MAGIC MOMENTS
We can all think back and recall moments that have had enduring influence in our whole life. These moments act as magical “fulcrums” which live within our conscious and unconscious forever.
The first sight of our newborn child, the first kiss, certain songs, the first dream you remember, singular events at school – some elevating, some humiliating - later honors or accomplishments that infuse you to this day.
Think about moments in your life that have enduring significance and power for you.
These are quite different from non-magical but addictive moments, playing games or on facebook or other interactions in virtual reality. These withdrawals from actual social engagement are contributing to a massive wave of despair. There are concrete physiological explanations for this.
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “Digital Addictions Are Drowning Us in Dopamine, succinctly gives us important information that explains why the addiction to virtual reality is giving rise to new levels of depression in the U.S. and many other countries. Dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with transitory pleasures, begets its opposite, pain, and the repeated fleeing back to the pleasure source, however temporary. This excellent article proposes we abstain from these addictions, but doesn’t go into what do we put in their place.
I suggest we consider and use our past magical moments as signposts, as guiding lights, and let them fuel our momentum for joy, for happiness, not just for pleasure. In this way, we can foster a new magic.
Re-developing the appetite for meaningfulness in our lives is essential.
Note how meaningless a “like” is on our facebook comment. Then visualize instead what would translate into a feeling of meaning. It’s not just the “happy consciousness” version of life we’re after; it is the actual experience of joy and, when evoked, grief, anger, fear, etc. - all accompany the meaningful experience of life in its fullness.
And if you’re not sure what would indeed potentiate the old magic and help create new magical moments and enduring fulcrums, welcome to the club! My therapist recently listened to me complaining that I wasn't finding the new life paths I was looking for. He asked, “Could you consider just enjoying searching?” And in that magical moment, my path revealed itself as the searching itself. Now what better game is there really than the search for truth and meaning in life?
By the way, the medium of actual reality is…POSITIVE TOUCH! It is an antidote to the virtual. There is nothing other than touch in the known universe that contacts both our actual physical structure, sensation and our energy. Especially post-pandemic as we start to re-engage socially, touch must play a central role – whether it’s a handshake, a hug, a massage, or just a pat on the back. This continues to be the enduring draw of the profession of massage - the fundamental sanity that is directly conveyed through touch. This is the archetype of human connection and when people finish even a short introduction to massage or a session, their world has changed a bit. We see with students, when they complete a workshop or a certification in massage therapy, the magic of touch has provided a new light, a renewed illumination of their paths in life.
The magic touch of a mother, a friend, a dog, a love, fresh grass, blessed warm water - all these things that touch us in memorable ways continue to prove to us there is love in this world.
May we meet along this high way!
