Two recent posts make it painfully obvious that we badly need to re-learn how to live, so that we can get back to learning (makes me wonder whether living really is primarily learning, rather than simply entertaining ourselves...perhaps a topic for another day):
The way you think about your body leads to the way you treat it. Thinking in terms of what can go wrong induces fear, and fear is a very poor motivator over the long run.
The biggest flaw in the machine model, as I see it, is its rejection of the mind-body connection. When I was in medical school, no such thing existed. At most we learned about psychosomatic disorders, with the clear implication that they weren't real, being the result of the patient's imagination. This situation hasn't changed much in medical school, sad to say, but the surge in alternative and integrated medicine has brought the mind-body connection to the fore.
In reality your body is a process, not a thing. Well-being depends on finding your flow, in terms of a relaxed but alert mental state, a steady positive mood about your life, following the natural rhythm of rest and activity, taking realistic, practical steps to reduce stress, respecting the need for a good night's sleep, avoiding toxins, and relying on your body's intelligence. Continue reading....
-- Deepak Chopra
I am drawn to Chopra's observations, in general, and here as well. He comes from traditions of truth and faith that are different from the ones I am familiar with. But, his notions of a wholistic perspective of life are in line with what seems true to me. Our western predilections toward compartmentalization seem, well, unwholistic. And, while some of the attempt to isolate thing in order to understand them may be helpful, I think in large part the approach leaves some very significant things out. We are one being, not just a series of parts. And, treating ourselves (and life) as a bunch of parts, even if related, seems to create as many problems as it resolves.
