Psychotherapy and the Flywheel of Consciousness
April 2nd, 2009
A GoodTherapy.org Featured Column written by John Rhead, Ph.D.
Click here to contact John and/or see his GoodTherapy.org Profile
Many machines with rotating parts contain flywheels. Almost all automobile engines have them. A flywheel is a heavy wheel which rotates when the machine of which it is a part is running. Because it is heavy the flywheel absorbs surges of energy, thereby causing the machine to run more smoothly. The flywheel also stores kinetic energy when it is rotating and can keep a machine running for a period of time even if the usual source of energy (e.g. gasoline motor, water wheel, windmill) stops providing input.
I have begun to notice something like a flywheel in my consciousness. During times when I am meditating or in some other way opening my awareness to a state of equanimity, perhaps even to “the peace that passeth understanding,” I seem to be adding energy to the flywheel that is connected to such a state. Because this state seems incompatible with speeding things up, I do not imagine my flywheel of consciousness is increasing the speed at which it is rotating–the way energy is added to mechanical flywheels. Rather, my flywheel of consciousness seems to increase its mass by growing larger as I rest in equanimity, while continuing to rotate at the same stately speed. Each time I add energy to my equanimity flywheel in this way I imagine that it has grown in size, in thickness and/or diameter. Sometimes I imagine that it has changed in density, going from wood to steel or stone, and therefore is capable of storing even more equanimity energy. The result is that my degree of equanimity is less likely to be reduced when I encounter a situation in my life that would be expected to reduce it, such as something that might stimulate anger, fear, or stress.
It is reasonable to consider psychotherapy to be a process that can enhance equanimity over time, even though any given session may be stressful as one does the hard work of encountering both the personal and the collective unconscious at deeper and deeper levels. It is perhaps even reasonable to assume that the therapist’s flywheel of consciousness, if it is spinning smoothly and with substantial accumulated equanimity momentum, can transfer energy to the client’s flywheel by induction, through the resonance provided by the intimacy of the therapeutic relationship. This assumption implies that the therapist must pursue ongoing experiences of equanimity, through meditation, psychotherapy, prayer, and communion with human or non-human beloveds, vision quests, encounters with mortality, or whatever might meet this need for him or her.
Such activities can be conceptualized as cultivating intimacy with The Divine in order to create an inductive relationship with the Great Flywheel of Life, which in turn can be conceptualized as having infinite mass and therefore rotating at a constant speed under all conditions.
©Copyright 2009 by John Rhead, Ph.D., therapist in Columbia, MD. All Rights Reserved.
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8 Comments | Click here to leave a comment.
Comments
All of my personal meditation sessions seem to add energy to the internal flywheel- that is what keeps me moving along and keeps me focused on the big picture.
I think all of us add positive energy to our flywheel when we stay focussed and optimistic. When negativity consumes us it makes us weak, spent, incapable of getting through our day and most important of all depressed. This is something that makes our internal flywheel ineffective.
I can really use some meditation,but every time I try, it seems as I’m trying to hard or maybe looking for something and not getting it. These past couple days have really stressed me out at work and it would be nice to know if meditation would help me focus and concentrate more.
It seems like meditation can do wonders. I have always heard about how it clears the mind and your more refreshed. I will have to try this.
There really is no telling where life can take you if you would only sit back and simply enjoy the journey.
I’m with Jermiah on this one. When we are negative, we become stressed and this causes us not to function or focus on ourself and the job we are doing. When I get so stressed, I start getting negative and then it seems like things start going downhill. I have to stop and take a big breather and quieten myself down before I can go on.
I know that we are all made up of energy and if we can learn to relax, focus, meditate and allow what is ours to come in, we would have a more positive outcome an positive outlook on life. I believe problems are more easily solved if we have a clear mind and are positive.
I would love to learn how to reach my higher self or intelligence. I’ve always desired this, but just can’t seem to master it.
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