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Op's avatar

Idk why I reasonated with this part of your writing “Listen, I won’t tell you who you must become… but you must become yourself” but a lot of people are still trying to hard to become someone they’re not in this day & age. Overall, great article

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Hyde's avatar

Thank you!

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Oscar's avatar

Wise .

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Pier Francesco Laurenzi's avatar

Thank you, just started learning on body-to-mind connection.

Where is this quoted passage from? “The neurotic individual is in conflict with himself. Part of his being is trying to overcome another part. His ego is trying to master his body; his rational mind, to control his feelings; his will, to overcome his fears and anxieties. Though this conflict is in large part unconscious, its effect is to deplete the person's energy and to destroy his peace of mind. Neurosis is internal conflict. The neurotic character takes many froms, but all of them involve a struggle in the individual between what he is and what he believes he should be. Every neurotic individual is caught in this struggle.'

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Hyde's avatar

Fear of Life by Alexander Lowen.

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Ky Fitzgerald's avatar

I found this very helpful for where I'm at right now, thank you. I just grabbed Fear of Life too. Thank you.

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Hyde's avatar

Great to hear. It's a good book once you get used to the prose.

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grelloh's avatar

What about people who are quick to anger, extreme anger that is explosive and damaging. My mother was a very rageful person and did a lot of psychological damage to me and my siblings.... She was letting her emotions lead at the expense of losing her cool and fucking shit up. It didn't do anyone any good, even her?

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Hyde's avatar

I've addressed this, beginning in "Skillful Action"

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hdvill's avatar

That was very good. Thanks. Do you have any experience with Reichian body exercises and breathwork?

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Hyde's avatar

Thank you! Not a ton.

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Jan 29
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Hyde's avatar

The essence of spirituality is to touch something beyond our human condition - spirit.

So, we aren't animals. What you called the essence of spirituality I call the essence of human psychology.

But in general, you're taking phrase that's just a suggestion and you're investigating its epistemological foundation. I'm pointing out that there's a hierarchy in desires - of course you want to punch the guy but there's obviously a reason you want to punch him, it's not instinctual.

(And I'm not rejecting spirituality. I'm highlighting that for this kind of work, we're investigating our psychology)

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Jan 29
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Hyde's avatar

1) It's not instinctual because there's a "reason".

Unless someone is physically abusive, punching doesn't address the reason you were hurt. This is self-evident. Are there instances where punching is warranted? Sure.

2) You are the one talking in terms of good/bad things. In general, you're adding a lot of adjectives in there.

3) It's not that this idea about anger is spiritual, it's just that "spirituality" and religion have become awfully psychological so you can't even differentiate between the two. But in any case, throughout your comment you're expressing this narrative that humans don't have unconscious drives. Is this true?

I think I clearly said what anger helps you with, which is to get what you want. I didn't specify what that is, did I?

"Fucking shit up is never what you want though. Because it doesn’t get you what you want."

If fucking shit up gets you what you want, be my guest. If self-destruction is what you want, no one's stopping you. What you see as morality, I see as putting joy and pleasure first.

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