Mechanistic strategies are clever. Treating complex systems as though they were mechanistic is not. A reductionist understanding of the body, one that fails to appreciate the interdependencies and synergies of its many parts, will never understand the whole. Healing requires that we consider the whole. However, this does not mean that we cannot use mechanistic strategies.
It is hard to deal directly with these sorts of patterned behavioral issues because it is hard to function at that level consciously. It is here that we see the value of the major bony levers of the deep core. These bones respond structurally to emotional patterns. The defense cascade plays out in predictable ways physically, and in particular at the collapse end of the spectrum. These are instinctual responses after all.
Mechanistic strategies are common and natural and are even built into the rhythms and cycles of life. Focusing on a candle, monitoring the breath, and chanting a mantra are all mechanistic strategies used in meditation. When we want to deal with maladaptive responses, patterned behaviors, postural problems, mood disorders and other sticky problems, a careful mechanistic intervention can be very helpful.
We can reverse this collapse in ways that are quite mechanistic, but also quite meaningful. If we understand the structure holistically, then we can see more clearly how to intervene in mechanistic but meaningful ways. The smile is the best example of this.
The smile reverses collapse of oro-facial posture. The simple smile is of course not a complete reversal and can not regrow an adult atrophied jaw, but it can shift the direction of one’s thinking and energy. It can provoke an increase in muscle tone and function. It can soothe stress. It can help begin the healing process of the deep self at any time you need it. 🙂
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