MINDSET – M(echanism)
Mechanism
This is a dimension that is useful for self-observation and knowledge but that is not easy to understand at first. It remains hard to grasp despite the fact that ancient and modern writings in literature, philosophy and religion provide several examples of mechanisms and despite the fact that the subject of mechanisms has been extensively dealt with in the fields of psychology and human behavior.
Template Instructions
Basically, a psychological mechanism is what we apply psychologically in support of or against who and what we are as a person, as defined by our attributes. A mechanism is also what we apply psychologically in support of or against any of our other elements (purpose, ethic, etc.) or in support of or against another dimension (emotion, thought, etc.). It is what we do to ourselves psychologically that may support or oppose who and what we are and what we experience or could experience at any moment of a situation.
Watch the video introduction for Mechanism.
Transcript (.pdf, 145 Kb)9m 26s
If you haven’t already, download the 3a MINDSET template (.pdf, 100 Kb):
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As an example, at any moment, we may support or oppose our basic general attributes of being a human being, any of our specific assets, any of our goals or values, any experience of joy or optimism, etc. This support or opposition may be brief and occasional or long and persistent. Also, it may be conscious or unconscious. The end result is that we live by anything we support—and not live by anything we oppose.
In summary, what we do to ourselves and to our experiences psychologically may be described under the rubric of mechanisms. This may all seem somewhat abstract and complicated, but with some study and practice, it can become practical and useful.
To help you study and practice, here’s template 3b
Download the 3b MECHANISMS template (.pdf, 100 Kb):
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Template Instructions
Let’s proceed, step by step, starting from the left-hand side column!
General attribute
With the template, start with the column entitled: “Element, Dimension.” Choose what you have listed as a general attribute of you as a human being (for example, “wholeness,” “completeness” or “belonging”) and write the word under “General attributes.” Then go to the box at the bottom right entitled “Supporting Mechanisms” and write the mechanisms that you may use, by choosing from the list Supporting Mechanisms. They are: I remember, uphold, agree, see, welcome and defend. Next go to the right-end column at the bottom entitled “Comfort–Harmony” and describe the experience that results when you use these mechanisms. It could be something along the lines of, “I feel peace, fullness, optimism, lightness, energy, etc. when I support the attribute____”.
Watch the video instructions on how to fill out the template.
Transcript (.pdf, 137 Kb)7m 11s
Assets
Do the same exercise with other attributes and with other supporting mechanisms. Take time to observe and experience the process, step by step. Now do the same exercise with what you consider to be one of your specific assets, for example “kindness”, “intelligence,” “experience,” etc. Write the word under “Assets” in the left column “Elements, Dimension etc.” Again, go to the right to the box at the bottom entitled “Supporting Mechanisms” and write the mechanisms that you might use by choosing from the list: Supporting Mechanisms. Let’s say that these mechanisms are, “I believe, cherish, love, value and protect. Next go to the right-hand column at the bottom entitled “Comfort – Harmony” and describe your experience when believing, cherishing, loving, valuing and protecting your kindness, intelligence or experience. It could be something such as, “I feel kind, peaceful, good, generous, content, etc. when I support my kindness,” “I feel smart and intelligent, confident and joyful when I support my intelligence,” etc. (to “support” means to accept, acknowledge and own).
Watch the video instructions on how to fill out the template.
Transcript (.pdf, 130 Kb)6m 06s
This is an example of psychologically applying supporting mechanisms to assets that are specific to you. Do the same exercise with other assets and with other supporting mechanisms. Take time to observe and experience the process, step by step.
Ethics
Next, do the same exercise with an ethical principle or value that you hold, for example “justice,” “freedom” or “service.” Write the word under “Ethic” in the left column, “Elements, Dimensions, etc.” Again, go to the right to the box at the bottom entitled “Supporting Mechanisms” and write down the mechanisms that you might use by choosing from the list Supporting Mechanisms. Let’s say they are, “I agree, affirm, endorse, preserve, respect, and safeguard.” Next, go to the right-hand column at the bottom entitled “Comfort – Harmony” and describe the experience when you agree with, affirm, endorse, preserve, respect and safeguard justice. It could be something such as, “I feel right, safe, strong, protected and hopeful, etc. when I support justice or ____”
That is an example of applying mechanisms that psychologically support an ethical value. Do the same exercise with other ethical principles or values you uphold and with other supporting mechanisms. Take time to observe and experience the process, step by step.
Purpose
Next, do the same exercise with one or your purposes, for example “to teach, “to serve,” “to lead,” etc. Write the word under “Purpose” in the left column “Elements, Dimensions, etc.” Again, go to the right to the box at the bottom entitled “Supporting Mechanisms” and write the mechanisms that you may use, by choosing from the list Supporting Mechanisms. Let’s say they are, I believe, cherish, enjoy, promote and treasure. Next, go to the right-hand column at the bottom entitled “Comfort – Harmony” and describe the experience when believing, cherishing, enjoying, promoting and treasuring the commitment to teach, serve or lead. It could be something such as, “I enjoy, identify with, feel clear-minded and wholehearted about teaching, serving or leading, etc.”
That is an example of applying supporting mechanisms to a purpose. Do the same exercise with other purposes and goals you have and with other supporting mechanisms. Take time to observe and experience the process, step by step.
Emotions
Next, do the same exercise with an emotion, for example “serenity”, “calm” or “joy.” Write the word under “Emotion” in the left column “Elements, Dimensions, etc.” Again, go to the right to the box at the bottom entitled: “Supporting Mechanisms” and write the mechanisms that you may use by choosing from the list: Supporting Mechanisms. These may be, I allow, believe, practice, rejoice, remember, sustain and welcome. Next, go to the right-hand column at the bottom entitled “Comfort–Harmony” and describe the experience when you allow, believe, practice, rejoice, remember, sustain and welcome. It could be something such as, “I feel serene, anchored, warm, steady, etc. when I support serenity, or I feel ____when I support ____.”
Watch the video instructions on how to fill out the template.
Transcript (.pdf, 129 Kb)5m 27s
That is an example of applying mechanisms that support an emotion psychologically. Do the same exercise with other emotions and with other supporting mechanisms. Take time to observe and experience the process, step by step.
Thought
Next, do the same exercise with a thought or an idea, for example “this is doable.” Write the relevant words under “Thought” in the left column “Elements, Dimensions, etc.” Again, go to the right to the box at the bottom entitled: “Supporting Mechanisms” and write the mechanisms that you may use by choosing from the list Supporting Mechanisms. Let’s say they are, I acknowledge, believe, encourage or recognize. Next, go to the right-hand column at the bottom entitled “Comfort–Harmony” and describe the experience when you acknowledge, believe, encourage or recognize. It could be something such as, “I feel capable, excited, ready and stimulated, etc.”
That is an example of applying supporting mechanisms to a thought. Do the same exercise with other thoughts and with other supporting mechanisms. Take time to observe and experience the process, step by step. Also repeat the exercise with a thought in the form of an image, of a vision of something (as some people think through images better than through words).
Notion
You will notice the rubric “Notion” in the left column, “Elements, Dimension etc.” You will be able to use the rubric after we have covered the dimension “Notion” later in this part. So far, we have looked at the experience resulting from using supporting mechanisms on elements and dimensions. Once you have studied and practiced this to achieve a sufficient level of understanding, it is time to look at the experience that results from using mechanisms that oppose elements and dimensions. Again, use the template 3a. It will be useful to do the opposing mechanisms exercises on the same elements and dimensions as those for supporting mechanisms exercises.
Let’s move on to the “Supporting and Opposing Mechanisms” in the middle part of template 3b
With the general attributes (“wholeness” etc.) written in the column “Elements, Dimension etc.” under “General Attributes,” go to the right to the box in the middle entitled “Opposing Mechanisms” and write the mechanisms that you may use by choosing from the list Opposing Mechanisms.
For maximal effect, choose more extreme mechanisms. Let’s say they are, “I ban, cut, deny, eliminate and reject wholeness.”
Next go to the right-hand column in the middle entitled “Discomfort – Conflict” and describe the experience when banning, cutting, denying, eliminating, and refusing wholeness. It could be something such as, “I feel not whole, missing something, tense, empty, dark, etc.” For example, you might believe in justice but deny that belief in how we deal with others or how we let others deal with us.
Do the same exercises, one by one (in the same manner as for applying supporting mechanisms but now with applying opposing mechanisms) with, for example, the asset of kindness, the ethical principle of justice, the purpose of teaching, the emotion of serenity and the thought that something is doable. Do the same exercise with other elements and dimensions and with other opposing mechanisms. Take time to observe and experience the process, step by step.
Once you have a good grasp of opposing mechanisms and of their effect, move on to the next part, which describes movements between types of mechanisms and the interrelated effects of these movements on experiences.
Supporting and Opposing Mechanisms
To begin, let’s go back to supporting mechanisms and their effect on experience when applied on an element (e.g. an attribute) or a dimension (e.g. an emotion). We have seen that when a supporting mechanism is applied on an element or dimension, the result is that the element or dimension is felt. We have also seen that there is no opposition or conflict with the element or dimension and that, overall, the experience is one of comfort and harmony. It can be illustrated graphically as below:
Walk through this figure with an element (like an attribute) or dimension (like an emotion) until you understand the effect of using supporting mechanisms. Also, take care to note that, in addition to the element or dimension being felt, the overall experience should be pleasant and conducive to happiness. When you feel that you have understood the effect of supporting mechanisms, proceed to the next section.
Now, let’s do the same with opposing mechanisms. We have seen that when an opposing mechanism is applied on an element or dimension, the result is that the element or dimension is not felt. As a result of the opposition to the element or dimension, the overall experience is one of disharmony or discomfort. This can be illustrated graphically as follows
Walk through this figure until you fully understand the effect of using opposing mechanisms. Pay attention to how, in addition to the element or dimension not being felt, the overall experience when an opposing mechanism is used becomes unpleasant and non-conducive to happiness. When you feel you have understood the effect of opposing mechanisms, proceed to the next section.
Now let’s begin our exercise with the experience that results from applying an opposing mechanism.
We have seen that the experience is characterized by the element or dimension not being felt and by discomfort and conflict. These types of experiences are very unpleasant and even painful because they are not conducive to happiness.
These are not experiences that we want or can sustain for too long or too often. The question then becomes: how do we deal with or what do we do with those experiences? One solution is that we can use supporting mechanism instead of opposing mechanisms and experience the pleasant effect of supporting mechanisms, as illustrated here:
To benefit from this effective solution, you should experiment and think about this movement from opposing to supporting mechanisms. However, this movement requires knowledge about oneself and about mechanisms and their effects. It requires introspection and self-examination and a significant level of determination and effort. In addition, very often, as we will see later, the application of opposing mechanisms is not conscious. It is, in fact, pushed out of our consciousness and is thus not accessible for correction. Take some time to reflect on this.
Thus, the question remains: how do we deal with or what do we do with the unpleasant and even painful experiences resulting from applying opposing mechanisms? Very often, we attempt to get relief, cope or compensate by applying additional mechanisms. These can be called “coping” or “compensating” mechanisms. This process is illustrated below:
It should be noted that adding compensating mechanisms does not resolve the unpleasant experience. This method does not remove the opposing mechanisms but merely adds more mechanisms to compensate for them. The unpleasantness and conflict are still there, but they are lessened, covered up or even out of consciousness. Only shifting to supporting mechanisms could truly resolve unpleasant experiences. However, compensating mechanisms bring some relief and offer some way of living with the unpleasantness and conflict which result from applying opposing mechanisms.
The best way to understand this is by experimenting and experiencing the dynamic of adding compensating mechanisms to opposing mechanisms.
To this end, let’s use template 3b again.
If you haven’t already, download the 3b MECHANISMS template (.pdf, 100 Kb):
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Let’s repeat the exercises we have done before with opposing mechanisms and add the application of compensating mechanisms. Again, write a general attribute such as “wholeness,” etc. in the column “Element, Dimensions etc.” under “General Attributes.” Next, go to the right to the box in the middle entitled “Opposing Mechanisms” and write the mechanisms that you might use by choosing from the list: Opposing Mechanisms. For maximal effect, choose more intense mechanisms. Let’s say they are, “I ban, cut, deny, eliminate, and refuse wholeness.” Next, go to the right-hand column in the middle entitled “Discomfort–Conflict” and describe your experience when banning, cutting, denying, eliminating and refusing wholeness, etc. It could be something such as, “I feel not whole, missing something, tense, empty, dark, etc.”
Hold on to the experience, and with it go to the middle top column entitled “Compensating Mechanisms.” Under the rubric “Make unconscious” choose some mechanisms from the list Compensating Mechanisms that would make the unpleasant experience and conflict less present, less accessible to your consciousness. Let’s say they are, “I block, deny, forget, repress the unpleasant experience” and as a result, “I feel not whole, missing something, tense, empty, dark, etc.” Note the effect as a new experience in the adjacent right-hand column “Compensated Discomfort – Conflict.” It could be, “I don’t know or see; I do not feel whole; I am missing something; I am feeling tense, dark and conflicted, etc.” Experience, observe and reflect on this.
Next, keeping in mind the experience from opposing mechanisms, “I feel not whole, missing something, tense, empty, dark, etc.,” go back to the middle top column entitled “Compensating mechanisms.” Under the rubric “Physical” choose mechanisms from the list Compensating Mechanisms that, by acting on your body, would make the unpleasant experience and conflict less present, less accessible to your consciousness. These could be drinking alcohol, over-eating, over-exercising, etc. Note the effect as a new experience in the adjacent right column titled “Compensated Discomfort – Conflict.” It could be: “I do not feel whole; I feel that I am missing something; I feel tense, dark, etc.; I feel conflicted, but I numb the experience with food, alcohol or exercise.” Experience and observe this process and reflect on it.
Now, again, keeping in mind the opposing mechanisms, “I feel not whole, missing something, tense, empty, dark, etc.,” go back the middle top column entitled “Compensating mechanisms.” Under the rubric “Psychological,” choose mechanisms from the list Compensating Mechanisms that, by changing the unpleasant experience psychologically, would make that experience and the conflict less present, less accessible to your consciousness. These mechanisms could be conditionalizing, humorizing, pretending, ritualizing, etc. Conditionizing refers to applying a condition to support what was opposed. For example, “I do not feel whole but will feel whole when I prove myself, when I please someone, etc.,” “I do not feel whole but will feel whole when I pretend to be whole,” “I do not feel whole but will feel whole after I preform these rituals. Another example is: “I do not safe or protected but will feel safe or protected after I perform these rituals.” List the effect as a new experience in the adjacent right column titled “Compensated Discomfort – Conflict”. It could be, “I do not feel whole; I am missing something; I am feeling tense, dark and conflicted, but I transform the experience by creating conditions to feel whole, using excessive humor, pretending to be whole, using rituals for relief, etc.” Experience and observe this process and reflect on it.
Finally, again keeping in mind the opposing mechanisms “I feel not whole, missing something, tense, empty, dark, etc.,” go back the middle top column entitled: “Compensating mechanisms.” Under the rubric “On other persons,” choose mechanisms from the list Compensating Mechanisms that would make the unpleasant experience and conflict less present, less accessible to your consciousness by referring to other people. These could be done by admiring, belittling, blaming, comparing, depending, projecting, etc. Note the effect as a new experience in the adjacent right column titled “Compensated Discomfort – Conflict.”
It could be, “I do not feel whole, I feel missing something, tense, dark and conflicted, but I transform the experience by comparing myself to others, admiring some and belittling others, by blaming people, by being dependent on people, by projecting my experiences on people, etc.” Experience and observe this process and reflect on it. You have now examined and experienced the process that begins by applying an opposing mechanism on an attribute and continues by applying the opposing mechanisms and adding a compensating mechanism. Now repeat the exercises with the other elements and dimensions as before: “Kindness,” “Justice,” “Teaching,” “Joy” and “Doable,” as well as any other elements and dimensions.
You should now be more knowledgeable about mechanisms now and able to recognize how you use them to oppose yourself and how you could use them instead to support and empower yourself. This will come with time and practice—and with the additional tools offered in Step 6.
Before we move to the next dimension, there are a few points about mechanisms that you should keep in mind.
- First, applying a mechanism, whatever it may be, is an internal process that is done in our minds, within ourselves.
- Second, whether we realize it or not, this process is done by us, not by others. However, we can sometimes fool ourselves by projecting the blame for the use of opposing mechanism outside of us and believe that the problem is caused by others, that the conflict originates from outside, not from within us. Sometimes people mistreat us, and this is a fact. However, at other times, we might apply hate internally to ourselves and project that hate on people who love us or who are indifferent to us. We may harm and victimize ourselves while thinking that the harm and victimization originate from others.
- Third, we have the capacity to apply mechanisms in a manner that is conducive to happiness and to move from opposing or opposing and compensating to supporting mechanisms. That capacity remains within us.
- Fourth, among all the possible mechanisms that can be used, there are a few that are very useful and powerful, namely “choosing” and “deciding” and any of their variants. We can always choose or decide to apply a supporting mechanism or to not apply an opposing or opposing and compensating mechanism, or to move from these to supporting mechanisms. More on this will be discussed in Step 6.
Watch the video instructions on how to fill out the template.
Transcript (.pdf, 117 Kb)3m 55s
If the topic of mechanisms seems clear and useful to you, move on to the next dimension.