Mental Resilience and the Integral View In the past, we typically perceived uncertainty to be at a moderately low level. Also, we would often deal with only one aspect of uncertainty at a time. Today, however, we are experiencing high levels of uncertainty across all aspects of our lives – including work, family, relationships, the economy, and the political situation. As human beings, we tend to naturally look for certainty, and we want things to be predictable. The question is how can we try to develop a more
The fact that everything in nature is integrated is described in the science of consciousness as nonduality . Adopting a nondual view can be very helpful in overcoming common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Cognitive science shows the benefits of viewing things as developing and not fixed. Having a growth mindset mean holding a belief that we can develop new skills and grow. In her book ‘Mindset: The New Psychology of
Success’, Carol Dweck explains that individuals with a fixed mindset typically believe that their abilities are fixed and are focused on achieving specific outcomes. Individuals with a growth mindset who believe that their abilities can be developed have a more realistic understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, and they worry less about setbacks. Focusing too much on trying to do things perfectly and avoiding judgement produces higher levels of anxiety and can have a detrimental effect on mental wellbeing.
genuine relationship with the fundamental uncertainty of human life? This could help us gain a higher tolerance
for unpredictability and change, which is ultimately what mental resilience is all about.
To be able to handle a higher degree of
uncertainty and change, we need to transform the mind. This means adopting new ways of thinking and being that are going to be more sustainable in the long run.
We now know that all mental disorders represent a degree of dissociation from reality, or fragmentation of the psyche . Integration, therefore, is the key to sustained mental resilience and wellbeing. We can develop an integral view by learning to see things as being in a continuous process of development and change, of which we are a part. Instead of perceiving things as fixed and separate, we can learn to see them as changeable and inter- dependent. In nature, after all, nothing is separate, nothing is ‘good / bad’, or ‘big / small’. Everything is connected and relative to everything else. A small seed can grow into a large tree, and depending on where in the process of growth we are observing it, it will appear as either ‘big’ or ‘small’.
Apart from a growth mindset, an integral view also includes adopting a process orientation . This means being mindful of the process of development and change and aware of what is going on in the present moment. Being focused on the process instead of the outcome helps us see things we would otherwise miss and allows us to be open to new possibilities. In her book ‘Mindfulness’, Ellen Langer cites being preoccupied with the past and focusing too much on the future as examples of mindlessness . Being mindful means seeing what is available to us in the moment and being fully present and able to act as needed.
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The Green Sward - Spring 2022
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