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Physics: Classical Physics

Newton's laws in my life: 
1: I maintain a low effort level of studying until propelled to do otherwise.
Study effort (object) will remain minimal until acted upon by an outside force -panic- (study time temporarily increases). Or outside force -party- (study time disappears entirely). 

2: how hard and well I study is inversely proportionate to amount of time before a test. 
Study effort under the force of panic

3: how well (or poorly) I study meets with appropriate grade and a forceful reaction. 
Study effort (object) collides with resulting grade (object). 
Initial forces exerted (panic). 
Resultant force positive: celebration with ice cream. 
Resultant force negative: mourning with ice cream.


Image result for time is money gif

Our culture is obsessed with energy conservation. And we are really bad at it - since it isn't possible to use your time 100% efficiently in the pursuit of paper goals, this ambition is doomed to fail.  In equating time and money, all else is devalued. Relaxation, 'doing nothing', time spent with loved ones, self-care: all seen as indulgent and necessary to avoid if you want to get ahead. 

Results of this life view are seen in the prevalence of substance and food abuse; the throwaway dating culture; a host of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual breakdowns and illness. Too much yang and not enough yin, when the opposite is needed for fully lived lives. Yin is the substance, the satisfying-ness of life, and we need just enough yang to keep things moving, keep life from stagnating. I do know that once I began to prioritize sleep I did better in school. But it was stunning to see how much I fought the addition of that tiny bit of extra yin! It felt like admitting defeat to take those extra 2 hours of sleep per night. It took a several semesters to admit that even though I could operate on 5 hours per night, it didn't mean I should. 


I realize that Decartes' work in dualism was very important in branching off from the philosophers who came before. But so much of American views of health is still rooted in this erroneous idea that one 's mind/identity is wholly separate from their body. For that, Decartes has a lot to answer for. I encounter clients who seem to believe that if they completely ignore messages from their body (aches, pains, illness) then they aren't responsible for them and the problems will go away. This view promotes a fear of medical practitioners, because they're the ones who 'discover' when something is awry. When someone of this mindset is struck down with illness, there is surrender and acceptance of the worst case scenario, with minimal effort made towards recovery. This is beyond frustrating! I feel this is the root of the greatest challenge in being a healer: convincing patients that their health and their body is their own responsibility. A healer is an educated support, but healing can only come from within. 







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