We live in a realm of duality: up/down; left/right; male/female; positive/ negative, etc. As a cosmic physician might say, “Take two of these and call me in the morning.”

In this marvelous realm, we get to choose what we prefer. Our choices create our experiences, reframe our perceptions, and shape our beliefs about the way the world works.

The polarities of the world represent the extremes of our descriptions of reality. The juice, however, is in between. Our experiences rush and slide and oscillate between the extremes - between the polarities - providing the crucial context of reference points.

Recombinant living
In locational or emotional terms, we’re never “totally up” nor “totally down.” In locational or political terms, we’re never “totally left” nor “totally right.” In energetic or attitudinal terms, we’re never “totally positive” nor “totally negative.” We are only left or right, or up or down, or positive or negative in relationship to something or the other.

In a very real sense, we’re not even “totally male” nor “totally female.” All human bodies contain both estrogen and testosterone. Likewise, the feminine energies of intuition and imagination are complemented by the masculine energies of logic and reason.

When it comes to health, there is no such thing as “total health,” nor “total sickness.” In all cases, every human is always experiencing certain aspects of both. While we prefer health over sickness - at least, consciously - our lives often reflect something of a disconnect between our conscious intention and our actual choices.

The challenge of well-being
Matter is not solid – at least, not at the subatomic level. As Einstein’s glorious equation confirms, Matter = Energy; they are the same stuff. The very fiber of our being oscillates; it vibrates, it resonates, it emanates. Add to our material complexity the ephemeral aspects of mind, emotion, and soul/spirit, and we have a very mysterious experiential reality, indeed.

We must not suppose that mere physicality can determine health. Clearly, the choice to smoke a cigarette – given the overwhelming evidence of its dismal effect on physical health – is not a purely logical one. Why, then, do about 12% of Americans still smoke? (this is, thankfully, down from about 20% about 20 years ago)

There is the physical addiction to nicotine. But that is not the only aspect; many who once smoked have quit. There is also the physical rush of nicotine, the “high,” if you will. This physical rush affects emotional states, as anyone who has lived with a smoker in the process of quitting will readily testify. Grumpiness, anger, compulsive eating – many forms of non-rational behavior often accompany conscious attempts/choices to quit smoking.

Getting to the core
The interconnectedness of physicality, mind, emotions, and spirit is always present at each choice point. At these choice points, an infinite array of possibilities “collapses” into our lived experience.

In the moment of choice, we tend towards one side or the other. For instance, if we’re overweight or obese, and we’re wanting to lose weight, we face the choice of whether to have dessert – or not – and if to have it, then which one? And how much of it? Even that vacillation is constrained by our perceptual framework and limited by our belief systems.

We may assess the calories involved, or the fat content, or how we’ll feel, or what we’ll weigh, or what our companions may think of our choice, or any number of aspects of human experience that can and will affect our next moment, our next hour, our next day, our next week. These are aspects of the judgments or discernments we’ve accumulated over the years of our lived experience.

We judge certain choices as “good,” and certain choices as “bad,” and we have strong tendencies toward what we “should” or “shouldn’t” do. After we've chosen, we again add our judgments of that choice into our equation of self-perception. So, in each moment, our choices are literally creating our experience, and thus our personal reality. At a deeper level, the remembered history of our choices, and their results, tends to limit our beliefs about what is possible for us.

Strung out
Perceptions arise in the moment, and shape the expectations associated with our current circumstances and possible choices. How often have we heard someone lament, “No matter what I do, I can’t seem to get it right!”? If we want and seek a promotion, and don’t get it, we might interpret that to mean, “Well, I must not have deserved it.” Of course, we might also interpret it to mean our boss is a jerk!

Our experience of not getting promoted, stacked onto an “I don’t deserve it” perceptual framework, reinforces the belief system/thought structure of “I’m not good enough.” Having had yet another experience to validate the subconscious belief system, our perceptual “filters” are again recalibrated to look for even more evidence of unworthiness.

Such a state of being will persist - until and unless the entire system of thought structure, belief and perception is brought to conscious awareness.

Strung together
It can take great effort to bring these belief systems to the surface, so that we can examine the influence these thought structures exert on our daily choices, and thus on our life. This is especially true when we - at an individual level - view everything as "up to us."

The workplace offers a huge boon: it isn't just "up to us" as individuals, it's up to us as a group - with common goals. The power of the group cannot be overstated, because the impact of reinforcing positive beliefs about the individuals within a group is a connected, rather than isolated, force for positive change.

When the group affirms positive beliefs about its members, it helps to reconstruct foundational belief systems and collective perceptions, elevating the group dynamic: “We are worthy.” “We can have what we want.” “We deserve good things.” This permeates to the individual level: “I am worthy.” “I can have what I want.” “I deserve good things.” Can you feel the momentum?

The art of health promotion
The challenge of wellbeing is to find the simple intersections of belief and perception that will yield a healthy choice in the present moment. Both companies and individuals can practice how to find such intersections; this is the art of health promotion.

As the New Year gets underway each of us can re-assess what we think of ourselves. As business leaders, we can re-envision what we think of our companies. As employees, we can reframe how we perceive our role within the organization. As humans, we can ask ourselves, “How healthy can I become this year?”

We are alive. We are Life itself, and Life is inherently worthy.

The last word
For this New Year, what do you prefer? Can you have what you want, and can you believe that you deserve it? What will you choose? Your belief systems and thought structures will shape your perceptions, and thus your choices. Remember, you are worthy. You can have what you want. You deserve it. Take two of these, and call me in the morning.

~ Mark Head
© 2024. All Rights Reserved.

Aspirations

"Embrace fully your capacity to create, to think in unlimited ways, and to pursue everything that you have been wanting. Be flexible, open and willing to let the new come to you. This can be the most joyous, prosperous, and creative time of your life."

~ Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer

Click the green button or the blue button (below) to visit our scheduling pages.