"Resistance" (in general terms) is a problem I often see with the implementation of self-help literature, leadership training materials, and the translation of Stoic philosophy into Stoic behavior.
When you break it down, it comes down to brain vs. heart.
Brain says "I should do XYZ" because Steven Covey/Jim Collins/Marcus Aurelius says that it works.
Heart says "Yeah, but that makes me anxious/ashamed/guilty/angry."
Or, heart initially agrees. Then a moment of weakness arises, and gluttony/hubris/sloth/lust/envy seizes control.
Brain then joins the conspiracy against the self by making excuses.
"You weren't ready."
"You can start tomorrow when it's convenient."
"You can start when you feel motivated to do it."
Self-help books, training materials, and philosophic meditation work a for self-selecting crowd. The authors preach to a choir, filled with singers who only need a little reminder to go back to what they were doing before. The preachers' job is to keep the choir immersed in the Right Way, and the rest usually takes care of itself.
But for everyone else? They have unresolved emotional hangups. They start out with good intentions, but they end up spiraling back into a heart-brain conspiracy. The smarter the brain, the better it is at rationalizing failure and confirmation-biasing whatever preconceived notions it already had.
Getting the second group to think their way through an emotional problem is a Sisyphean task. I don't think ancient OR modern philosophy is equipped to deal with the second group.
Many times sickness comes from silencing ourselves. When we don’t listen to who we truly are, to what we really want to do or say, when we make ourselves smaller just to fit into the community, the body speaks instead.
Love the title- I wholeheartedly agree. "The tragedy is never ignorance" I disagree with, although I split hairs. People are so often ignorant of what lays/lies beneath, inside, of their feelings and where they come from, and with such strength! That is the real ignorance, poverty of mind, you could say, why they return to the same habits. Of course.
A great guide for a what seems like wandering in the darkness. Thanks for the wonderful article!
I loved this. Just what I needed for what I am working on personally right now. And you quoted my favorite quote by Carl Jung. Thank you. ❤️
"Resistance" (in general terms) is a problem I often see with the implementation of self-help literature, leadership training materials, and the translation of Stoic philosophy into Stoic behavior.
When you break it down, it comes down to brain vs. heart.
Brain says "I should do XYZ" because Steven Covey/Jim Collins/Marcus Aurelius says that it works.
Heart says "Yeah, but that makes me anxious/ashamed/guilty/angry."
Or, heart initially agrees. Then a moment of weakness arises, and gluttony/hubris/sloth/lust/envy seizes control.
Brain then joins the conspiracy against the self by making excuses.
"You weren't ready."
"You can start tomorrow when it's convenient."
"You can start when you feel motivated to do it."
Self-help books, training materials, and philosophic meditation work a for self-selecting crowd. The authors preach to a choir, filled with singers who only need a little reminder to go back to what they were doing before. The preachers' job is to keep the choir immersed in the Right Way, and the rest usually takes care of itself.
But for everyone else? They have unresolved emotional hangups. They start out with good intentions, but they end up spiraling back into a heart-brain conspiracy. The smarter the brain, the better it is at rationalizing failure and confirmation-biasing whatever preconceived notions it already had.
Getting the second group to think their way through an emotional problem is a Sisyphean task. I don't think ancient OR modern philosophy is equipped to deal with the second group.
So good, thankyou ✌️
Thank you.
Very good morning read
It’s is very true
Many times sickness comes from silencing ourselves. When we don’t listen to who we truly are, to what we really want to do or say, when we make ourselves smaller just to fit into the community, the body speaks instead.
"...the dark, repressed side of your psyche, it doesn’t disappear. It just goes into the basement and lifts weights."
Love the title- I wholeheartedly agree. "The tragedy is never ignorance" I disagree with, although I split hairs. People are so often ignorant of what lays/lies beneath, inside, of their feelings and where they come from, and with such strength! That is the real ignorance, poverty of mind, you could say, why they return to the same habits. Of course.