17. Disorders of volition (applying the will to actions)

17. Disorders of volition (applying the will to actions)

Disorders of volition manifest as difficulty controlling one's body to perform intended actions.

In this passage, I highlight several key points of psychosynthesis:

1. Training the will

Psychosynthesis emphasises educating and training the will, considered the best asset for harmonising the relationship between thought and movement. In other words, even when the intention is there (‘the head gives the order’), movements sometimes do not follow smoothly because of physiological disturbances.

2. Disturbances in the thought–movement connection –

In the AS person, certain movements can be ‘undermined’ by dysfunctions in the circuit connecting thought to movement. Although not a permanent problem, these disturbances can have a considerable impact on daily life.

3. The effect of intentional training

By training the will with greater intention, the biochemistry of body and brain adjusts to generate more reliable reactions, thus allowing better control of movements.

4. The influence of the digestive system

I believe many problems with coordination or the functioning of movements may originate in digestive-system dysfunction. The neurotransmitters needed to make movements are produced in the digestive system, the intestines.

5. Adapting one's diet therefore becomes a necessary component in restoring overall balance.