Another 'Take' on the Iceberg
A popular analogy of how we are constituted is that of the iceberg (stylized below). Only a small part of us is visible to the physical senses, and that which could be more important lies beneath the surface – out-of-sight, out-of-mind for much of the time.
The BLACK descriptors represent our wholistic resources as a Human Being / Becoming while the Red indicate the possible perspectives that we might use to assess our current state of being. We are, after all, complete entities even though we may not have occasion to consider the entire picture often enough.
To apply the model, consider first that our current awareness is our sentient state, made possible by our sensory experiences and our mind’s consciousness of itself within its surroundings – our ‘public mind.’ We already know that there’s more to us than this, our private awareness which lies just beneath the waterline. It’s accessible, readily, in our private thoughts and reveries, there to serve and support us whenever needed.
Part of this is our spiritual awareness, values, beliefs, strengths and even our habits, both good and less so. The other part which is anchored in part in our reasoning ability, sharing values and beliefs, but also including sensibilities, conscience, equitability/justice, and similar. We likely draw on these resources quite frequently and heavily as they shape us as the person we are in the experiences of others.
Another, intensely valuable yet often ignored resource, is wisdom, accrued over time and experiences but too frequently the unwitting victim of distractions and material contradictions. It shapes us like few other influencers but it will never assert itself unless we allow it. Nevertheless, it is there, ours to command whenever the occasion demands.
At a greater depth yet, are our shared concepts of Truth, both as a universal idea and also as personal interpretations, and our acceptance of Love – the great attractor – which feeds and supports the quality of our life, relationships, and overall peace of mind. These latter resources are both shared and inexhaustible, the substance and essence of our being similar to the nutritional value and flavour as well as the texture and odor respectively of the food we consume.
Are you well nourished?
