Yesss, I think the denial of limits is huge here -- capitalism operates on the premise that production has no limits, and we are taught to internalize that in our own lives. for me embracing my limits and learning how to honor them has been key for my creativity and just general well-being, but it’s so counter to all the reach-your-full-potential superpower inspiration porn that gets shoved down our throats all the time.
I just started reading Psychopolitics by Byung-Chul Han (which is a bit dense, def not a fun summer read lol) but the first chapter is about freedom, and he says that under neoliberalism, freedom has become coercive -- all the motivational “you can do anything you set your mind to!” stuff has basically become a threat to achieve and it’s driving us into distress bc we’re not able to just be like, no actually I can’t and that’s okay, and I think that’s true on a planetary level too.
Anyway, I just started an interview series as an excuse to chat with other creative people about my interests (lol) and I would love to talk to you about this in podcast form if you’re interested!
Ohhhh putting that book on my list! Sounds really fascinating. Very excited by the idea of coercive freedom. And yes! Would love to be on your podcast! Wanna email me? sarah at sarahlewis dot co dot uk. Thanks!
I think sometimes us neurospicies can be better at seeing the destructive systems, when our brains do that everything-to-its-logical-conclusion thang. And perhaps we notice the parts we're playing in them, because they can be more destructive to us, executive function and nervous system-wise, so we notice our embeddedness.
Plus there's the whole 'strong sense of social justice' thing so many of us have going on, the way unfairness of any kind can feel like a personal attack. Like you say, it is capitalism, but it's not *just* that. Systems of domination could be another way to phrase it, perhaps? After all feudalism doesn't sound like a barrel of laughs either, or chattel slavery. What we want is community and freedom from exploitation (when do we want it? etc...), and all these systems seek to suppress that.
So I guess I'm saying that I think there is a link, albeit maybe tangential and not absolute. (I'm sure there are neurotypicals who think systemically and have a strong sense of social justice, I just don't seem to meet many normies cos they probably think I'm odd...) We all have our gifts, and I'm really hoping that overthinking might be some kind of superpower, otherwise, well, I'm going to need to find another hobby.
Hi Rachel 👋. Yes to systemic thinking being an exhausting blessing and curse. And also very much yes to alternative hobbies to overthinking. Or rather - selective and directional overthinking ✅ obsessive ruminating on nonsense forever ❌
Oh yes. So hard to not let one thing lead to another. But perhaps one can learn to catch oneself and pick up some cross stitch or juggling balls instead. Worth a crack.
Yesss, I think the denial of limits is huge here -- capitalism operates on the premise that production has no limits, and we are taught to internalize that in our own lives. for me embracing my limits and learning how to honor them has been key for my creativity and just general well-being, but it’s so counter to all the reach-your-full-potential superpower inspiration porn that gets shoved down our throats all the time.
I just started reading Psychopolitics by Byung-Chul Han (which is a bit dense, def not a fun summer read lol) but the first chapter is about freedom, and he says that under neoliberalism, freedom has become coercive -- all the motivational “you can do anything you set your mind to!” stuff has basically become a threat to achieve and it’s driving us into distress bc we’re not able to just be like, no actually I can’t and that’s okay, and I think that’s true on a planetary level too.
Anyway, I just started an interview series as an excuse to chat with other creative people about my interests (lol) and I would love to talk to you about this in podcast form if you’re interested!
Ohhhh putting that book on my list! Sounds really fascinating. Very excited by the idea of coercive freedom. And yes! Would love to be on your podcast! Wanna email me? sarah at sarahlewis dot co dot uk. Thanks!
I think sometimes us neurospicies can be better at seeing the destructive systems, when our brains do that everything-to-its-logical-conclusion thang. And perhaps we notice the parts we're playing in them, because they can be more destructive to us, executive function and nervous system-wise, so we notice our embeddedness.
Plus there's the whole 'strong sense of social justice' thing so many of us have going on, the way unfairness of any kind can feel like a personal attack. Like you say, it is capitalism, but it's not *just* that. Systems of domination could be another way to phrase it, perhaps? After all feudalism doesn't sound like a barrel of laughs either, or chattel slavery. What we want is community and freedom from exploitation (when do we want it? etc...), and all these systems seek to suppress that.
So I guess I'm saying that I think there is a link, albeit maybe tangential and not absolute. (I'm sure there are neurotypicals who think systemically and have a strong sense of social justice, I just don't seem to meet many normies cos they probably think I'm odd...) We all have our gifts, and I'm really hoping that overthinking might be some kind of superpower, otherwise, well, I'm going to need to find another hobby.
Hi Rachel 👋. Yes to systemic thinking being an exhausting blessing and curse. And also very much yes to alternative hobbies to overthinking. Or rather - selective and directional overthinking ✅ obsessive ruminating on nonsense forever ❌
Oh yes. So hard to not let one thing lead to another. But perhaps one can learn to catch oneself and pick up some cross stitch or juggling balls instead. Worth a crack.