We know that for every human action, there is an opposite action. I add that for every observation there is a counter one. Examples include
- Roots grow underneath soil but also there are aerial roots.
- Branches of trees grow upwards but some trees grow their branches downwards.
- There is positive pressure in nature and there is negative pressure as well that allows trees to carry water to their top.
- The Law of Reversed Effort states that the more effort we do the harder we shall fall.
How about Human tension?
The analogy that I think of is water surface tension. The surface of water has special properties due to its surface tension. This tension helps tiny animals to stick to the surface of water and not drown. Rain forms spherical drops due to this tension.
What is equivalent to surface tension in humans? Does tension show on the surface or it can hide beneath?
The fact is that human tension is both. Surface tension is equivalent to externalizing tension. The tension of anger is one example. The angry person might do acts to harm the environment. Children express their anger by crying, screaming, and doing funny acts.
Below the surface tension, psychologists refer to it as internalizing tension. It is stored in us. Research shows the risks of this tension. Storing this tension inside us can lead to depression and mental disorders. Such tension may affect the chemistry of our bodies and throw them out of order.
There are people who may show no tension on the surface but deep inside they suffer from depression and anxiety. There are also people who show behaviors that result from their internalized tension.
- If somebody talks frequently about strength most likely, he is trying to cover his weakness.
- People who wish to remain lonely and isolated most of the time are self-blamers. They blame themselves for failing to connect with other people. The internal or below-the-surface stress leads to their external behaviors.
- Managers who want to control others may suffer from the hidden tensions of their fears and anxiety. A typical example of this is gaslighting in which the offender tries to plant self-doubt in the “victim”. This behavior may result from the internalized feelings of the aggressor of low self-esteem and lack of self-belief.
Our behaviors in tension reflect what below-the-surface tension we have.
I had no doubt that you treated creative thinking positively and I share your point of view.
The characteristic of creative people is above all that they don’t think based on past experience but look for new perspectives with which to observe the problem and come up with various solutions, even unconventional ones.
Exactly Aldo. I surely resonate with your selective comment. Thank you
Very interesting considerations.
I would add, however, that tension (when the symptoms are known) can be used as an ally.
The crisis situation can also provide an opportunity to initiate positive changes. In fact, it can finally lead to making an important decision that has been postponed for some time to change one’s lifestyle or approach to certain situations. It can also be used positively as a motivating boost to do better and work hard to achieve a good result. It can also help to define priorities, bringing clarity and order to the commitments and tasks that must be managed and exploited to develop an optimal strategy, the result of the analysis of the variables and uncertainties that emerge in times of stress.
What do you think about it?
I wrote a post on creative thinking in which I stated that creative thibkers see the positive in the negative and the strength and the qeakness.
What do I think, Aldo? Simply I endorse your comment.