**How the Human Body Works**
I can’t believe I have to write this down, but since everyone’s understanding of the basics is so off, here we go. I’m using biblical examples because people back then understood these concepts way better than we do now. This isn’t meant to be disrespectful to religious people; in fact, I think a lot of what’s in religion is absolutely brilliant.
### How It Works
A human body works based on relative importance. This means that when you sit still and aren’t actively doing anything, whatever is most important—whatever needs your attention the most—rises to the surface.
For example:
- When you sit down, the thing that hurts the most in your body demands attention.
- When you sit down, the thought that makes you most nervous haunts you.
- When you sit down, a painful memory might resurface, making you relive that experience and its pain.
### These Aren't Bad Things
You might not like these thoughts and feelings; they might scare you. But thoughts and feelings aren’t bad. This is just how the body processes things. When something is important to you, your body highlights it, bringing it to your awareness in a very direct way.
### Biblical Stories and These Experiences
The moment Eve (representing "life") led Adam to understand the difference between good and bad speaks to this. We’re tricked into thinking there are “good” and “bad” thoughts. But there are no bad thoughts; that’s the trick. And it’s extremely hard to apply in daily life.
For instance, if I say we’re going to think about suicide all night long, you might think that’s dangerous, that it increases the likelihood of actually committing suicide. But it doesn’t; in fact, it’s the opposite. By allowing yourself to think about it, the fear starts to dissolve, and the thought becomes less overwhelming. You could argue that people sometimes act in desperation because they’re afraid of facing certain thoughts or feelings.
Or consider that you might work out excessively or turn to alcohol or drugs just to avoid feeling other pain. Many of us have been there.
Religion often addresses feeling pain in its purest form. The more we numb ourselves, the harder it becomes to interpret both our bodies and the world around us.