This is a brilliant piece, and so so rich. Thank you. I’m especially fascinated by the Tanha / grasping / neuroscience parallels, and the predictive mechanism aspect of clenching. It’s amazing how much of life (I mean…all of it?!) is solved by literally relaxing more. Fascinating work!
Thank you. Yes it’s a very rich rabbit hole to explore… did you see the vasocomputation story in the library section? There’s so much still to be learned but it seems like potent territory.
Yes, the vasocomputation theory is one of the most exciting things I've read in a while! I've been down a very compelling rabbit hole off the back of reading your explorations here. I was especially interested in your somatic luck theory which, although it isn't the main thesis, is something I've been particularly fascinated by in my own work. Increased tolerance for uncertainty and the repeated uncanny decision making aspect in particular are super compelling. I'd love to reference your speculative theory in my writing on letting go and how it relates to luck, if you'd be happy for me to quote and reference your work? It would be great to point more people to your writing, too.
For as much as I love the way you map your experience I’m having an interesting time with what you’re defining as traps. Are they really traps? Or are they the cracks? Could they be portals onto a different dimension of experience and self inquiry allowing one to gather more fidelity to build them maps of one-self? In your case: were they really traps? I’m honestly curious about it. Or could it be that there is no such thing as a bad or good thing to run away from? No such thing as a bad or a good trip? But just a trip. Of whats meant for you? It seems to me that putting things that way could be very self limiting and in fact at the origin of what might generate maybe more hardening as opposed to adopting an open and graceful attitude of acceptance towards receiving the mystery of life. Of what’s sitting there just for you and only you. And slowly through practice learn to soften and listen to the immense resolution of the melody of aliveness that is always omnipresent present. Waves come and go and you learn how to surf whatever comes your way living mesmerized with the joy that the mystery of the unexpected life delivers to those who have no preference. Then again, this is purely based on my map from exploring such matters through a a wide vast array of experiences fueled by a lot of curiosity and aliveness ☀️
indeed yes, from a certain vantage point the perspective of a trap is itself a trap and eventually that frame too needs to be softened. However, in my experience this (gorgeous) perspective is practically less available for most people, and in my own journey noticing the subtle ways in which I was clenching (self-reliance, trying too hard to unclench etc.) resulted in greater freedom and appreciation for the unfoldment
Wow! That was an epic adventure of a read!! I love how you’ve taken what can be some intense Buddhist theory and distilled it down to clenching!
The nondual teacher Adyashanti once defined ego as essentially that which resists what is. That seems very much in keeping with this. Unclenching at subtler and subtler levels can probably take you all the way!
I’m a psychiatrist, meditator and former clinical mindfulness researcher (still do a bit of consulting on this but don’t lead studies anymore; now focused more on IFS) and work with a lot of patients with PTSD and depression. I have the sense that your straightforward approach plus gamification-vibes will work well for a lot of people I work with.
I’m also interested in the application of psychedelics (in combination with IFS) and I just finished a series of 5-MeO-DMT (see here for part 1 if you are interested: https://davidlovas.substack.com/p/do-you-understand-the-toad-revisited). A lot of the effectiveness (or lack of effectiveness) comes down to essentially unclenching or ‘letting go’. I go into the research, and what seems to facilitate letting go while on this notoriously powerful psychedelic.
This is really special Jonny - I know how hard it is to get your work and ideas across comprehensively like this. I think your piece will help thousands of people :)
This is very amazing. So detailed, I can’t believe I’m reading it for free. I’m a serial jaw clencher. So much beauty and wisdom here. I need to come back to finish the article.
Working through the interactive version since you first sent it and just wanted to say "cheers" for a really well-done essay! I'll be sharing with my patients and readers: thank you!
I just came across this essay via Alexandra The Composer. I was in tears as I began to recognize myself in your words. By the time I arrived to the practice I was sobbing. Thank you for this gift.
Genuinely great article. I think it connects really well to the TAME emotional model Russ Harris talks about in the happiness trap. So true that there is no such thing as a bad emotion.
This is such a masterclass. Thank you for the time and effort you put into this. Super grateful to have your clarity in the space.
Ahh thank you mate, feels good to have it out in the world. Appreciate the thoughtful writing you’re putting out there too
I thoroughly enjoyed this article. Amazing work. I appreciate the off ramps to explore as well.
thanks!
This is a brilliant piece, and so so rich. Thank you. I’m especially fascinated by the Tanha / grasping / neuroscience parallels, and the predictive mechanism aspect of clenching. It’s amazing how much of life (I mean…all of it?!) is solved by literally relaxing more. Fascinating work!
Thank you. Yes it’s a very rich rabbit hole to explore… did you see the vasocomputation story in the library section? There’s so much still to be learned but it seems like potent territory.
Yes, the vasocomputation theory is one of the most exciting things I've read in a while! I've been down a very compelling rabbit hole off the back of reading your explorations here. I was especially interested in your somatic luck theory which, although it isn't the main thesis, is something I've been particularly fascinated by in my own work. Increased tolerance for uncertainty and the repeated uncanny decision making aspect in particular are super compelling. I'd love to reference your speculative theory in my writing on letting go and how it relates to luck, if you'd be happy for me to quote and reference your work? It would be great to point more people to your writing, too.
Of course! Please do 🙏
The articulation of the levels and what one finds at each stage is hilarious and on point.
For as much as I love the way you map your experience I’m having an interesting time with what you’re defining as traps. Are they really traps? Or are they the cracks? Could they be portals onto a different dimension of experience and self inquiry allowing one to gather more fidelity to build them maps of one-self? In your case: were they really traps? I’m honestly curious about it. Or could it be that there is no such thing as a bad or good thing to run away from? No such thing as a bad or a good trip? But just a trip. Of whats meant for you? It seems to me that putting things that way could be very self limiting and in fact at the origin of what might generate maybe more hardening as opposed to adopting an open and graceful attitude of acceptance towards receiving the mystery of life. Of what’s sitting there just for you and only you. And slowly through practice learn to soften and listen to the immense resolution of the melody of aliveness that is always omnipresent present. Waves come and go and you learn how to surf whatever comes your way living mesmerized with the joy that the mystery of the unexpected life delivers to those who have no preference. Then again, this is purely based on my map from exploring such matters through a a wide vast array of experiences fueled by a lot of curiosity and aliveness ☀️
indeed yes, from a certain vantage point the perspective of a trap is itself a trap and eventually that frame too needs to be softened. However, in my experience this (gorgeous) perspective is practically less available for most people, and in my own journey noticing the subtle ways in which I was clenching (self-reliance, trying too hard to unclench etc.) resulted in greater freedom and appreciation for the unfoldment
Stunned. Thank you for this.
🙇♂️
Wow! That was an epic adventure of a read!! I love how you’ve taken what can be some intense Buddhist theory and distilled it down to clenching!
The nondual teacher Adyashanti once defined ego as essentially that which resists what is. That seems very much in keeping with this. Unclenching at subtler and subtler levels can probably take you all the way!
I’m a psychiatrist, meditator and former clinical mindfulness researcher (still do a bit of consulting on this but don’t lead studies anymore; now focused more on IFS) and work with a lot of patients with PTSD and depression. I have the sense that your straightforward approach plus gamification-vibes will work well for a lot of people I work with.
I’m also interested in the application of psychedelics (in combination with IFS) and I just finished a series of 5-MeO-DMT (see here for part 1 if you are interested: https://davidlovas.substack.com/p/do-you-understand-the-toad-revisited). A lot of the effectiveness (or lack of effectiveness) comes down to essentially unclenching or ‘letting go’. I go into the research, and what seems to facilitate letting go while on this notoriously powerful psychedelic.
Thanks for your wonderful work!
thanks for sharing David!
This is really special Jonny - I know how hard it is to get your work and ideas across comprehensively like this. I think your piece will help thousands of people :)
-NSM Alum & Peer-Mentor for a cohort or two
thanks so much Bodhi, really appreciate the kind words!
Lovely work man 🙏
Thanks friend 🙏
What a masterpiece!
🙏
what i love more than the article is the image. just some angry ass wise sage saying this on a mountaintop. Lol.
This is very amazing. So detailed, I can’t believe I’m reading it for free. I’m a serial jaw clencher. So much beauty and wisdom here. I need to come back to finish the article.
thanks Husain
Thank you Jonny!
Working through the interactive version since you first sent it and just wanted to say "cheers" for a really well-done essay! I'll be sharing with my patients and readers: thank you!
Thank you Lindsay!
I just came across this essay via Alexandra The Composer. I was in tears as I began to recognize myself in your words. By the time I arrived to the practice I was sobbing. Thank you for this gift.
Genuinely great article. I think it connects really well to the TAME emotional model Russ Harris talks about in the happiness trap. So true that there is no such thing as a bad emotion.