Making fear based changes

Personal Development, Theory, Zen shiatsu (Masunaga)

Yesterday I was looking at making changes in my life from the point of view of needs and the Stomach/Spleen associations in Masunaga’s Zen Shiatsu theory. Today I am going to switch my viewpoint to the Kidney/Bladder organs which govern impetus and fear.

The catchphrase for Kidney/Bladder is Impetus away from danger which implies just fear but in reality this energy is about drive and willpower. We need these energies to fight or flee danger but we need them too when there is no threat. So the idea of impetus is about the Kidneys and Bladder working together to provide the impetus to drive our bodily functions. The Kidneys forming the basis of our constitution, the Bladder removing impurities and together being responsible for the chemical and nervous messages that keep us ticking over. Of course when we need it then they can supply that extra burst of energy to escape that predator or drive us meet that tight deadline.

Going back to my original problem I said that I could make changes based on need or fear. Fear in this context then means fearing a new life or lacking the willpower to change. Which is it here?

About 10 years the company I was working for was taken over and I was threatened with loosing my job. A similar situation to now but back then I made a decision that I now regret: I panicked and accepted another job in the organisation. That decision was made from fearing a jobless future.

I do not feel that impulse now. So I maybe I just don’t have the willpower to make the change. It could be that change is not the most appropriate action now. Decisions on appropriateness are made in the Heart.

This impromptu series started with the title Follow the heart. So on Monday I will conclude this review of Masunaga theory by looking at the Heart: Our central controller.

Tony Brown @ April 27, 2007