Hello dear readers! You know “Evolve,” the great new psychology feature by Dr. Jan Seward we’ve been running on Thursday evenings? Well, unless someone writes to her with a question, she may not have anything to answer this week. If you have a question for her, please email her at drjanseward [at] gmail.com. Please keep letters between 25 – 250 words. And if you’re not sure what topics are open, you can refer to her introductory article here. Thanks! – amanda
4 thoughts on “Call for letters!”
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I sent one as well.
“What is interesting about Dr S in this PWaves offering, from what I can tell, is the integrative reflex back into psychology so that we don’t just get into the false dichotomy of… ‘spiritual praxis or’.”
I think the words for that are “transpersonal psychology” because TP integrates psychology with spirituality and personal experiences. I have always loved that approach.
I’ve popped one in. Is there anything that sums things up for you about the human struggle? If you could ask just one central question, what would it be?
As a mental health worker, and with an interest in neuropsychology, I’m quite fascinated about mental health as an expression of learning style, rather than as an absence of mental illness (the prevalent clinical view). Once we understand the brain/mind connection (I might add ‘body’ in there, which brain is also a part of) then we can understand mind more as a resource than a liability (something which many of the best spiritualities teach us as fact) but go beyond ‘doctrine’ and incorporate everything into a learning/mapping model that enhances our connective knowledge (sinews are everything in this gaff).
What is interesting about Dr S in this PWaves offering, from what I can tell, is the integrative reflex back into psychology so that we don’t just get into the false dichotomy of… ‘spiritual praxis or’.
There is a science in the workings, a way of getting one’s bearings and orientating self with respect to ‘how things work’. The mechanics are often relegated in spiritualities – say Buddhism or Taoism when they demonstrate no interest in social justice; seeing them as beside the point at best, or a distraction to individual awareness at worst.
The historic affliction of psychology has been its tendency to atomize the individual, or the mind, or some other such heresy 😉 This series really does offer a great opportunity to elucidate things which may otherwise lay dormant. The simplicity may amaze you once you get into the groove.
I think the whole notion of psychology can seem intimidating to many folk. Never fear. You are (we are) all simply trying to understand people (that is, each other) better.
Anything relevant to personhood and consciousness, as it relates to being and relatedness, is a potential starting point for reflection – so social networking is a key issue too. What is this doing to our sense of connectedness? There is a thread of psychology in most things. Don’t be shy! Your contribution will be much appreciated.
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It might take some time. I absolutely LOVE this. Don’t get discouraged. Sometimes writing about issues is scary.