Getting out of my own way

I find myself wanting to revisit an older post, "Who are we really and what are we doing?" Here is an excerpt of what was written there:

• Thoughts and actions
• both useful and not useful
• Notice choices
• Awareness of making choices 
• conscious choices
• unconscious choices 

I can't help but be reminded of Buddhism here and ask, "Who or what is it that is doing all this noticing?" Noticing choices and actions is much like mindfulness meditation. Which leads to the next point that reminds me of Buddhism. 

 "Who or what is it that is doing all this noticing?" 

• Where does mind end and body begin? 
• Are they an inseparable pair influencing and affecting each others functioning? 
• How much does my tense, crooked body affect my thoughts and decisions? 
• How are choices made if my body is overwhelmed and frozen? 
• What choices do I have and how many of these am I actually aware of?
• How much of Alexander Technique is doing and how much is non-doing? 
• What is added and what is simply left undone?
• How will I know to get out of my own way if my choices and thoughts are so conditioned by the habit patterns instilled by a culture of sensory/information overload?
• How will I know to get out of my own way if my choices and thoughts are so conditioned by a "modified startle pattern?"

Who are we really and what are we doing?

• Thoughts and actions
• both useful and not useful
• Notice choices
• Awareness of making choices 
• conscious choices
• unconscious choices 

I can't help but be reminded of Buddhism here and ask, "Who or what is it that is doing all this noticing?" Noticing choices and actions is much like mindfulness meditation. Which leads to the next point that reminds me of Buddhism. 


What is a useful and/or a not useful thought or action? It would seem that the act of becoming conscious makes everything useful for one reason or other. I wonder if Alexander had any insight to share on these questions. Did he have any eastern influences on his research?

Now as I get carried off into thinking and all in the head kinds of reflection, I can't help but think of the first exercise we did where we experimented with how our thoughts affect how we feel. The thoughts one dwells on and holds in mind certainly affect how the body feels. 


How does our state of being (grounded or not, unhurried or not, peaceful or not, balanced or not) ripple out through our bodies and touch those who are around us? Does it leave a lasting impression on our environment? 


Who are we really and what are we doing?

~~~