Now and again I read a book that significantly changes things for me. Sometimes, it’s because the author describes new concepts I had never previously encountered. Sometimes, it’s because the author makes something I wasn’t sure about suddenly very clear. And, yet other times, it’s because the author’s words or ideas take my understanding of something to another level.
Books like The Joy of Philosophy, Linked, and Why Do People Get Ill are all good examples.
Recently, I stumbled across the work of William Glasser. His idea of Reality Therapy and Choice Theory immediately appealed to me so I bought one of his books. Choice Theory: A New Psychology of Personal Freedom. I’ve just finished reading it and I’m going to share a few things with you in a number of posts.
One of his key ideas is captured with the term “total behaviour”. What he means is that all behaviour is “total behaviour”. All behaviour is made up of four elements –
- Acting
- Thinking
- Feeling
- Physiology
We can control our acts, and our thoughts, but we can’t directly control our feelings or our physiology. However, what we do and what we think affects our feelings and our bodies – for example, if you step into a dark empty house you might start to think about ghosts or people hiding in the darkness. Such a thought will make you feel scared and set your heart racing and quicken your breath. If you’re thought on entering the dark empty house is just “where’s the light switch” you won’t be feeling the fear and your heart and lungs won’t be speeding up. OK, that’s a very simplistic example, but I’m sure you get the idea. Everything in interconnected. The flows are two way. Just as a thought can influence your body or your feelings, so can a bodily change influence your feelings and your thoughts (and so your actions).
This holistic concept of whole being changes in different situations reminded me of the work of the General Semanticists of the mid 20th century. They too talked about these links between the body and the mind. They used a different term from “total behaviour” – they used “organismic changes or responses”. But it was a similar idea. In much more recent times we’ve begun to see emerging areas of scientific study termed “psychoneuroimmunology” and “psychoneuroendocrinology” which are helping us to understand the mechanisms of these two way influences between body and mind.
I think it’s a great concept to keep in mind – that these four aspects of behaviour are always present and connect the many diverse parts of ourselves so that our whole self always works in unison. When you’re feeling bad, or your body is playing up, this understanding will help you to realise all is not lost. You can work on your thoughts and you can choose different actions and your feelings and your body will respond.
Ah, yes, but this requires FAR more mindfulness than most people are willing to put forth.
I know it sounds counter-intuitive to say this, but I think we need CLASSES on how to be aware of ourselves. I believe we’re all capable of this, but many (if not all) of us need some training and practice.
I’m amazed by the number of people who come to me after a few of my yoga classes to tell me that they never realized they weren’t really BREATHING all this time, or that they’re so much more aware of where their bodies are in space as a result of having taken my classes. They needed the “time out” of my class to realize all the stuff they’ve never really thought about before (there’s that heroes/zombies thing again!).
I, for one, would be the first in line for classes and lectures about tuning into oneself. I consider myself to be pretty self-aware, but I know for sure that I’ve only scratched the surface. I KNOW I’m capable so SO much more than I’m currently tapped into…
[…] to focus on your current relationships, your current thoughts and actions. His idea of “total behaviour” is holistic and highlights the connections between aspects of mind and aspects of body which […]
Oh for sure, mrschili. Our default way in life is the zombie way. It takes effort, and, yes, probably training, to wake up to your inner hero! But I know that’s one thing YOU already do!
Not well enough to affect demonstrable change, it seems. I’ve got a cyst on my forehead that I’ve been trying to vibe with, and it’s not working. I’m caving in and calling my doctor this afternoon. Sigh…
It sounds like an excellent read – added to my wish list. We are a system within a system, and only systematic understanding can help us be better and work better. The evidence keeps mounting! Keep up the great blogging.