Maturity, Potency, and Action.

I am continuing to read Moshe Feldenkrais’ book: The Potent Self. (the 1985 edition). On page 110, there is a paragraph that reads,

“In the properly matured individual, activity is spontaneous in all familiar circumstances and potent when a more refined control is required. The spontaneity and the potency are possible because the mature adult has learned to dissociate emotions from body patterns, she has lifted compulsiveness from her behavior, and she makes her habits in accordance with what she deems necessary or desirable. This lifting of compulsiveness from behavior results in greater freedom and independence, similar to the recognition of necessity that lifts the compulsivness from social behavior.”

The next paragraph begins with…

“Correct posture is a matter of emotional growth and learning”

I am diligently attempting to write a commentary on Dr. Feldenkrais’ ideas. The truth of the ideas have become so self-evident to me over the last decade or so, that words are hard to find. I am attempting to think of someone that I know personally who has lifted compulsiveness from his or her behavior – a human being who has true choice in what he or she thinks, feels and enacts. No one comes to mind. I suppose that there are one or two people I can think of locally and one or two Feldenkrais Practitioners that I know. However, I realize as I am writing this, that looking for others who are spontaneous and potent is a relatively stupid undertaking. First off, I am not the “judge and jury” of another person’s life. There are many cases in which a person’s compulsivity and spontaneity are self-evident, but many cases in which it is not. Secondly, the relevant person to consider is myself, as others might fruitfully consider their selves.

Would you be willing to ask yourself, specifically, if Feldenkrais’ ideas of potency, maturity and action apply to you? Could you call yourself a potent individual as defined above? If not, would you be willing to entertain ways to enact that type of potency in yourself? How would you do it? What steps could you take? If you already are spontaneous and potent, how could you further refine your skills in those areas?