I am a big fan of Philip Shepherd and his book 'Radical Wholeness' which contained a foreword by your husband Jeff Brown. Philip describes how we have basically two 'brains" - our logical head-brain and our sensuous, intuitive gut-brain. He also observes how our culture has become unbalanced preferring rationality over emotionality (patriarchy personified).
How did we get to the point where showing natural human emotion is shameful? Why do we deny the wisdom of our emotional expressions until the dam breaks and we are overwhelmed? I remember a discussion with a woman about the therapeutic advantages of crying and her fearful dismissal of my advice. "If I begin to cry, I might never stop."
Modern communications has dramatically expanded our experiences in the world. A catastrophe in China receives the same attention as any number of domestic tragedies. Perhaps my friend was right. If I fully felt and cried for every disaster or injustice, would I ever stop my grieving? Your advice about picking your battles and respecting the limits of personal resources is an antidote to despair and nihilism. On the other hand, walling ourselves in a cave of emotionless cold logic is a stunted, hollow existence leading to chronic ennui and soullessness.
Philip Shepherd describes how the head-mind and gut-mind are connected and in constant communication through the vagus nerve. Optimally we should have a dynamic balance between our two consciousness centers applying the best mix of logic and intuition to the present situation. Sadly, our social programming has disrupted this homeostasis resulting in what Philip calls the "tyranny of the head". We can, as you suggest bring ourselves back to center and live lives of full potential and experience, but realizing we are learning a new skill and will likely make blunders and regress under stress. Practice may not make perfect, but it will make us better humans...
A reassuring reminder that our emotional journey is valid, and progress is achievable, even amidst tears. Thank you for this!
I am a big fan of Philip Shepherd and his book 'Radical Wholeness' which contained a foreword by your husband Jeff Brown. Philip describes how we have basically two 'brains" - our logical head-brain and our sensuous, intuitive gut-brain. He also observes how our culture has become unbalanced preferring rationality over emotionality (patriarchy personified).
How did we get to the point where showing natural human emotion is shameful? Why do we deny the wisdom of our emotional expressions until the dam breaks and we are overwhelmed? I remember a discussion with a woman about the therapeutic advantages of crying and her fearful dismissal of my advice. "If I begin to cry, I might never stop."
Modern communications has dramatically expanded our experiences in the world. A catastrophe in China receives the same attention as any number of domestic tragedies. Perhaps my friend was right. If I fully felt and cried for every disaster or injustice, would I ever stop my grieving? Your advice about picking your battles and respecting the limits of personal resources is an antidote to despair and nihilism. On the other hand, walling ourselves in a cave of emotionless cold logic is a stunted, hollow existence leading to chronic ennui and soullessness.
Philip Shepherd describes how the head-mind and gut-mind are connected and in constant communication through the vagus nerve. Optimally we should have a dynamic balance between our two consciousness centers applying the best mix of logic and intuition to the present situation. Sadly, our social programming has disrupted this homeostasis resulting in what Philip calls the "tyranny of the head". We can, as you suggest bring ourselves back to center and live lives of full potential and experience, but realizing we are learning a new skill and will likely make blunders and regress under stress. Practice may not make perfect, but it will make us better humans...