6/11/18
Chaos and Consciousness:
 
From the Chaos and Consciousness article, Amy Lansky stated, "consciousness is ancative force that we can exercise in the universe and not simply a passive perception of that same universe." This is something I think most people don't think about. I think most people sit back and watch the universe go by and not really thinking about at all. I think this relates to Chinese Medicine because if we can talk with people about being consciously involved in their own healing that is very valuable for positive healing outcomes.
 
I thought the example given in the readings hit home for me. It talked about an episode of depression which is accompanied by behaviors that feed that state of mind. Cognitive processes become tilted toward discouraging outcomes. We tend to recall unpleasant memories when we are depressed to create a continuous cycle of mood and memory. We get caught in a downward cycle, but it can be broken by an upward cycle by listening to a rousing piece of music, a visit with friends or a walk in the forest. I have definitely experienced this first hand, I think most of us can relate to this feeling. And yes, I have felt changes in mood after say, eating something I know is super healthy or going for a brisk walk to get things moving. It seems we have something to learn from chaos theory that teaches us how we deal with a depressive mind. A continuous influx of positive experience integrates our consciousness and affects our perception of our overall experience to shift a depressive mind. Part of the trick it seems to me would be for an individual to have a few "go-to's" ready for those times when experiencing a depressive state of mind. For example, a person could always go to a supercharged green drink ready in the fridge or take a few laps around the block when they sense they are on a downward spiral. Personally, I take a run down the road just to get out of the house and it helps. I instantly feel a shift of mood and I feel back on the right track again with a fresh outlook.

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