When I first heard the phrase, "The whole is equal to the sum of its parts" in Geometry class, it seemed so common-sensical, I wondered why anyone would need to explicitly state it. Few years later, I studied a different version of it as a concept under Gestalt Psychology, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." This went against simple mathematical logic but on studying it theoretically, I understood the depth of meaning it held. And when I began to see how it's a principle I've learned to use to cope with stressors, it seems like a wonderful philosophy!
This moment of insight occured during a casual conversation that went like this:
Friend: How do you let go so fast?
Me: I tell my brain what to think.
Friend: So your brain tells your brain what to think?
Me: No, I tell my brain what to think. Because my brain is just a part of me *cue: ah-ha moment* and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
This got me thinking further. We have several thoughts running through our minds and various emotions we experience through the day. We make decisions, some good, others not-so-good. We work, we play, we build relationships, we break relationships. And what we ultimately are is a sum total of all these experiences we've had (along with our genetic, physical and psychological make-up), right? Wrong; because we're humans, not machines. The different parts don't simply come together to make us who we are. They interact with each other in unique, dynamic ways. And these interactions between the various "parts" of us, add more to our existence. And that it why the whole is greater than merely the sum of its parts.
Back to using it to cope, I remind myself that I am bigger and stronger than these parts that seem to sometimes overpower me. If there are upsetting thoughts distracting me, I can control them. If I'm in a bad mood, I can change it. If I'm heartbroken (lol), I still have lots of other parts functioning just fine. I am a bigger whole and do not need to be threatened by a small part that's giving me a hard time. My heart is just one part of who I am, so is my brain and so is everything else. Even if all of them put together, decide to ruin my day, they can not (until I permit them), because I am greater, more powerful than any of these individually or combined.
Your brain is just one part of you. Don't let it enslave you. YOU tell your brain what to think, don't let it feed you thoughts. You decide what you want it to think. Don't forget who the master is!
-Aditi
This moment of insight occured during a casual conversation that went like this:
Friend: How do you let go so fast?
Me: I tell my brain what to think.
Friend: So your brain tells your brain what to think?
Me: No, I tell my brain what to think. Because my brain is just a part of me *cue: ah-ha moment* and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
This got me thinking further. We have several thoughts running through our minds and various emotions we experience through the day. We make decisions, some good, others not-so-good. We work, we play, we build relationships, we break relationships. And what we ultimately are is a sum total of all these experiences we've had (along with our genetic, physical and psychological make-up), right? Wrong; because we're humans, not machines. The different parts don't simply come together to make us who we are. They interact with each other in unique, dynamic ways. And these interactions between the various "parts" of us, add more to our existence. And that it why the whole is greater than merely the sum of its parts.
Back to using it to cope, I remind myself that I am bigger and stronger than these parts that seem to sometimes overpower me. If there are upsetting thoughts distracting me, I can control them. If I'm in a bad mood, I can change it. If I'm heartbroken (lol), I still have lots of other parts functioning just fine. I am a bigger whole and do not need to be threatened by a small part that's giving me a hard time. My heart is just one part of who I am, so is my brain and so is everything else. Even if all of them put together, decide to ruin my day, they can not (until I permit them), because I am greater, more powerful than any of these individually or combined.
Your brain is just one part of you. Don't let it enslave you. YOU tell your brain what to think, don't let it feed you thoughts. You decide what you want it to think. Don't forget who the master is!
-Aditi
