Luann could ever be in the mental health field!!

score: Luann-1, Bern-0; and I’ll add to that. If you’re not willing to spend time with interesting people who might challenge your sense of self then you can’t (or are unwilling to) grow as a person.

The first step towards fixing a problem is first recognizing there is one. Then once you recognized the problem, you have to be willing to accept help. Bernice wants to fix her issues herself but she doesn’t know how.

Luann needs to understand that Bernice WANTS her bad attitude.

Another task for the life coach. Dining with your brother upsets you, but dining with your brother and a standing prime rib with gravy and a baked potato, followed with hot apple crisp topped with real whipped cream………that will make things more palatable. And if Tubby’s kids act up, steal his apple crisp while he’s distracted.

No, NOT better now

Ahh the classic, “you’re only as good as you feel” logic. It makes sense here but Luann should remember that humans, especially girls, are naturally insecure about everything. To really follow up on that logic, try boosting that self-esteem. It’s definitely not gonna go up by itself.

Luann, How go for the gold medal, ask Bernice about Jack?

OK, Luann – think of any good qualities Bernice has. Then, lay them on thick. That should open up her listening process. Now that the hostility level has dropped, start sneaking in the psychology.

That’s a statement I’ve always found rather simplistic. “Nobody’s hurting you by sawing your arm off. YOU’RE causing the pain you feel from having your arm sawed off.”

Is Bernice hiding a ‘sarcasm’ sign somewhere?

Well look at Bright side for a moment.

At least Lovely Lu didn’t tell Bernice: “Let me play brain surgeon for a second.” ;)

BAR-RUM-PUM!

Crossed arms. She’s not listening to you, Luann. Back off.

Luann actually heard some of that stuff Bernice hands out. Who knew?

Yesterday it was a hit. Today, strikeout.

Well she learned from the best Bernice

A twenty year old using ergo? Only if she wants another waffle while chewing.

Gee Luann, you’re a real helpful. Not!

Snarky, boring, insecure loser.

Enough of the “Oh, woe is me!” Hit the gym, volunteer somewhere – anywhere, put on some lipstick, take up scuba diving. Guaranteed, life will get interesting. Family dinners won’t be so terrifying because you can see above it all from your new perch. Get a life!

Luann did classic therapy here, identify the problem with the pretend patient, then confront her with it in a non-confrontational way. Luann was brilliant by making it in a joking, hilarity ensues kind of way, with the punchline being Bernice’s classic snark when confronted with something she does not like about herself. Noe the trick is to get Bernice to go have dinner with Ben, and the kids and family, while at the same time beginning to feel better about herself. If that happens, Luann SCORES!

Eleanor Roosevelt said “KNOW ONE CAN MAKE YOU FEEL INFERIOR, WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION”

Eat some food Bernice and at least you won’t feel hungry.

Sarcasm, thy face is Bernice.

—And, Bernie is back to her snarkiness! Luann got in a lucky jab the other day, but we now see her as failing Psychiatry 101. And so it goes….

Sarcasm doesn’t fit Bernice.

This arc is getting boring. Bernice has issues.

And how does running away from a simple dinner with your family make you feel?

Well – Luann isn’t wrong….

So why is going to dinner at home just about seeing Ben? Doesn’t she want to see her parents? It would be easy enough to go and just spend most of her time talking with her mom and dad. Let Ben and his kids do their thing, whatever that is. They have her acting like she’s going to be locked in a room with the Ben gang. Time for a new story.

Bob Newhart’s approach: “STOP IT!!” or Attitude is everything. Pick a good one.

@Tyge – I liked your response, it made me laugh….a lot!

This is an interesting arc and something many people struggle with inside. I do hope Berniece will give Ben and his kids a chance. She might find she really likes them and they her. You’ll never know until you try.

Go ahead Luann. I think you’re on something here. The problem will be make Bernice understand that she’s a great person. But her best friend may be able to do it.

Thank you…..

That is what I said yesterday. Bernice is making herself feel this way, not anyone else.

tomorrow: breakthrough or backslide?

Well, that’s one good point, Luann, but the reasons for Bernice’s insecurities go deeper. People spend $ and years in therapy to find resolutions to problems. I understand Bern’s feelings of insecurity, but I still don’t think it started with Ben. Her parents are an unknown, as well as her pre-teen years outside of spending time with Luann. If there wasn’t much interaction with them, maybe she tried hard to please them, set her goals high for herself, afraid to fail or displease them? I doubt this comic strip will delve very deep though and just get her to speak with her brother.

Luann is well on her way to the mastery of comfort. Remind her all her shortcomings are completely her own fault!!

Family relations can be very complicated. One blurt does not necessarily reveal the depth. Ben has obviously changed and seems in an occupational slump. I think her parents sent a wrong message by giving her room to the kids—especially when Bernice needed it. She may not be ready to have dinner with everyone.Bernice go talk to Luann’s mom. You need someone who has experience with life.

It’s all about Bern.

Luann’s message is good but her posture is accusative. She’s more likely to get an argument in return or worse, denial.

Bernice is in a closed, defensive posture. Ask her to uncross her arms (and legs if she has them too) and hold her hands. Make eye contact. Then deliver the message in a caring way. You’ve a better chance of the message being received and a real conversation taking place.

Dr. Tyge is accepting new patients. Contact my receptionist, MS Lucy van Pelt.

“Boring”? How is Bernice not boring?

I guess her zeal at enforcing petty rules as an RA wasn’t boring,

If Bernice was trying to help someone with a problem, and she said the exact same thing to them that Luann said to her, she (Bernice) would consider herself incredibly brilliant and insightful.

But since she’s on the receiving end of the therapy (so to speak) all she can do is sneer and be sarcastic, once again trying to make herself feel superior to Luann.

I’ve said it before: Luann is a good friend to Bernice. Bernice isn’t ANY kind of a friend to Luann. Luann should have kicked her to the curb a long time ago.

And that, my good people, is the problem with modern psychology.

Extra bowl of stew for Luann.

way to be condescending Bernice…Luann is not wrong here…Bernice is the one making herself feel that way…Luann may be a little too giddy to point it out and all but she is in fact correct…

it’s basic cognitive behavioral therapy in which thoughts impact behavior which impact actions which impact thoughts

Bernice needs a solid psychologist to help her deal with her personal issue (and there is nothing wrong with someone who wants to be a counselor/psychologist having their own psychologist)…but yea she definitely needs one

Oh, Lu…maybe you should stop helping and suggest Bern see a licensed therapist to work through her issues. That could actually be kind of fun, and bring a new person into the mix as well.

She is a better psych than you are Bernie. Perhaps you had better find another field.

Well, Luann is trying. At least it isn’t that guy advice I would get in college, like just get drunk and pick up some woman for the night. They rattled off like they knew all there was to know about female psychology, which was often bupkis. Or some canned self-help book or program. None of these kids have had any real-world life experience, so their resources for offering help to one another is more limited than would be the case if they were, say, in their 30s. But, as I said, at least they try.

Tsk Bernice, get out of your funk. Only you can do that. Now what is the problem you think exists here, again? Ego is over fed, time to just be happy and be cordial and don’t weasel out on family for this petty and ultimately self inflicted problem. Stop comparing yourself like that a common mistake you should know better. But sometimes it takes others to make you aware of it.