Posted by Hombre on September 21, 2010, at 22:48:22
In reply to Re: TCM)))Hombre, posted by Lao Tzu on September 21, 2010, at 13:17:02
First of all, I'm glad you are sticking with the herbs. The effects are indeed subtle, but they become more noticeable over time. If you were to keep a detailed journal of your energy levels and moods, perhaps by grading them on a 1-10 scale each day, you'd notice the difference after a month or two. I don't think anyone would realistically keep such a journal, but for the sake of argument it would be one way to "see" the changes.
The main concept when working with your personal energy levels is that the effects are hard to pinpoint. Energy is just like money. When you have enough money to fund all the work that needs to be done to repair and maintain certain organ systems, any excess funds can then go to help repair other systems. It's referred to as the Economy of Energy in the "Optimal Healing" book, one of the best explanations of Chinese medicine concepts by an M.D. fully trained in CM.
At the macro level, physical energy is the foundation. When you no longer have an major problems at that level, the excess can go toward repairing and maintaining emotional energy. In other words, when you've got your digestion, elimination, and homeostasis somewhat balanced, you'll tend to fell more stable emotionally. You have a basis of resilience built up that protects you from minor stresses and attacks on your emotional well-being.
When you have achieved a certain level of emotional stability for a while, you no longer suffer the deep, deep fear and anxiety about your self-image, self-efficacy, and future. You can start to extend your thinking and intention outwards towards planning the future and even doing things for others. This is when your spiritual energy can start to be developed.
This is just a model, of course, but I think it does a good job of giving you a guide as to how all your capacities are interrelated. Energy flows between all the levels in either direction. This model is called "jing - qi -shen" in CM, but I have also seen it described in purely western terms by the authors of "The Power of Engagement". And why shouldn't it be a universal idea. The Chinese don't have any special knowledge per se, but they did a good job of describing things in very subtle levels of detail that have mostly been lost to us modern, smarty-pants Westerners :)
If I may, I'd like to share some of my techniques for quitting smoking. I'm sure you've come across most of these yourself. Please forgive me if I seem like I'm lecturing. Pretend like we're having a cup of coffee and I lean in to share something with you.
One trick for building up the "will" to quit is to put out a smoke before it is done. At first, you just put it out when you have a couple of drags left. Then, when you are feeling bold, put it out halfway. Eventually, you have a few drags to quell that initial craving, but you put out the smoke with more than 3/4 remaining. It may seem like a half-*ss*d measure, but I challenge you in a friendly way to see what it feels like to do it.
Another trick is to have every other smoke. Each time you have a craving, you give in to every other one by smoking. You know in the back of your mind that you'll smoke later, but you train yourself to hold off, even if it is for a short time. Again, it's all about the feeling you get by restraining yourself just a little. You are building up circuitry in your brain that allows you to not smoke when you choose to. It takes practice.
The final variation that I use is to throw out the unfinished pack. This is usually the last move I make before I quit for a substantial amount of time. It is also the most psychologically reinforcing one. If you have it in you to toss out half a pack, you're ready to try quitting. You throw out that pack and allow yourself to stand there in the midst of that voice inside you that screams, "No!!!!" Ha ha.
All of these are just variations on the same theme, building up something positive, the will to quit, instead of focusing on the loss. Perhaps they won't work for you, but for me it helps to cut down in some form before actually quitting for good. It's less stressful and dramatic.
Anyway, I hope that gives you some ideas for developing your own personal strategies for eventually quitting. I certainly know how incredibly difficult it is too quit and I know you'll do it when you are ready. In the meantime, as you said, you can feel your energy growing when you cut down. Focus on that positive change. Whatever happens, please don't ever feel guilty and know that we babblers support you no matter what.
poster:Hombre
thread:961091
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20100812/msgs/963332.html