Distinctions are to understanding, like glasses are to distorted vision. Whatever field someone is in, from sheep herding to brain surgery, has distinctions that allow seeing and understanding what another does not. When there is a problem with my car, I assure you, the mechanic and I do not see the same things when we look at the engine. Self-knowledge is no different.
Until having a distinction between my emotional and intellectual functions. I was unclear as to why it was difficult to control my temper. What I thought intellectually had negligible force when my emotions felt otherwise. Only when I recognized them as distinct and interdependent functions, each with its own domain, was I able to make sense of some of my behaviors.
The intellect is laboriously slow compared to the emotions. To examine an upset that took place in moments, can take hours, even days to put words to all that was felt. The disparity of speed between these functions requires working with each in a different way. Expecting my thoughts to be able to control my emotions was akin to thinking I could operate on land the same way I did in water. Each domain has its own requirements and until I was able to recognize them, I remained ineffective. Making an intellectual decision does not insure my ability to overrule a habitual, emotional response. The response is evoked faster than the mind is aware.
When adding the distinction of the instinctive function, and how transparently it influenced my behaviors I came to see what I was up against in the area of behavior changes. Who among us has not had their attempt to diet thwarted when their desire to eat overcame the decision to diet?
I learned not to expect my intellect to overcome a habitual response that originated in either my instinctive and/or emotional function. It helped me see that each function had its own language and requirements; that change took agreement between the functions. This particular distinction has given me a foothold on how to let go of many things that were not working in my life. Patience, practice and premeditation were necessary when dealing with emotions. Logic was but a small piece of the work required.
I personally do this over and over and after reading this blog it helped me recognize and understand what I can do different. It's going take some time but I have acknowledged what I need to do. Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge as they have helped me look at a bigger picture of myself and know that I am not alone.
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