Yoga and Microdosing as Navigation Guides for Creative Solutions
Do we develop creativity from understanding ourselves, or do we understand ourselves better because of our creation?
We think this question can be best answered not by what we are creating but rather by why we stop creating . When we really look through the magnifying glass, is it fear? disconnection? unsafe feelings? lack of vision?
The Road Trip Analogy
The idea of driving with the windows down, accompanied by your favorite 36-hour playlist and the open road ahead, can evoke a profound sense of freedom. It's always a fantastic start to a journey when your vehicle is spotless, fully stocked with snacks and caffeine to energize the ride. Personally, I don't know about you, but we usually plan our trips by considering the weather conditions along the way, hoping for clear roads and minimal traffic. However, with the right companions and support, some of these potential roadblocks seem far less obstructive.
Depending on the length of your road trip, as you enjoy your snacks and beverages, you may begin to notice the accumulation of items inside the cabin, gradually transforming your once-pristine car into a less tidy space. In addition, the unavoidable presence of bugs on the hood of your car can further diminish that sense of cleanliness.
Picture this: Your windshield washer fluid runs dry, leaving you unable to clear away the bugs and grime that accumulate on your windshield. As you make stops along the way, you search in vain for a trash can or a water source to clean your windshield, but they remain elusive. Nevertheless, you persevere in your journey, maintaining high spirits and belting out your best karaoke tunes, albeit with everything a bit more blurred.
Amidst the reduced visibility and the distraction of this situation, you might inadvertently miss a crucial turn on the road, unknowingly continuing in a direction you hadn't anticipated. It might take hours before you realize that you've veered far off course—of course, this scenario predates the era of navigation systems! 😆
Change in Perspective
How does feeling off course and without the proper visibility make you feel? and more importantly, how could those feelings prevent you from thinking possible solutions? Feeling fearful, unsafe, disconnected and facing the unknown have the potential to block our vision further since the sympathetic nervous system goes on high alert and all of our defense mechanisms come online. The trash then looks trashier, and the windows more dirty, we focus all of our attention on what is going wrong.
The Trek Back to the Path
Stopping feels like the right action and the immediate solution is to clean the windshield, remove the distractions and find a way back to the destination. Do you agree?
Yoga as Right Action
Yoga and its eight limbs can be compared to a carwash for the exterior and a garbage disposal system for the interior of the car. A consistent asana practice, the third limb, acts as a cleansing process, removing physical and mental residue, akin to wiping away grime and eliminating the bugs stuck to the car's surface. This practice also slows down our experiences, allowing for clearer thinking.
Engaging in regular meditation, encompassing limbs four to seven, functions as the mechanism for disposing of accumulated mental clutter. It redirects our focus toward the positive aspects of our journey and those accompanying us on this ride.
The first two limbs offer a preventive solution, reducing the unnecessary baggage we accumulate during our journey. This streamlined approach ensures a more efficient and skillful ride towards either the sunset, as in the eighth limb, or perhaps the sunrise (a topic for our upcoming blog discussion).
Microdosing Psychedelics as a Navigation Solution
Life often presents unexpected challenges, and at times, we may find ourselves unequipped with the necessary information and tools to navigate these obstacles. In such moments, seeking external assistance can guide us back onto our intended path. Maybe in the car ride analogy you overlooked a grocery bag under the car seat that contained a full water bottle or you required a local's insight to find a shortcut back to your route. These newfound tools could serve as windshield cleaner, a receptacle for accumulated clutter, and a guide back to your destination.
But where do these spontaneous thoughts of looking under the seat or seeking guidance from a local originate? Where do creative solutions spring from? Have you ever noticed that ideas tend to flow more effortlessly when you feel connected, empowered, and supported, even in unfamiliar terrain?
“Microdosing [psychedelics] may derive some of its purported long-term cognition and creativity enhancing effects from the capacity of psychedelics to induce potentially beneficial persisting brain changes such as enhanced neural plasticity, enhancement of neurogenesis, or reduction of neuroinflammation.”
Microdosing functions as a guide, akin to a local who knows the hidden path, prompting us to explore beneath the surface and widening our perspective. It enhances our ability to perceive things holistically and intuitively. Upon returning to our everyday lives, we often gain insight into a better path forward, ultimately viewing the experience as an enlightening adventure in retrospect.
Responsible Use and Integration
If considering the use of psychedelics for mental health, it is crucial to do so responsibly and under the guidance of trained professionals. Legitimate psychedelic guiding involves careful preparation, a supervised session, and integration afterward to help individuals make sense of their experiences and apply the insights gained to their daily lives.
The growing interest in psychedelics as a tool for mental health represents an exciting frontier in the field of psychology and psychiatry. These substances have the potential to revolutionize how we approach and treat mental health conditions. However, the road ahead is fraught with complexities, including legal, ethical, and safety concerns.
As research and conversations around psychedelics continue to evolve, it's essential to approach this topic with an open mind and a commitment to responsible use. The future may hold new and effective treatments for mental health challenges, but it's vital that we proceed with caution, respect, and a deep understanding of both the promises and pitfalls of the psychedelic experience.
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