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Many people use drugs as a substitute
for changing relationships. Self-medication with alcohol or nicotine,
or prescription anti-depressants, are easier than applying focus,
intelligence and analytical skills to goals, emotions and relationships.
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Your Happiness and Your Brain
I began using the name Soulwork in 1994,
when I attempted to describe a stable resource
state that seemed important to lasting happiness. As some of
my students and clients called this stable experience Soul,
I called that part of our coaching Soul-work.
(See Origins of Soulwork.)
As many symptoms of mental and sometimes physical health
problems seemed to vanish following our coaching (see
Human Consciousness),
I wanted to better understand and improve the results that I already enjoyed
[i].
Whenever I could, I interviewed people who had recovered from serious mental
and physical symptoms without medical assistance. I found that self-healed people
had typically:
- Resolved (not dissociated) guilt about their past actions
- Accepted disease symptoms as teachers or
mentors
- Assimilated traumatic or abusive memories
- Found a stable experience of integrity
- Improved their relationships generally
- Chosen healthy role models
The challenge seemed obvious. How can we help other people duplicate
this wellbeing and healing?
What was the underlying psychobiology?
How could we better help our clients?
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I translated many of your articles for
Slovak people. You talk to the whole brain.
You understand wide connections and binds. That is why people mark your coaching
methods and articles as the most effective and understandable.
Zvolen, Slovakia |
Which Reality is Real?
People who confuse their inner
and outer worlds may be called neurotic or psychotic. I sought to model how
people create healthy inner worlds (see Quantum Thinking
and Chaos Coaching), to help
people make better decisions (see Expert Modeling)
and to enjoy relationships (see Enjoying Partnership).
Consciousness is a long-standing mystery. Why are we aware of a few (7±2)
thoughts or feelings, while everything else lurks below our conscious
perception? Why are some memories readily accessible, and other important memories, apparently buried without trace? There are
so many theories.
I like the global workspace theory developed in 1983 by
Bernard Baars of The Neuroscience Institute in San Diego, California.
Bernard says that people become conscious of information only if signals are
broadcast to many regions of their brains simultaneously - a coordinated activity.
It seems that this global workspace may be inaccessible if the
information risks damaging important relationships. This
leads towards theories of a protective unconscious mind.
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Our model of consciousness includes partitioned
consciousness ...
"We all suffer from borderline multiple personality ...
well, part of me thinks so!"
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Clues to helping people develop health, wealth and happiness
appear to lie in the psychobiology and coordination of the neurological
structures that mediate perceptual, emotional and cognitive experiences - the
body-mind. Changes in the body-mind are quickly followed by changes
in emotional reactions, relationship behavior and the physical body.
Damaged Children - Damaged Adults
I avoid researching people's pasts, rather focusing on what triggers unpleasant emotions or unwanted behavior.
Then, resolving those emotional consequences is often a key step to coaching
people to enjoy a
lasting sense-of-life, rather than temporarily dissociating
emotions.
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Structural consequences
of childhood maltreatment include disruptive development of corpus callosum,
left neocortex, hippocampus, and amygdale; functional consequences include
increased electrical irritability in limbic areas, frontal lobe dysfunctions
and reduced functional activity of the cerebellar vermis; and neurohumoral
consequences include the reprogramming activity of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal
axis and subsequently the stress response.
Grassi-Oliveira R, Ashy M, Stein
LM
Psychology Department, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio
Grande do Sul, Brazil |
Coaching the Body-Mind
I help people to change their perceptual, emotional
and cognitive experience. Short-term change is commonplace and temporary. Long-term change
seems to require that:
- changes were were acceptable, and
- appropriate neurotransmitters are now generated, and
- I communicated with many brain structures simultaneously
It now seems clear to me that cognitive
interventions (thoughts) are unlikely to communicate with brain
structures that mediate emotional, perceptual and somatic change (feelings).
So I explored how coaching affects psychobiology and
psychobiological change.
Psychobiological Change
Most adults can acknowledge and respond to logical questions and
requests, and to questions embedded in imagery, music, metaphors, movement
and symbols. (We can check if messages were received and accepted or rejected by observing people's
nonverbal responses).
How would Western philosophy be different if Descartes had said,
'I feel therefore I am'?
The words conscious and unconscious seem to
refer to which parts of the brain process information. In most people,
the left cerebral hemisphere is considered to dominate the processing of logic,
reason, judgment and understanding (thoughts), while the right hemisphere
is believed to dominate the processing of images, metaphor and inferred
communication (feelings).
Coaching the Left Cerebral Hemisphere
The left brain hemisphere is considered to store and process logical information. I
can coach people to define their goals, to explore the consequences of achieving
those goals and the blocks to achieving them. People become actively and consciously
involved with the cognitive details of their own coaching.
Coaching the Right Cerebral Hemisphere
Research on alexithymia (people who cannot express emotions
may develop psychosomatic symptoms) implicates
the right brain for storing and creating emotions. I communicate
with the right brain hemisphere using humor, metaphors, puns and symbols.
The work of Milton Erickson, MD, inspired me to
research a
Hawaiian dreamtime ritual (moe uhane)
and to develop what I often call interactive metaphors. Interactive
metaphors appear to simultaneously stimulate both cerebral hemispheres. I
generally call this Dreamwork - that is, using interactive isomorphic metaphors
to help people understand and integrate their emotional and cognitive responses.
Dreamwork helps people change emotional reactions that delay or prevent
them getting what they want.
What do you want?
I often strive to stimulate left and right
brain activity simultaneously. While verbalizing goals, people unknowingly
communicate objections by nonverbal incongruence. I assume that verbal/nonverbal incongruence
indicates dissonance between verbal language processing (left brain) and
nonverbal or body language (right brain), or between the cerebral cortex and the
hind-brain. (For example, you may say, "I understand", while
gently shaking your head from side to side.) Other common signs of incongruence include
asymmetric postures or gestures.
The ability to gently dissolve yes-no incongruence is a
powerful tool for helping people find inner peace and congruent goals by
dissolving verbal and nonverbal
objections. (I teach this on my Systems 2 training,
which also includes dissolving self-criticism and sentences beginning with
"Yes, but...”).
......... Page 2 to start here ........
Coaching the Limbic System
Right brain and left brain communications appear to be simultaneously
processed through the limbic system, which associates thoughts with emotions.
Emotional states generated by the limbic brain influence and can override
the cognitive processes of the neo-cortex. The limbic brain seems to trigger
both
somatic sensations and psychosomatic symptoms.
Coaching at the limbic level can help people change
emotional states. (Common examples include emotional reactions to art,
poetry or
music). When the limbic system is engaged, people's physiology
and emotions change. Many people find better solutions for problems if they listen
to music, for example. This concept is utilized by young adults everywhere, and
also in hypnosis and meditation.
A knowledge of the limbic brain helps explain
simultaneous incongruence, for example knowing (intellectually) that something is
true, while feeling (emotionally) that it is false. (This seems especially
common when thinking is distorted by
identity loss or unpleasant beliefs).
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The limbic brain is the source of feelings of
conviction. Paul MacLean, a neurobiology
pioneer, said: "The limbic system, that primitive brain
that can neither read nor write, provides us with feelings of
what is real, true and important.”
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Logical arguments (mediated by the neocortex) rarely change
emotional beliefs (mediated by the limbic system). Intuiting this, effective
salespeople and politicians often make emotional, rather than logical, appeals.
Emotions may not be subject to the logical neocortex - even good actors may be
unable to spontaneously choose to feel angry or happy.
As the limbic system operates without conscious logic, classical conditioning
techniques can be used to access
people's emotions, and to merge or dissociate them (often outside people's
awareness and without their consent). Such techniques are may be taught in
predatory sales and seduction workshops.
By communicating with the limbic brain, I help people change
their perception of their own emotions, so that they can experience emotions as
interesting body-mind communications. (I note that integrated brain function
seems to minimize the impact and influence of hypnotic language, unwanted sales
pitches, seduction attempts and political rhetoric! People
can better choose how they want to react!)
Coaching the Pineal Gland
The pineal gland is in the center of the brain. It is active until
puberty, then the pineal shrinks and may calcify. It is rich in lecithin, which
has both neural and endocrine properties. The neural connection between the eyes
and pineal gland can sensitize the nervous system to ambient light.
The pineal gland synthesizes and secretes melatonin and pinoline
during darkness, entraining the nervous system to the local circadian 24-hour clock
and perhaps acting as an antidepressant. Melatonin is an antioxidant that inhibits
pre-puberty sexual development and may protect the nervous system against degeneration.
Pinoline is also antioxidant and induces Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and dreams.
It also improves the metabolism of sugar in chronically ill patients.
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The pineal gland has been a mystery for centuries
and has been
attributed with superstition, myth and many metaphysical theories.
Many people claim that the pineal gland is an intuitive third eye and
chakra.
Lao Tzu described a small 'gateway to heaven and
earth' in the center of the brain behind the eyes and wrote that
concentrating on it leads to realizing oneness. In this pearl is a light
which Confucius called virtuous perfection (jen); the Book of Change
(I Ching) called it the ultimateless (wu chi), the Buddha called it perfect
knowledge (yuan ming) and Taoist literature called it an elixir of
immortality and spiritual light.
"The pineal gland is the receptor and sender of subtle
vibrations which carry thoughts and psychic phenomena throughout the cosmos.
The pineal gland converts brain waves into subtle electrical energy
traveling faster that the speed of light." Swami Sivananda
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People are affected by the rhythm of their pineal glands and thus by
ambient light levels. (This hints at why dark retreats were favored by
Buddhist and Taoist monks). I find that coaching with interactive metaphor
(Dreamwork) can lead to predictable ecstatic states
of consciousness which are commonly described as light-filled or iner light,
etc, which may affect pineal gland function.
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As the pineal reacts to light and darkness,
and as the limbic system provides a sense of reality, subjectively
perceived light (during interactive metaphors or
meditation) seems to affect the pineal gland and melatonin / pinoline
production.
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(Pineal stimulation resolves some frigidity and erectile
dysfunction issues ... more needed on this).
Coaching the Amygdala
The limbic brain (including the amygdala) also mediates music, speech
intonation and metaphor. Coaching strategies that communicate directly with the limbic
brain are interactive metaphors and symbolic integration. As the limbic
brain responds emotionally to symbols, such as icons, mandalas and art, people
can use real
or imagined symbols to stimulate their limbic brains.
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The amygdala associates emotions with symbols.
The amygdala receives information from the neocortex, and integrates
sensory information from both the external (objective) and internal
(subjective) worlds, resulting in an experience of “reality”.
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The amygdala has been called the heart of the limbic brain.
If you take a moment and recall the bitter taste and smell of lemon juice
... what happens to your saliva flow? Your amygdala
rapidly responds as if the imagined events were actually taking place.
By stimulating the amygdala, I can better coach people to explore strategies for
achieving worthwhile goals, and to reduce the emotional impact of trauma. I help
people learn from traumatic, phobic or abusive events without being overwhelmed by
emotion; which appears to help people evaluate and assimilate traumatic or
abusive memories.
Coaching and Synesthesia
I often use synesthesia to help people cross-link
(unhook) heavy emotions. Coaching at the limbic level helps
people interpret unpleasant feelings as communication,
without being overwhelmed by sensations such as rage,
guilt or anxiety. This is very useful for people who want to dissolve
psychosomatic symptoms, in which emotions seem
to be expressed or communicated as body problems.
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Synesthesia is an experience in which the stimulation
of one sense elicits a perception that ordinarily would be elicited had
another sense been stimulated, as when a noise registers as a light, or
vice versa: Encyclopedia Encarta |
As the limbic system also attributes meaning to
music, speech intonations and metaphors, I can communicate directly
with the limbic brain by changing the tempo, tone
and pitch of my voice, and by using interactive metaphors and
symbols. (Many people find symbolic maps to be very useful to aid
evaluating history, relationships and goals during our
coaching sessions.)
Coaching the Hind Brain
The hind-brain also translates body-mind communication. It is
sometimes called the reptilian hind-brain and it controls everyday repetitive
behaviors such as habits, rituals, routines and motor skills. (You might think
of it as an auto-pilot when you are daydreaming - even if driving a motor vehicle.)
The hind-brain associates emotions with action (action can be called
honest communication). People communicate aggression, submission
and sexual interest through their often-unconscious body movements and
nonverbal communication.
Like the limbic system, your hind-brain responds to metaphors and symbols.
Hence I use interactive metaphors, symbolic language, puns and non-verbal
signals to communicate with this part of the brain. This is
useful when coaching people to pull themselves together as they
assimilate trauma.
Coaching the Adrenal Glands
The adrenal glands are not in the brain - rather above the kidneys. They
guide the famous fight or flight
response to stress. Healthy adrenal glands release adrenaline, which
causes people to feel alert and focused, and cortisol, which converts
proteins into energy. Adrenalin also
increases the heart rate, respiration and blood pressure while tensing muscles,
sharpening senses and slowing digestion so that people can better
fight or run away.
Chronic stress may cause the adrenal glands to maintain high cortisol
levels, which can damage body tissues. Some people say they have
adrenaline addiction; although subsequent adrenal fatigue can cause
mood swings - depression, fatigue and insomnia. Adrenal exhaustion can cause
serious health concerns and mental breakdown.
Online
Coaching
...... Page 3 to start here .....
A Brief Psychobiology of Love
Falling in love can feel profoundly wonderful; while falling out of love
can bring profound suffering. Our brains change when we are in love, in similar
ways to some mental illnesses or psychoactive drugs. Falling in love can be
addictive, and falling out of love can trigger withdrawal symptoms that are similar to
those associated with addictive drugs!
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Hard-core science focuses on what can
be easily measured, and may not appreciate nor include important aspects of
human existence such as personality, beliefs and values.
Kosjenka Muk, Soulwork Trainer |
Falling in love seems to have three phases, each
accompanied by hormones and neurotransmitters
- Lust is associated with estrogen
and testosterone (affecting both men and women).
- Attraction is associated with dopamine and
serotonin. People in love often feel obsessed - they may
eat less, sleep less and day-dream about their potential partner.
- Attachment is associated with vasopressin and
oxytocin, which supports lasting commitment and helps bond lovers
together.
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There's convincing evidence that oxytocin is involved in mediating
stability, pair bonding
and monogamy; the enduring parts of love ... Hans Zingg, McGill
University. |
Many people experience a surge of oxytocin bonding during
extended touch, for example during sex or massage, and a surge of dopamine
during arousing activities. Both trigger feelings of love and romance, but
as dopamine gives a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction (see
Wikipedia), a desire for
more satisfaction motivates behaviors that release more dopamine ... for example
food, sex and power ...
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People who are unusually willing to manipulate others
for personal gain - such as psychopaths - have unusually high levels of
dopamine, a chemical that motivates people to seek pleasure. Joshua
Buckholz, Nature Neuroscience, DOl: 10.1038/nn.251O
Buckholtz suggests that a strong desire for more dopamine
can motivate people to act impulsively, without considering the consequences
of their actions - which may hurt others. |
Hence love can be addictive (probably to forms of
amphetamine-like adrenaline), and falling in love can have
symptoms similar to substance abuse. Falling out of love can have
symptoms comparable to withdrawal from addictive drugs (adrenaline),
perhaps accompanied by a dopamine-driven urge to regain the lost love
and/or to express power over the ex-lover.
A Brief Psychobiology of Soul
When balanced in harmony, these various parts of the brain can function and
communicate simultaneously ... and ecstatically. People can enjoy a stable
experience of integrity as a basis for congruent decisions and long-term
inspiration to choose and fulfill life goals.
People experiencing this integration display verbal
congruence and nonverbal symmetry, which may indicate that the both
cranial hemispheres, limbic system, amygdala and hind-brain are in an unusual
state of cooperation. During this experience, people can simultaneously focus
on abstract concepts and on specific details. Many people report a sense of
transcendental awareness. (As many people called this experience Soul,
I called this part of my coaching Soul-work. The name stuck.)
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I asked you for coaching to plan a new business ... and now I
have a sense of mission and almost transcendent life purpose! I can focus on
achieving this goal without losing anything ... the beliefs that slowed me down
were parts of me that were concerned that my project might damage my
relationships with my husband or children ... I feel I have communicated with my
Soul ... I am a complete person ... it's hard to describe ... London,
England |
Many people, during and after Soul experience,
have told us that Soul has an independent existence; that Soul
existed before they were born; and that Soul will continue
after the death of their bodies. (Psychobiology cannot confirm or
disprove this concept, although many people enjoy this idea!)
Some of my graduate students believe that our coaching
can enable or enhance spiritual connectedness – while others believe that
Soul experience is a normal result of integrated brain activity.
Whatever is true, what we call Soul experience seems to provide
a rational basis for significant body-mind healing in short time frames.
People who cannot experience Integrity (Soul)
In my experience, about 25% of people cannot experience this
existential harmony without first making some changes. The main reasons seemed to be:
immaturity (lack of responsibility),
trauma
(preoccupied), guilt (need to suffer) and
codependence
(independent happiness may damage an important relationship). Also common are
people who suffered long term dissociation
(lost identity), had identified with
another person (identification) or
had identified with two people
(identity conflict).
Hence we developed strategies for quickly dissolving these (relationship) issues.
The resulting systemic solutions are steps towards optimal immune
system function (as part of a spectrum of modalities, including diet, supplements and
exercise.) While this appears to
help reduce aging, increase resistance to disease, and offer potential solutions for
psychosomatic illness and
autoimmune disease,
my overall goal remains ... to help people live fulfilled lives.
Please consult a physician about any medical or
psychiatric conditions!
March 2010
Since I wrote this article twelve years ago, my
graduates and I have refined and greatly improved our
online coaching. And our paradigm has shifted. At first,
I expected people to welcome fast, effective change ... but many
people remain loyal to their conditioning ... and cling to their
suffering. Most people seeking relief from emotional and
relationship problems prefer to medicate or distract themselves.
We invite people who are searching for sense of life
(without drugs) -
people searching for integrity - to
explore our transformational coaching.
Do You Want Results?
Plagiarism is theft. Copyright © Martyn Carruthers 1998-2012
All rights reserved
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