The untrained mind keeps up a running commentary, labeling everything, judging everything. Best to ignore that commentary. Don’t argue or resist, just ignore. Deprived of attention and interest, this voice gets quieter and quieter and eventually just shuts up.
— Plato, Conversations with Plato
Whenever we encounter some new knowledge or a new belief that is not in our current schema or existing belief system, we may experience what the Swiss Psychologist Jean Piaget terms ‘cognitive dissonance.’
In New Thought this is called “Chemicalization.’ We reject new information as untrue because we are unable to connect with our previous understanding. We may undergo periods of denial, anger, adjustment, and disbelief and may never accept the new knowledge or information. In this case, we stay as we are, maybe stagnate.
But if we can adjust to this new knowledge or information eventually we can rewire our cognition and create new neural pathways and learning occurs.
Metaphysically, when we let go of previous limiting beliefs we undergo the chemicalization experience. This includes dying to our old selves, undergoing the dark night of the soul, or experiencing our own crucifixion before we resurrect ourselves and ascend to a new level of consciousness.
Bravo, Bravo and Bravo DR. Aileen. What a POWERFUL share and teaching.
For me this captures the essence of our most important work:
“When we are operating from our conscious mind we are in the NOW, present, aware moment to moment that we are in charge of our reality by the thoughts we create”.
Such great reminders and applications to get us from here to there.