New Kind of Therapy Combines Quantum Mechanics with PsychologyFor those disappointed with the results of lengthy, expensive, traditional therapies, quantum psychology offers a different path.
New York, NY (PRWEB) July 20, 2008 -- It seems like everyone these days in is some sort of therapy, whether it is for stress associated with a troubled economy, family problems, or traumatic experiences such as child abuse and "battle fatigue." Now a new book offers a different solution to the problems we all must deal with in our lives. "The surprise is that our bodies are way smarter then we thought they were," says Jean Boyd, author of The Greatest Escape: Travel the Quantum Path to Personal Freedom. "Our brains are hard-wired with a remarkable program that gives us a way to solve the problems associated with our everyday lives, heal our psychological wounds and transform our lives." She adds that along with this healing, there's an added bonus. "Once we access this program, we simultaneously evolve to higher levels of consciousness and acquire new abilities, such as - courageousness, individual power and even 'enlightenment.'"
Her beautifully illustrated, full color book explains how a new psychology, quantum psychology, is providing new insights into our ability to be our own counselors, therapists and gurus. Combining Eastern philosophy and Western science, in particular quantum mechanics, quantum psychology presents a system of personal growth that is, as Ms. Boyd puts it, "Simple but not always easy." The work is almost the direct opposite of talk therapy, as it does not include discussing problems. It consists of the practice of a few techniques that produce immediate, fundamental change. Jean, a former nurse, college instructor, and counselor, says that based on her years of working with abuse survivors, veterans, and those troubled by everyday problems, such as failed relationships and unsuccessful careers, "the biggest obstacle to change is resistance to change."
For those disappointed with the results of lengthy, expensive, traditional therapies, quantum psychology offers a different path. "When you consider that our bodies know how to digest food and kill germs, it only makes sense that they also know how to produce personal growth - with a little help from us," Ms. Boyd notes. More information on quantum psychology can be found at Jean Boyd's web site, www.quantumboyd.com. Those who wish to explore this growing field of quantum psychology can download a free excerpt from The Greatest Escape.
Here is an excerpt from the book:
Six deadly emotions
The Judaic-Christian tradition identifies seven “deadly sins:” pride, greed, envy, anger, lust, gluttony, and sloth. These “sins” are on the list of negative emotional responses that play an active role in the personal growth process. They lead your Observer to the source of your problems, which is always within. If you have an ego-centered consciousness, one of these emotional responses comes up most often and represents your typical response to life.
What follows is a description of these categories, beginning with the lowest level of energy, the greatest existential separation from the environment, and the most distorted map of reality. The intensity of any given emotional response will range from mild to severe.
1. Apathy–“I don’t care.”
This is the lowest level of energy, and we “feel nothing.” We are lethargic, passive, indifferent, listless, unconcerned, apathetic, unresponsive, or passionless. We have little emotional reaction to events, and we don’t much care what happens: “Do you mind being homeless?” the reporter asked the bag lady. “I don’t care,” she replied. This state has the most closed psychological system, the least interaction with the environment, and the most distorted map of reality.
2. Grief–“Poor me.”
We feel sad, dejected, gloomy, depressed, unhappy, lonely, regretful, discouraged, disappointed, shameful, pessimistic, or powerless. Grief is a step upward from apathy, because at least we feel something. This energy level is higher than apathy, but still quite low. We’re still operating with a considerably closed psychological system, and perceive a significantly distorted map of reality. We have little interaction with the environment and show little interest in anything outside of ourselves. When we don’t express our anger outward, but turn it inward (suppress or repress it), we feel sad, or get hurt feelings, which is another form of grief.
3. Fear–“I’d better watch out.”
Clearly, someone wide-eyed with fear has more energy, and interacts more with the environment, than someone who sits listlessly in a chair, uninterested in anything going on around them. Fear makes us hyper-vigilant, and we scan our surroundings, looking for potential danger, real or imagined. We feel apprehensive, frightened, uncomfortable, anxious, shy, distrustful, horrified, cowardly, panicked, nervous, tense, edgy, jumpy, uneasy, wary, concerned, guilty, or solicitous. Fear significantly distorts our perceptions of reality, we dread making mistakes, are reluctant to try anything new, and resist changes to the status quo.
4. Anger– “You better watch out.”
The energy level here is much higher, and we direct much of it outward into the environment. Sometimes, we turn our anger against someone we know, perhaps a spouse, or our children. At other times, we vent it on anyone who happens to be in the vicinity, for example, road rage. We feel impatient, frustrated, annoyed, exasperated, irritated, angry, bitter, displeased, murderous, stubborn, jealous, offended, or enraged. We often criticize others and blame them for our own problems: “It’s all your fault.”
5. Lust– “I must have it.”
At this higher energy level, we are less reactive and more proactive. We interact more with our environment because we want stuff from it. We feel an overwhelming hunger, craving, desire, longing, yearning, or appetite for something—such as sex, power, wealth, possessions, success, food, or fame. Lust brings temporary gratification, but no real satisfaction, so no matter how much we get of the thing we crave, it is never enough to satisfy us for long. Sexual lust has ruined many marriages and political careers, lust for money has led to the downfall of big corporations, and people kill for political power.
6. Pride–“I know I am right.”
Pride is the highest of the low levels of energy before self-actualization, and we have the most interaction with the environment and the least distorted map of reality. We feel arrogant, vain, haughty, disdainful, authoritarian, masterful, egotistical, self-confident, self-satisfied, proud, superior, or complacent. Experiencing ego’s certainty, we take an active role in society, and our self-confidence helps us succeed. We are likely to be perfectionists, reject criticism, and take pride in being a “good” person. Believing in the superiority of our own race, gender, religion, or nationality, we feel justified in persecuting others and starting wars.
Read another excerpt from The Greatest Escape, read about Jean Boyd’s quest, or read stories of those traveling the Quantum Path.
OK, let's just say I am skeptical and that I smell some pre/trans fallacy lurking in this book. The six emotions are nothing new -- all of these are covered in Buddhism.
Where I sense pre/trans trouble lurking is in the notion "that our bodies are way smarter then we thought they were," not to mention this statement: "When you consider that our bodies know how to digest food and kill germs, it only makes sense that they also know how to produce personal growth - with a little help from us." Maybe, in some ways, but probably not in the way she intends.
The body is great at healing body-centered issues, but I doubt that it rises above the emotional realm to the level of existential issues or anything higher. It's really quite problematic that these New Age types keep publishing pseudo scientific BS that promises healing without doing the necessary shadow work.
The "real" Quantum Psychology came from Robert Anton Wilson (written solely in e-prime) back in 1990.
It focuses primarily on the metaphysical and epistemological problems of Aristotelean reasoning and its use in everyday language, covering E-Prime and how it addresses many of the semantic (and resulting perceptual) "spooks" that common language lets in.
It also covers, in a way that doesn't end up as discontinuous as it might sound: psychosomatic healing and a possible explanation for it; non-local effects in quantum physics (Bell's Theorem) and the theories of David Bohm; and a brief recap of the Timothy Leary eight-fold consciousness theory of human consciousness which Prometheus Rising covers in much greater detail. In Quantum Psychology, Wilson posits four additional circuits.
You can read an excerpt of Wilson's book here.
Personally, I loved Wilson's book, and as far as working with the ego, I'll stick with my Buddhist practices, thank you very much.
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i don't like her definition of grief. I love the definition in a book called Grieving Mindfully- which i have at work right now. But his premise is that grief is related to love, it is loss in love. I don't associate grief with poor me. That sounds more like depression (anger turned inward) or self pity.
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