Comments on: Love http://ongoingprocess.net/love/ Spirit, geekness, and life Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:45:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Chris http://ongoingprocess.net/love/#comment-10120 Chris Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:48:20 +0000 http://ongoingprocess.net/love/#comment-10120 In the long run, you are quite right. Trying to fight or flee the fundamental pain of life is actually more painful than just letting it in in the first place. But a reflexive mode of behavior cannot see that far. You make an excellent point. In addition to accepting that pain is an inescapable part of love, we must also seek to expand our perspective to the point where we (and our instincts) see how fight-or-flight can be applied in a useful way. In the long run, you are quite right. Trying to fight or flee the fundamental pain of life is actually more painful than just letting it in in the first place. But a reflexive mode of behavior cannot see that far.

You make an excellent point. In addition to accepting that pain is an inescapable part of love, we must also seek to expand our perspective to the point where we (and our instincts) see how fight-or-flight can be applied in a useful way.

]]> By: Katie FL http://ongoingprocess.net/love/#comment-10117 Katie FL Mon, 15 Oct 2007 08:55:00 +0000 http://ongoingprocess.net/love/#comment-10117 <i>When we open ourselves, all too often we feel pain.</i> It's more painful to be closed off, but you're right. I try to remember that the opening-up pain is analogous to the pain felt when you relax the muscles in your hand after clenching it for an hour. It's scary, and you delude yourself into thinking the pain of the tight fist is preferable, or even non-existent, but an open, relaxed hand can always accomplish more. I haven't read your email yet, but I will. Probably when it's not almost 5am (god damned cat woke me up). When we open ourselves, all too often we feel pain.

It’s more painful to be closed off, but you’re right. I try to remember that the opening-up pain is analogous to the pain felt when you relax the muscles in your hand after clenching it for an hour. It’s scary, and you delude yourself into thinking the pain of the tight fist is preferable, or even non-existent, but an open, relaxed hand can always accomplish more.

I haven’t read your email yet, but I will. Probably when it’s not almost 5am (god damned cat woke me up).

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