[Neurons] 2011 Meta Reflections #22

[L. Michael Hall]

L. Michael Hall, Ph.D.

Meta Reflections 2011 - #22

May 9, 2011

 

 

 

KORZYBSKI AND SELF-ACTUALIZATION

Alfred Korzybski Series #14

 

 

We could all be genius, says Korzybski, if only we clarify our symbolism and
use it effectively.  Then we could actually use our nervous systems the way
they are designed in creating maps that keep us sane and able to create a
humane science.  To that end he worked to identify how to use "nervous
system abstracting."  Do that and you can step up to a new level of
creativity and actualize your potentials.  And while Korzybski only used the
term "genius" a few times, he did hold (as did Maslow) that the average
person has much more potential of intelligence, creativity, joy, focus, etc.
than he tapped into.  And that's what we mean by self-actualization.

 

Korzybski's work was focused on both the neural processes of the nervous
systems and the role that our semantics play in it.  Here's a bit of what
Korzybski (1933/1994) wrote 

"One can learn to play with symbols according to rules, but such play has
little creative value. If the translation is made into the language of the
lower centres- namely into 'intuitions', 'feelings','visualizations' etc.-
the higher abstractions gain the character of experience, and so creative
activity begins.  Individuals with thoroughly efficient nervous systems
become what we call 'geniuses.'" (p. 307)

 

Maslow and Rogers would later call that a "fully functioning human being" -a
self-actualizing person.

"As a descriptive fact, the present stage of human development is such that
with a very few exceptions our nervous systems do not work properly in
accordance with their survival structure.  In other words, although we have
potentialities for correct functioning in our nervous system, because of the
neglect of the physiological control-mechanism of our semantic reactions, we
have semantic blockages in our reactions ..." (p. 28)

 

What stops you and me in accessing our personal genius states are our
semantic reactions and semantic blocks (which is the reason for several of
the previous articles).  Now in his day, Korzybski did not use the term
self-actualization; I'm not even sure if the term existed during his time.
It was Maslow's studies of self-actualizing people in the 1940s that
popularized the term and gave it the meanings that we use today in
Neuro-Semantics.  What Korzybski did talk about was creativity, sanity, and
proper human adjustment.

"We should avoid the mistake of assuming that the average man, or a moron,
does not 'think'.  His nervous system works continually, as does that of a
genius. The difference consist in its working is not productive or
efficient. Proper training and understanding of the semantic mechanism must
add to efficiency and productiveness.  By the elimination of semantic
blockings, as in identification, we release the creative capacities of any
individual." (p. 485)

 

Long before the Human Potential Movement that grew out of Maslow's work,
Korzybski identified the eliminating of semantic blockings as a key process
for the unleashing of a person's potentials.  So while he did not use the
language that Maslow and I have about leashing and unleashing, he certainly
knew and described these processes.

 

For Korzybski, it is the realization that we abstract in different levels
that we slowly acquire the most creative structural feeling that human
knowledge is inexhaustible.  Then we become increasingly interested in more
knowledge, we become more curious and more creative- this is actually the
very spirit of NLP (something that I discovered decades later, see The
Spirit of NLP, 1997). 

 

Korzybski also did not speak about "peak experiences."  Yet he did speak
about the joy of life-  "the joy of living is considerably increased" with
the consciousness of abstracting.  "We grow up to full adulthood" and we
become mature "for the taking up of life and its responsibilities."  "Life
becomes fuller," and semantically balanced (pp. 526-527)

 

In terms of leashing, he noted that ... 

"Semantic 'emotional pains' absorb nervous energy and prevent a full
development of our capacities." (p. 528)

 

And about unleashing, it is when you release the semantic reactions and
blocks that you stop fighting "semantic phantoms," and as you do, then
stores of energy is released within you which becomes useful for creative
purposes.  How you use your neurology in "abstracting" (map making,
meaning-making, semanticizing) determines whether you leash or unleash your
highest and best potentials.  And that's why General Semantics and NLP after
it has focused on the mapping or modeling processes.  We do not deal
directly with the territory ("reality"), but indirectly through our maps.
So the better and more accurate your mapping, including your framing of the
mapping as a tentative and fallible process (so you don't fall into the trap
of believing in your maps), the more likely you will be unleashing more of
your potentials.

 

 

 

 

Less than 7 weeks to the First International Neuro-Semantic Conference!

            See details of all of the speakers and workshops at
www.neurosemantics.com 

            And the Registration form

 

 

 

 




 

 

 

L.  Michael Hall, Ph.D.

Neuro-Semantics Executive Director  ----   <http://www.neurosemantics.com/>
www.neurosemantics.com

P.O. Box 8

Clifton, CO.  81520 USA                             ----
<http://www.self-actualizing.org/> www.self-actualizing.org

1 970-523-7877                                               ----
<http://www.meta-coaching.org/> www.meta-coaching.org

 

     

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