Physiologically speaking, stress is generated within each of us.
So that means that, physiologically (within our body), we are both the producer and the experiencer of stress.
So that means, then, that my thoughts have the ability to produce a physiological reaction, and then that reaction can manifest as stress in the body. The opposite is also true. Physiologically speaking that I'm also both the producer and the experiencer of joy, and bliss, and euphoria.
So, that seems basic enough, right?. We create physical responses to mental states. Of course, none of us want to experience stress and yet everyday most people do.
So, then, it seems that if someone is suffering from stress there's a key element missing that they're not aware of. That element seems to be the awareness of producing their own stress and also whether or not the situation warrants a heightened stress response. Obviously, no person in their right mind would purposefully choose to create and experience their own stress unnecessarily,right? So then, it seems that people are experiencing stress as they react to their thoughts but they're not aware of being both the "producer" and "experiencer" of the stress. In that case, there is a separation or a lack of awareness between those two aspects of themselves (the "producer self" and the "experiencer self"). There is a split or a veil between these two. This becomes a duality that is always at conflict...which creates stress. So, then, in that state of being, there is a general lack of awareness between that producer aspect and the experiencer aspect of themselves. The result of that "split" or lack of awareness, is that the person then experiences stress, (anxiety, depression, and suffering) based on reacting to their own thoughts. This "mind-body process" all happens inside of us, and so the thoughts happen within us (mental) and also the reaction to the thought (physical).
So, in my view the "producer", is the subconscious mind, and the "experiencer" is the conscious mind.
So, the key would seem to be in making the subconscious more conscious. Doing so would help to unify the split in the awareness of Self...which would also relieve stress.
So there's two aspects at play. There's the "teaching" or intellectual aspect...which is to say that intellectually anyone can understand these things as they are explained. The concepts themselves are pretty basic, but there is also another aspect. There's also the "perceptual" or "experience" aspect.
So, in order to truly understand the "teaching", in my view, there has to also be a perception shift. Why? I think because there's not enough brain power to intellectually analyze every single thing (and thought) that occurs in life, and then cross check with the "teachings" you have heard, read or otherwise absorbed with the conscious mind. It's like learning a new language. All of that is a process of the mind. The "teaching" is a way to prepare the conscious mind for the "experience", which ultimately I feel is the experience of transcending the intellect or conscious mind. Life happens fast. When life happens, we don't tend to reflect on our latest "spiritual teaching", no, we process through the lens of reality we have already created in our own subconscious mind...it's an instantaneous and unconscious process. So, in order to Unify the "perceiver" (subconscious) and the "experiencer" (conscious), my personal experience tells me that there has to be a perception shift. This perception shift allows a person the ability to stay in the "flow" in real time. My experience also tells me that the "teachings" are all contained in the energy of this "flow", or frequency. The teachings are already within you. This perception shift or "flow", enables the experiencing of the subconscious, and conscious mind, as a Unified whole.
What is the perception shift?
In my opinion it's going from the space of "mind", which is always thinking, calculating, interpreting.. and never in the now....to transcending the mind which is always in NOW, and views without interpretation through the lens of past experience.
So in some ways the teachings are the "what"...but the perception shift is the "how"?
So how can everyone experience this perception shift?
Well, that's what I'm exploring in this blog by examining my own experience in retrospect. What was I doing at the time, and how did it possibly affect me? I am hoping that exploring these questions will be useful for everyone. I am hoping to answer that question as I go.
So, in a general way I have talked about working on some of these practices... like meditation, maybe using certain herbs, yoga, and other mind-body practices. Many of these things release stress, promote neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, and transform our mind and our perspective from a perspective that causes stress to a new perspective, that can lead to a deeper understanding of how the mind actually works, which also ultimately releases stress and leads to peace.
So what we want to do ideally is to be aware of the teachings of various spiritual traditions (psychological reminders) which help change our perceptions, so that we can flow in harmony and peace and encourage our body to produce good chemicals that will help us to be more relaxed and healthier, and experience peace. After all, it's a basic understanding of all medical study, that less stress is a good thing.
I think the teachings also help to guide the process of this perception shift. (Perhaps the simplest teaching, which embodies all others in my opinion, is to Choose Love, not fear.)
Notice that the second list of things encourage being in the "now". The mind isn't simultaneously here, but fixated on something else. The second list of thought patterns facilitate a sort of letting go, that leads one towards "presence".
So, these thought patterns both point towards the energy of presence. But also notice that these beneficial qualities also arise as "by products" from this presence... so these universally positive qualities flow from the energy of "Nowness" or "presence". So, that is what I mean when I say the teachings are contained in the energy. They are already within you.
In neuroscience, there is a saying that the "neurons that fire together wire together", meaning that our brain creates well worn habits and patterns. It takes practice and consistency to change these.
Of course "meditation", or perceptual engineering is the time tested way of beginning to change these brain patterns.
(..more on these ideas, in another post....)
Energetic Flowchart:
For sound downloads click here.
Just a personal note: There is nothing new under the sun. I am just attempting to present info. here that has helped me. I hope to present it in a clear way based on my experience with anxiety which was a spiritual, psychological and emotional awakening for me. In retrospect of this experience I have been reading as much as I could to come to a deeper and more grounded understanding of this seemingly mystical thing that happened to me (so that I could share it with you). I'm not a doctor or a scientist. Please know this is only my experience. Yours will obviously be different, but since my experience was so similar to others I've talked to, I am hoping this may be helpful or useful to you in some way. It's also a way that I hope to share the love with you. That is my purpose here.