A May Roundup

Takeaways from Dr. Alexander Lowen & a Twitter mutual's "80 Practices of Real Love"

Health Gossip is a newsletter exploring health, wellness, and the surrounding culture. Today: a deeper dive into current health fascinations, after an all-too-long hiatus.

Dr. Alexander Lowen and bioenergetic analysis

I first heard about Lowen through Rogue Scholar Press, an online publisher presumably founded by Twitter anons. While its storefront is no longer active, Rogue used to stock a number of titles that may prove relevant to this newsletter, such as Mark Sisson’s The Primal Kitchen and Forbidden Medicine by Ellen Hodgson Brown (DM for the full list).

Some of Lowen’s titles were also included, including Fear of Life and Depression and the Body. Both draw on concepts from BIOENERGETIC ANALYSIS, a therapeutic method that he developed soon after studying under Willem Reich.

The method combines bodywork with psychoanalysis to allow for a deeper understanding of the patient’s emotional problems, particularly as they are articulated in the body. Physical symptoms like muscle tension and constricted breath are connected to deeper traumas and neuroses. Once these symptoms are relieved—largely through bioenergetic exercises, ideally done with a therapist but also doable alone—the associated emotional problems are also believed to be minimized.

Here are some takeaways so far:

1. “Outer-directed” people are more prone to depression: “…[W]hen we look to sources outside the self for fulfillment, [to] make us more of a person, more at peace with ourselves and more self-expressive, we will be sadly disillusioned. When disillusionment sets in, we will become depressed.”¹

2. The antidote is to become “inner-directed”, to cultivate a deep sense of self that isn’t defined by the external: “He finds his fulfillment in his response to the world rather than in the world’s response to him.”²

3. Neurosis is an attempt to resolve an irresolvable inner conflict, to “avoid a feared fate.” But: “by that very effort he ensures the fate he is attempting to escape.”³

4. Whether looking to resolve neurosis or another malady, one cannot rely solely on the will: “The will is potent in doing or performing, but it is impotent in changing the inner state of our being. Our feelings are not subject to our will.”

5. The goal of therapy is to do what the will cannot, to “bring the conflict back to consciousness so that it can be worked out in a nonneurotic way.” Understanding → self-acceptance → self-expression → self-possession.

Desiring what you already have

While searching my texts for a link to the above, I stumbled upon a friend’s reply: “I’m trying to unlock how to desire what already satisfies me.” While, at least in Lacanian terms, the object of desire is always something that you don’t already have—that doesn’t already satisfy you—it’s interesting to think about desire in this way. It also feels connected to one of the core properties of manifestation or the Law of Attraction: acting as if you already have the thing that you desire in order to attract that thing into your life.

Manosphere podcasts

Specifically, Modern Wisdom, hosted by a former Love Island contestant turned sort-of Stoic, and The Lifestylist Podcast, which is more health-focused and “bohemian” in a uniquely Austin way.

Neither of them is technically part of The Manosphere, but they discuss topics that are seen as primarily geared toward men. Standout episodes that might appeal to more than just men:

• The Psychological Impact of Hormonal Birth Control (Modern Wisdom, #555): An in-depth look at the social implications of hormonal birth control, including mate preferences and divorce rates. 

• Finding Your Soul Purpose: From Passion to Purpose (The Life Stylist, #347): A nice refresher on the different applications of inner child work, particularly as it relates to connecting with your path. One takeaway: pursue the things that your childhood self liked to do. 

The 80 Practices of Real Love

Robert Heimburg has a pure soul and a kind heart and a loyal Twitter following to match. His magnum opus is the “80 Practices of Real Love,” a guide to developing an authentic love for life and oneself, spread across two cards (see above).

A favorite is #57: Suffer rightly. Suffering is inevitable, so it’s a matter of choosing the “right” kind of suffering—the kind that refuses short-term pleasures for long-term gain; that’s meant to serve one’s future self or the collective good. What would it look like to suffer better?

The cards are hard to read, so here’s the list in full:

1. Spiritual reading + spiritual knowledge

2. Self-knowledge

3. Self-honesty

4. Remember [the] law of cause and effect

5. Ask questions

6. Be very careful what you believe

7. Don’t assume

8. Overcome doubts

9. Stay with yourself. Be present to yourself

10. See your resistance and go against it

11. Watch your mind

12. Watch your reactions

13. Notice your states and thoughts (catch thoughts)

14. Do uphill inner work

15. Stay in the present moment as much as possible

16. Quality quiet time every day

17. Pray [to a] realified, trusting God

18. Have a daily prayer list

19. Pray for everyone

20. Eliminate wrong or useless thoughts, words, deeds, actions, movements

21. Don’t waste time, don’t be or get lazy or lax

22. Follow your conscience

23. Educate your conscience

24. Control yourself

25. Say no to temptation

26. No porn

27. Don’t trust sexual-emotional feelings and words

28. No complaining

29. No pressuring others

30. Don’t try to change anyone

31. Stay in your own lane

32. Don’t bother others

33. Don’t expect anything from anyone

34. Don’t engage in or listen to detraction

35. Don’t criticize others unless absolutely necessary

36. Don’t say hurtful things

37. No beating yourself up

38. No self-pity

39. No arguing or quarreling

40. Communicate calmly and clearly

41. Reconcile as soon as possible, if possible

42. Apologize if the other person is ready to listen

43. Forgive, but distance yourself if necessary

44. Humble yourself

45. Do deeds of love, mercy, kindness

46. Be gentle, even tender (NOTE: “esp. to ladies!)

47. Talk gently, even tenderly (NOTE: “esp. to ladies!)

48. Accept people exactly as they are

49. Be considerate of others’ feelings

50. Give relief

51. Give happiness

52. Be grateful

53. Encourage others

54. Share what you have or know

55. Treat others with deep respect

56. Sacrifice yourself—die to yourself—for others

57. Suffer rightly

58. Calm down

59. Stay calm

60. No desperation, as far as possible

61. Practice self-discipline daily

62. Go against personal preferences

63. Stir things up within yourself (MIW)

64. Go beyond yourself

65. Be rightly daring and courageous

66. Get outside your comfort zone

67. Be vulnerable

68. Take safe risks

69. Bind yourself with sensible rules

70. Say no to yourself and others (don’t let people use you)

71. Take care of necessary duties

72. Let go of self-harming attachments

73. Allow reality to be exactly what it is

74. Don’t be anyone or anything

75. Watch out! (Danger from yourself)

76. Watch out! (Danger from others)

77. Be careful + thorough in the things you do

78. Be patient

79. Keep going in spite of everything

80. Never give up no matter what!

**

In good health,

Lily

1. Depression and the Body, 34.

2. Ibid, 35.

3. The Fear of Life, 35.