Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Changing My Mind
For years I have lived with ADHD (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm). Also, for as long as I can remember, I have been a Star Trek fan (Trekker, NOT Trekkie). Though in more recent years my interest in Trek has been attenuated by my responsibilities as a husband and father, I still reflect on the Star Trek experience a great deal. The main reason for this, I believe, is that the Star Trek series as envisioned and realized by Gene Roddenberry was thought provoking. It engaged the senses but also the intellect.
This particular Blog is not, however, designed to serve as a Star Trek fan product. Rather, it is intended to elaborate on some practical ideas I've had that resulted from my fascination with the Vulcan characters in the TV series, movies and books. These practical ideas are related to how a person might seek self-improvement through what psychologists would term Cognitive Therapy. In traditional Cognitive therapy, a therapist will try to help a patient identify the logical processes behind and reasons for their behavior - how our thinking affects our behavior and what we can do to make changes.
My approach might be likened to this kind of Cognitive therapy but with two differences: 1) The approach would not be merely for 'problems' with behavior but would also address improvement in 'normal' areas and 2) There is no second party involved - these ideas can be applied by ones self. Here's an example:
A specific area for myself has always been (as related to ADHD) the area of attention. I have noted behaviors in myself that are both physical and mental that tend to contribute to this process. I have thus developed a way of segregating the component parts of this behavior and have been endevoring to eliminate each behavior in a methodical way. Specifically, I have identified self-communication as a source of distraction (talking to myself). I theorized that by eliminating this behavior I will be able to increase my ability to focus for longer periods of time.
In addition to working on specific behaviors like this I have always wanted to create a spoken language. The Klingon language that is spoken by a race depicted in the Star Trek universe has already been created and is actually spoken by many people. It seems natural, therefore, that a Vulcan language could also be created. A language for 'Vulcan's' could easily make up the larger part of a formalized Vulcan philosophy - such philosophies have been elaborated on by authors of TV episodes, movies and books. One of (IMHO) the best examinations of the Vulcan culture and peaceful philosophy of Cthia was done by author Diane Duane in her book "Spock's World". While the essential story line did not seem realistic or reasonable based on my view of the Vulcan culture, the chapters that depicted the history of the Vulcan people were quite interesting and could perhaps lay the groundwork for a larger, real philosphy that we could apply to ourselves.
I'd welcome any initial thoughts as I elaborate on this idea in further blog entries.
This particular Blog is not, however, designed to serve as a Star Trek fan product. Rather, it is intended to elaborate on some practical ideas I've had that resulted from my fascination with the Vulcan characters in the TV series, movies and books. These practical ideas are related to how a person might seek self-improvement through what psychologists would term Cognitive Therapy. In traditional Cognitive therapy, a therapist will try to help a patient identify the logical processes behind and reasons for their behavior - how our thinking affects our behavior and what we can do to make changes.
My approach might be likened to this kind of Cognitive therapy but with two differences: 1) The approach would not be merely for 'problems' with behavior but would also address improvement in 'normal' areas and 2) There is no second party involved - these ideas can be applied by ones self. Here's an example:
A specific area for myself has always been (as related to ADHD) the area of attention. I have noted behaviors in myself that are both physical and mental that tend to contribute to this process. I have thus developed a way of segregating the component parts of this behavior and have been endevoring to eliminate each behavior in a methodical way. Specifically, I have identified self-communication as a source of distraction (talking to myself). I theorized that by eliminating this behavior I will be able to increase my ability to focus for longer periods of time.
In addition to working on specific behaviors like this I have always wanted to create a spoken language. The Klingon language that is spoken by a race depicted in the Star Trek universe has already been created and is actually spoken by many people. It seems natural, therefore, that a Vulcan language could also be created. A language for 'Vulcan's' could easily make up the larger part of a formalized Vulcan philosophy - such philosophies have been elaborated on by authors of TV episodes, movies and books. One of (IMHO) the best examinations of the Vulcan culture and peaceful philosophy of Cthia was done by author Diane Duane in her book "Spock's World". While the essential story line did not seem realistic or reasonable based on my view of the Vulcan culture, the chapters that depicted the history of the Vulcan people were quite interesting and could perhaps lay the groundwork for a larger, real philosphy that we could apply to ourselves.
I'd welcome any initial thoughts as I elaborate on this idea in further blog entries.
