Scientists have wondered for a long time why madness and creativity seem linked.
It appears likely that low levels of latent inhibition and exceptional
flexibility in thought might predispose to mental illness under some conditions
and to creative accomplishment under others.
(Shelley Carson)
Peering behind the curtain
The problem with seeing things differently is that
it removes the mystique.
A fancy shop with expensive clothes just
looks like any other room.
You see the decor, the choice of colours, shapes, layout.
You see the attire, the mannerisms of the staff, the prices.
But none of it moves you.
It is just a show.
Restaurants are the same.
It is just food.
It may taste nice but can you justify the cost?
And you do not want to be waited
upon. Servitude is unnecessary and demeaning.
Authority and hierarchy is a consensual convention.
You see people in suits, anonymous in their conformity. Blank. Obedient. Clones. Drones.
A person with a title or more money is just a person. They are not more or
less anything.
Watching a football match is pointless. You cannot find meaning in
competition.
Fashions and trends are transparent.
Politics is spurious.
Surprise
Television and movies are seldom worth watching.
Every plot discrepancy, contradiction, cliché, continuity error is evident
when watching TV or a movie.
Movie trailers are particularly pointless, since some show the entire plot.
Recaps preceding a TV show are irritating because they remind the viewer of
certain events and lay the foundation for the episode to come, thereby ruining
any potential surprise.
Predictable plots, discrepancies, continuity errors, bad acting or any break
in the 'suspension of disbelief' ruins the event.
You begin to appreciate well-crafted material that does not rely upon formulaic
approaches and devices.
The unexpected is longed-for.
Faces
When you meet somebody or see a face onscreen or in print, you see
through the label (e.g. 'Susan').
The label/name does not have any significance. Your memory does not taint
your seeing.
You see every hair, pimple, crease and shade.
This leads to a rejection of superficial standards of beauty, for you begin
to think of everyone as being simply themselves.
Lines and so-called imperfections are part of what make each person unique.
They show character and personality. They reveal emotion and thought.
You see through the adornments and regard the person within.
Although this may be disconcerting for the recipient, it entails a richer,
more genuine interaction.
Heightened awareness
Improved awareness can produce a level of
seeing akin to LLI.
Artists and skilled exponents of any discipline gain an ability level which
brings instantaneous insight and creativity.
A carpenter can understand wood just by looking at it or comprehend how
something has being built a certain way, and why.
This is not unusual.
The difference between this and low latent inhibition is that the skilled
exponent has learned the ability, and it has a narrower scope.
A person with LLI has heightened awareness all the time.
Hypervigilance
The downside of heightened awareness is the risk of hypervigilance.
You always hear the wristwatch ticking, the clock ticking, the neighbours
TV.
When driving, you are witness to countless potentialities, variables and
dangers.
Seeing that little bit more can make you extremely jumpy.
Paranoia is a concern.
It is important to avoid anxiety and cultivate a calm, peaceful working and
living environment.
More...
Page created 24 February 2001
Those who lack wisdom are convinced that they are truly awake;
they think they understand what is happening;
they think that the king is really the king,
and the servants are really servants.
(Chuang Tzu)