Epistemological Psychotherapy, Desirable states

Desirable states

1.  Euphoria

2.  Flow

3.  Choiceless awareness

Choiceless Awareness is the most basic positive state.  It comes about when you can take in life without judgment, without self-centered thinking, including ambition and greed.  It is brought about by the act of seeing and feeling ‘what is’ and understanding it without also the desire to change it.  It is not a difficult state to discover, but as drives and desires and greed set in, it may be difficult to maintain.  It is important when such focus is lost, to simply see how it was lost and in that process regain it.  There is nothing mysterious about it.  It simply means, empty your feeling consciousness of self-centeredness, greed, ambition, the past, and the future and focusing on the moment without judgment.  From this state it is possible to use past knowledge and planning to accomplish something that needs to be done, but it is poisoned when you become attached to the things that need to be done with  your self-centered feeling and thinking.  Choiceless awareness is for now, not the future.  So observe with all of your intensity, what is happening now, with no desire or attempt to escape it.

“Flow is the mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. Proposed by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, the positive psychology concept has been widely referenced across a variety of fields.”^[1]  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology) )  Flow is hypothesized to occur during a particular set of circumstances which can be explored at the preceding link.  In the current conceptual framework, it fits in as a state containing but slightly above choiceless awareness as it adds the value of engaging in meaningful activity and a sense of euphoria.

Euphoria is a transcendent experience of happiness and positive affect.  It is sometimes but rarely experienced during routine life.  It can be a side effect of certain drugs or even diseases.  In our conceptual framework, it is not a goal, especially considering the ill effects of some euphoric drugs or euphoric states like mania, it is simply a positive state that may come and go as a result of our activities and can be seen as the height of affective experiences.  It is also possible for euphoric states to be engineered to weed out harmful effects and improve positive effects and this is a worthy goal.

The Negative Thinking Process

Undesirable states

1.  Conflict

2.  Will

3.  Fragmentation

In the negative thought-process, there is a cycle of conflict, will to change, and disassociation and fragmentation, within the same individual or among an interacting group of individuals.  The content of the conflict is often in the past or an imagined future.  For example, one feels overweight and this leads to a conflict with the self that has split, fragmented from the reality of one’s weight such that one’s weight becomes something external, then will comes in and promises change but in effect just produces a lot of negative emotion.  While losing weight might be a worthy goal, the cycle of conflict, will, and fragmentation not only causes one to feel awful, but decreases the chances of a successful and safe weight loss.

Life, i. e. living, is to be totally observant in the moment such that there is not room for the self to fragment from consciousness and dream up phantom fears for us.  In the state of choiceless awareness we are able to be aware of and take on what is happening now in reality and respond appropriately rather than being caught up in intricate plots of doom and gloom we have dreamt up for ourselves.

Thanks for reading,

DF Seldon

Epistemological Psychotherapy, narrow minded vs. open minded

There is a continuum on which people define the self narrowly, versus expansively.

Self

Immeasureable/ ß----------------------------------------------------------à  Narrow, Limited

Unknown

Undefined ß-------------------------------------------------------------------à Strictly defined

Open to experience ß----------------------------------------------------à  Closed-minded

Negative A non-conformist may lose the benefits of belonging to a religious or political group. Understanding of the world as it is with wars, poverty, and starvation not easily under our control may cause pessimism and negative feelings if not understood fully. Being too open one may fail to avoid danger.

Positive Ability to see clearly what is happening due to not being clouded with ideologies.  Being open-minded allows one to observe reality clearly and gain insight and understanding. .  Being open to new opportunities and experiences and thus having a richer life.

Positive May provide some protection by conforming to the beliefs of a powerful group such as Christians or Communists.  Belonging to an ideological group may confer a sense of protection and health benefits.  Avoiding being to experimental and getting into rough situations.

Negative Inability to understand clearly what’s going on in the world due to a very limited viewpoint such as those coming from religions or political ideologies.  Constant conflict with the world due to having a worldview, be it Christian, Communist, Islamic, etc that does not fit with observations from real life. Limiting one’s actions and opportunity to conform to self expectations.

The following continuum generally define a mind that is free and exploratory versus a mind that is fixed, conservative, narrow, and strictly defined.  We would generally want to go toward a more free open-minded mind, the column with borders on the chart.  The therapist dealing with a narrow mind that is fixed and conservative and in conflict would try to deconstruct that way of thinking without getting into metaphysics about which god exists or which political ideology is right or best.  What is important to know is that they are attempts to escape from fear, and attempt to flee from reality which is free for all to see but few will look at it honestly.  It is the journey of the therapist and client to get to that sense of honesty about the world that deconstructs conflicts in the mind.

DF Seldon

Epistemological Psychotherapy, self separation and connection

Let’s talk about another axis of self that can cause conflict in a person.  There is an axis of separateness vs. connection.  Some people feel connected to the world, others feel separate from the world and other people.  An intense view of separation can cause one to become very selfish and hence in conflict with everything.  We are in conflict with everyone we meet, the neighbors, our mates, and our family, constantly struggling for ourselves and complaining about our lives, essentially stuck behind a fence we have created to protect ourselves but instead keeping ourselves in constant conflict.  Every relationship is conflict, every day is conflict.

There is a sense in which some of us experience separateness so acutely that it cannot be changed by simply wishing to be connected.  It may produce pathologies that require pharmacological treatment such as depression and OCD.  In OCD, the sufferer feels his actions are so important that it will cause catastrophic changed in the world so there is a need to produce a sense of perfection; however, many animals are known to develop OCD-like behaviors and it is not a condition which the sufferer has produced himself or has sufficient control over.  Pharmacological treatments and psychotherapy can be helpful in destroying the physical conditions, myths, and assumptions on which OCD thrives.  In Epistemological therapy the goal is to push the sufferer more to the left or center of the continuum to experience more connection with others and the world.

Self

Connection ß-----------------------------------------------------------------------à Separation

Negative Being unwary of dangers to self.  May be socially unconscious and hence inept, unable to self monitor.   Being socially inept in social hierarchies and hence producing conflict by not understanding one’s position. Being non-competitive and unsuccessful below the level of survival.

Positive Not having to worry excessively about one’s own troubles but instead seeing the big picture of self and others. Release from self worry, ability to perceive what’s happening in the world without selfish concerns. Non-comparison, being able to see others, their victories and failures without comparison and the negative feelings that come with it. Not competing and hence not at conflict with others.  Not incorporating negative traits with self.  Allowing for forgiveness and open-mindedness. Experience of connection, flow, and selflessness.

Positive May provide self-protection in a dangerous environment. May provide self-protection in a dangerous environment. Ability to understand and perform in social hierarchies.   Being competitive for survival.

Negative Constant worry about oneself and the effects of one’s actions. Can contribute to extreme self-consciousness, shyness, and anxiety.  Related to anxiety, depression, OCD, and Paranoid Personality disorder. Constant comparison to others producing feelings of unworthiness. Constant competition and hence conflict with others. Associating and blaming oneself with negative traits not under one’s control with self, like illness. Experience of separation and conflict.

In general, the therapy will move one from a sense of separation and selfishness, to connection and understanding of the big picture, more toward the two middle columns.  This will alleviate negative feelings caused by having too strong a sense of self and separation from the world and from others.  We are part of a very large and powerful interconnected system of humans, animals, and all of the earth and universe.  Being comparing, competitive, and ambitious against others can create all kinds of havoc for us.  So lets discover each day, connection and love.

DF Seldon

Epistemological Psychotherapy for Anxiety

We hold certain ideas and concepts that create our understanding of self and the world.  The way we view many of these things has a large effect on our functioning and emotions.  Those qualities that make up the usual person’s sense of self can be changed, in pathological states, to improve mood and understanding by a philosophical approach to psychotherapy. 

Self

One of the major players in our minds, and having influence on our moods and functioning is our understanding of self.  Our experience of self is made up of many things, dependent on our physical make-up and many other factors, but our conceptualization of self is created by us and our society.  Here are some major categories.  These can be seen on a spectrum, not as metaphysical truths or non-truths but as ‘language games’ or ‘conceptual games’ that we have learned to use and that have an effect on our thinking, functioning, and moods.  Wherever one falls on the spectrum, if it’s causing distress, one can move in the other direction with philosophical and physical understanding of the issues involved.

Self

Determinism ß----------------------------------------------------------à Freewill

Negative Non-responsibility for things which ARE under our control causing harm. Guiltless, harmful behavior Unprincipled harmful laziness

Positive Non-blame – Not blaming oneself for things which are NOT under your control. Non-guilt Acceptance, Effortlessness

Positive Controlled decision making. Taking responsibility for actions under your control. Useful attempts to change the world for the better.

Negative Distress over decisions the processes and effects of which are not under your control. Taking blame and responsibility for things not under your control. Taking on blame for things in the world that are not under your control or making intolerant and useless attempts to ‘fix’ things.

Take the example of the neurotic person.  The neurotic person is on the far right end of the spectrum, believes in freewill and blames him/herself for everything and/or makes constant ineffective attempts to change things, never feeling satisfied and never being able to accept things as they are.  That person can be made to understand that she does not control everything and should not expect to and be brought to some level of acceptance, non-guilt, and non-blame.  The more positive categories on the spectrum are therefore in the middle of the chart.  Moving toward the middle, knowing what is under your control and what is not may help improve understanding and hence mood for such a person.

An extreme view may be psychologically helpful for some, it depends on the person and circumstances and that is for the therapist and client to work out.

Lastly, one view or other may coincide better with ‘reality’ or rather fit more perfectly with what we observe personally and scientifically.  Scientifically, biologically, molecularly, and atomically, all matter performs in a deterministic way and everything made of matter (us) are under those constraints.  Subatomically, there is less understanding and some possible indeterminacy, which contrary to wishful thinking, does not support freewill but is just a bad a blow to freewill as determinism, in other words, if things are simply behaving randomly, you have even less control of yourself than you imagined.  If in fact, determinism is the best supported by observation on many levels, when one can truly understand what that means, it can be a transcendent realization.  In the end, we do not know and cannot know for absolute knowledge is not a function of our brains so we are to use these understandings functionally and one important way to use them is to understand things in a way that improves our functioning and mood and not in a way that causes harm to oneself and others.

In experience, the basic substance of freewill is the ‘sense’ of an intentional thought or physical movement.  That is all it is.  Studies have shown that this sense can be ‘tricked’ in pathological states such as in split-brained patients, or even ‘tics’, involuntary muscle movements which feel semi-voluntary to the sufferer who can stop the movement for seconds but feels compelled to allow it to continue.  So even the sense of intentional action can be understood as produced by physical processes in the brain, especially the prefrontal cortex and other ‘monitoring’ systems of the brain. 

So back to the practical question, which way do you need to move?  Are you too full of anxiety and blame?  You may think you are in control of things which are out of your control.  Are you constantly stressing over small decisions?  Every little decision you make does not produce predictable outcomes and certainly does not control the universe.  Today, I was stuck in traffic and I was awed by all the activity of all these people I don’t know who were in such a hurry to get here and there.  I was slightly afraid I could have a car accident with all the random activity going on.  But I came to realize, while I can drive to the best of my ability, I am not going to be able to control the driving of the thousands of vehicles on the road of which I am a part and just one.  Even if I were to have an accident, I could not blame myself unless I was intentionally, and controllably incapacitated by drink or intentional medication overdose.  This is not just an example, there are people, injured in car accidents, who years after are full of self-blame, as if the fate of that entire day or situation rested with them.  It does not.  Think about these things.  Resolve the tension between yourself and reality, you cannot constantly continue to fight and deny the universe, you will definitely drive yourself insane.  There needs to be acceptance and non-blame.

Thanks for reading.  Subsequently, we will go over other categories that compose or influence our sense of self and how we can use them to improve mood and functioning.  Another category is the connectedness of self with others and the environment.  Do we feel a part of the world or separate from it and what are the psychological effects of those perspectives?

DF Seldon MS

Thank you