Body, Mind & E-Motion

Distinctions Between Body, Mind & Emotion
Are They Real?

The basic differences between body and mind, while by no means as simple and obvious as most people seem to think, are reasonably clear for at least superficial conversations.

But please notice in the list appearing far below, the Emotional, which appears in all three segments of the list. I consider emotion to be the bridge between the physical and mental processes, and is present in each of the physical, mental and relational categories.

In fact, when you examine this bridge quite closely, you begin to see that it's ALL bridge. The boundaries between Mental and Physical processes are no where near clear and defined; they just different aspects of the same thing.

Many attitudes toward the phenomena of emotion tend to look at it merely as a side-show of life. Something that just adds some feeling or color to our experience, but is more-or-less peripheral and often just gets us into trouble if we aren't careful. … Can't get too emotional, you know.

For me, the word Emotion breaks down into E-Motion:

• E – to bring forth
• Motion – action

Therefore, emotion is that which brings forth action.

Looked at this way, emotion is actually a central driving force, active in all elements of being human. It is actually the primary driver for most, if not all, of what we do from moment-to-moment, from day-to-day, throughout our lives.

Very successful marketing and sales people know that most people, including high level CEOs of major corporations, make most, if not all, of their decisions emotionally. Then, they look for rational information to justify their emotionally based decisions.

On The Other Hand …
(There's always another hand, isn't there?)

Though the divisions between physical and mental are somewhat contrived or artificial, we CAN for certain important purposes, divide various human functions  into various categories, some of which are listed below. However, though useful for certain conversations and purposes, we must be careful to not get too attached to these categorizations.

But, because of one very valid aspect of being human, that being differentiation, we must understand that without the individual elements, the whole does not exist. So too, the opposite is true. If you dissect a human being into its various parts, there is no human being left, either.

(Differentiation includes the very critical and necessary human features of the Division of Knowledge and the Division of Labor, discussed in the Philosophy, Psychology & Science of Being Human.)

Three Areas of BodyMind Function

PHYSICAL:

• Metabolic: Organ Support
  • Diet
  • Nutrition
  • Detox
    

• Structural: Action Generating
  • Musculoskeletal & Ligamentous
  • Neuromuscular
  • Myofascial
  • Reflexive Movement

   

   

• Emotional:
  • Feelings: Sensations & Impulses
    
  • Brain/Body Connections: Sensory/Motor Control
    
  • Conative: Cognition & Intentional Action

   

   

MENTAL:

• Emotional:
  • Sensations, Impulses & Cognition
    
  • Sensory Interpretations
  • Reactive Behavior
• Psychological: Deeper Conditioning/Motivations
  • Subconscious
  • Conditioning — Semi- & Conscious Learning
    
  • Limbic Reactivity — Genetic & Early Childhood
    
  • Herding Impulses — Group Conformity
    
• Intellectual: Linear/Rational/Analytical
  • Reactive Thinking — On Automatic
    
  • Reflective Thinking — Off of Automatic
    
  • Conation
    

RELATIONAL:

• Physics:
  • Environmental
  • Space
  • Touch
  • Time
    

• Interpersonal:
  • Intellectual
  • Psychological
  • Emotional
    

• Spiritual:
  • People
  • Society
  • Things

Thank You for Reading and Take Care,
David Scott Lynn
DSL: Your Hi-Touch Up-Link to the Inner-Net