Body neurishes self
We feel/move/manage our body with the assistance of our
subconscious. We do not think 'how to'
when we are walking. We move our body
automatically through the automatic processes in our subconscious. These processes are created in the childhood
and through exercise/repetition later on.
"Subconscious defines all reactions and automatic actions we
can become aware of if we think about them.
For example, our ability to drive a car: once we get skilled we stop
thinking which gears to use, which pedals to press, or which mirror to look at,
yet can always become aware of what was done once we think about it[3]."
Subconscious and automatic processes maybe percieved as a part of
'self'. We can become aware of our
body's movements if we focus on them. If
we do not focus on our body movements they are automatic. Similarly, we do not percieve our body
normally if it does not hurt.
Body is the embodiment of
self[1,2]. Just like the body, automatic processes exist as part of the
'self'. We own them.
If something is done automatically and later is noticed that it
has been done, its validity is established via 'self', namely
'self-confidence'.
Working on jobs which include risky situations, may replace the
self-confidence with double-triple checking.
This may cause the loss of self-confidence of a person's trust to his
own automatic processes. Complete
concentration for long periods may hurt the ability to do things automatically,
hurting the subconscious. “Surgeons may
have difficulty walking the stairs down after long surgery operations”.
Overcoming embodiment may help to
eleviate the stress caused by complete attention for long periods. Touching, holding, moving interfaces makes
the body reclaim its identity. Anything that we percieve with our
body makes us percieve our body also. Thus,
everything that we percieve with our body reminds us the self. They nourish the self and make it
stronger.
The
tendency in developing technologies is reducing the mechanical components in
complex systems. For ex. paper control
strips in Air Traffic Control are replaced by video touch screens. Airplane controls became controlled automatically
which reduced the mechanical control of the pilots. Reducing the mechanical components in the
control interfaces reduces the possibility of the user to overcome the strong
embodiment caused by high concentration and hence this causes loss of self-confidence.
Body
neurishes self.
REFERENCES:
[1]Carolien HERMANS, 2002, Embodiment: the flesh and bones of my
body.
[2]Shaun Gallagher, 2000, Phenomenological and experimental
research on embodied experience, Department of Philosophy
and Cognitive Science Program
[3] Motions|June 21st, 2016; What Is The Subconscious Mind?
