Mirror Neurons, Empathy and Quantum Physics

There was a great article in yesterday's NY Times about the discovery of what are called "mirror neurons". Basically, these are very specialized cells that fire off WHEN YOU WATCH SOMEONE DO SOMETHING. And in doing so, they evoke the same experience in you, the same feeling and reaction in you. I read it and thought about how when men see a man hit in the crotch, we universally all flinch and go "owch!" together.

This is thought to be a basis for empathy, the effectiveness of visioning, and implicit learning.

One of the examples used in the article is that when a monkey watched a person eating a peanut, the same neurons he would use WHEN EATING A PEANUT himself fired.

It has pretty startling impact when you really dig into it, about the impacts we have on each other. And, while I am not a quantum physics expert, it reminded me of the concept of "entanglement" where two particles become somehow related, and changing one changes the other, even though they are great distances apart, and there are no visible means of "communication".

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm..........

The Enneagram

I had a lunch today with a good friend and colleague, Dina Innominato. She has a specialty of working with the Enneagram - something more than a personality typing system, but hard for me to describe better. It includes 9 types, and deals with the deeper motivations and worldviews that drive people. I've found it to be uncanny, and of great use in my own personal development. Oh yes, I'm a 6, with a 7 wing.

You can take her free online test at Creative Points, her website.
If you have done the Myers-Briggs, but want to to see even deeper than that, I strongly suggest studying the Enneagram.

Giving Ourselves Permission

I have been fighting a bronchial infection since Saturday - and engaging in radical self-care (sleeping 9-10 hours a night, staying quiet, not pushing myself to do much). This has not been easy. I've been facing anxiety over "not doing". Not writing a new workshop, not exercising, not cleaning the house, etc. It makes me wonder - what do I, and you, have trouble giving ourselves permission to do? I know for me in the past that has included:

• being late
  
• making a mistake/being wrong
  
• making a fuss over me
  

What about you????

Peter Hannah, Therapist

Hi world,

My name is Peter Hannah, and I'm a therapist here in Seattle. The website for my therapy practice is www.ChangingForGood.com.

I was inspired to start this blog by another professional here in Seattle, The Law Lady, Stefani Quane, who has a blog as well. I intend to bring ideas here that can help people live the most rich, fulfilling lives possible, which is the mission of my work as a therapist.

Namaste! Peter