Dualities

Re: Dualities *LINK*

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>There was an interesting article in the NYTimes the other day about myelin, the sheath that grows and twines and lets us learn things. The title is "How to Grow a Super-Athlete," but don't let that disuade you. The main way to learn things is to engage in deliberative practice, which is often very hard work.

Pam


NYTimes on myelin

Re: Dualities

wilbur

>The title didn't dissuade me. The 3,500 hours of practice does, though. :@)

Avoiding pain is one of our fundamental drives. I think that this might apply to the little green monster as well. When we see people doing something that seems impossible, there are many ways to "protect" oneself from the feeling that we wouldn't be able to do the same thing:

-- Don't even try the task, because then failure will remain in the theoretical realm. "I don't want to bother with that."

-- Minimize the accomplishment of others, so that the achievement seems to be less. "Why would anyone want to waste time cutting dovetails by hand?"

-- Believe that that person had some unfair advantage that you don't have access to, which puts the achievement outside of the realm of what is possible. "Frank Klausz is juiced!"

To my mind, this is all part of being human. I've found that one way to overcome such hurdles is to think of the mind and body not as dual agents with their own agendas, but more as parts of a whole. Of course, this doesn't always work, as I still like to eat potato chips.

Re:Frank Klausz is juiced!"

Kevin French

>Wow, no disrespect to the man but, Ya I can see that anlagy.

Well...

Dean Lapinel

>Agree and disagree:

"To my mind, this is all part of being human. I've found that one way to overcome such hurdles is to think of the mind and body not as dual agents with their own agendas, but more as parts of a whole."

Learning a skill set is easier with a good mind set as in:

I like that

I can do that

I know it will take time to learn that

I will make mistakes

The motor (muscular) component is dependent on the awareness of varying errors and possible corrections. It is also dependant on varying approaches, angles, wood types, and sharpness of tools.

Most people, given the proper mind set should be able to accomplish the skill at a high level with practice.

Some limitations that the "mind" needs to be aware of at some point are:

Tremors

Visual disorders (acuity, depth perception)

Failure of one of these:

I like that

I can do that

I know it will take time to learn that

I will make mistakes

So my statement is there is a higher need for mental awareness to then allow the body to work as a whole.

Wandering into philosophy-land, long and babbly

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>where there are no power tools, so far as I know.

This whole concept of the mind and the body being separate things is an interesting, and I think Western, idea. Until someone figures out how to measure the mind/soul/consciousness, I think the discussion is a philosophical or possibly metaphorical one, but worth having.

I haven't by any means followed the research, but it's my impression that the neuro folks have pretty well located where in the brain "higher" (intellectual) processing occurs and where the body-mechanics processing occurs, as well as all the other stuff. A friend of mine liked to talk about "lizard-brain responses," referring to the most primitive parts of the brain from which reactions like fight-or-flight arise; but, if memory serves, this is where the body gets its messages about how to move.

We're all (well, I hope everyone's had this blessing) familiar with those moments when we feel fully integrated, no separation between thought and physical action. Athletes, musicians (especially playing jazz, country, and other less formal music, but it can be there in symphonic music, too), and others get them too.

Slight digression from my point: I think it's one of the attractions, for me, of hand tools: I can have those moments with hand tools, but am not so sure I can with power tools.

Back to my argument: If this perceived integration is possible, what causes the dis-integration? Seems to me that fear (of failure, of pain, etc.) is probably the biggest barrier - the lizard brain sets off an alarm, and the "higher processes" part of the brain accepts it without questioning it. Positive mind-sets, then, would be the higher brain telling the lizard brain to chill, and telling the body to act in spite of the alarms going off.

It may be a more complex interaction than a simple duality.

I'll stop now, because I'm getting lost, and besides, it's a lovely day out there, and I should be in it, doing something integrative like pulling weeds.

Re: Wandering into philosophy-land, long and babbl

Greg B�tit

>Ha-ha. My weeds are under a coupla feet of snow! Wait. That's nothing to gloat about is it?

Re: Dualities

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>To my mind, this is all part of being human. I've found that one way to overcome such hurdles is to think of the mind and body not as dual agents with their own agendas, but more as parts of a whole. Of course, this doesn't always work, as I still like to eat potato chips.

I think we humans like to think of a mind separate from the body because we dislike the idea of death; so if we can posit the survival of the mind even when the hard evidence of the body death is right in front of us, we gain solace. The curse of brains that can conceive our own death. I also think it's important to not think this way.

Pam

Re: Dualities

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>" We spend a lot of time analyzing the best method for doing thigs"

My philosophy is that there is no best method for doing things. Maybe the thing would require a book and even then would not be fully understood or explained. My body is definitely controlled by my mind; it is not my body that craves things that are bad for me, it is my mind. I would agree that the two really are not seperate, but the body on it's own is nothing except a support system for the brain. Our bodies and minds are built differently, which is why some methods work better for me and I constantly search for the best method for myself, which is not necessarily the best method for everyone else. I am finding that it is easier for the mind to control the body than is commonly thought; I have recently quit drinking Dr. Pepper much at all, don't have any more in the house, and am drinking a green and anise tea mix instead. This was very simple to do and I now sit down with a glass of iced tea after work instead of a Dr. Pepper which is commonly known to be highly addictive product. I am sure my body never craved the Dr. Pepper; it was my mind.

There it is

Mainely,Bob

>SWMBO has finally prevailed in getting me to eat and think in more healthy ways.The funny part about that is that after awhile the mind no longer craves all the junk and if you should go back to it the body has a hard time with it(cheeseburgers at Mickey D`s now make me ill).

As far as approaches to work go,I say try it all!

I have yet to try something different and not walk away having learned something useful even if the process itself is not for me.

One other thing,the process that serves you well today may become a hindrance in the future due to a number of things,disability,physical changes due to age,etc.When the changes hit you(and they will) will you abandon WWing by refusing to let go of the past processes which were so successful or be willing to (re)try everything in order to "Keep feeding the creative beast"?I like to think most here would be willing to do whatever it took.

Things like revisiting old VCR tapes become small potatoes when compared to heavy magnification,learning to be ambidextrous or working from a wheelchair.The hands of fate and age have a way of pointing out the need to remain flexible in our approach to things like life.

MB

Re: Dualities

wilbur

>I think that the slogan, "Death by potato chips!" could be a good cornerstone for a new philosophical movement. It would be better than that Scientology crap, for sure.

I should pay better attention to what I eat. After all, I am in the medical field.

Of course, one could say that dying full and happy is a sign of a life well lived.

Re: Dualities

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Oh, I don't know, think of all the physicians recommending Camels back in the day. And all the fat, smoking physicians telling patients to eat moderately and don't smoke. Do what I say, not what I do.

I don't think dying full and happy is necessarily a sign of a life well lived, could have been a life of conspicuous consumption and other hedonisms. :)

Pam