Soundly set in neurobiological and systems theories, the Awareness Wheel uses five simple elements to make up the content and the process of healthy communication. A copy of the wheel can be found in my June-July blog. The five pie shapes of the wheel are: Sensory Data, Feelings, Thoughts, Wants/Intentions, and Actions. Each element is connected to each of the other four pieces, while also separated from them by a semi-permeable boundary. A healthy boundary has four criteria: it keeps in what’s supposed to stay in, it keeps out what’s supposed to stay out; it lets in what supposed to come in, and it lets out what’s supposed to go out – thus, semi-permeable.
Sensory Data stimulate our brain, coming in through our senses of sight (visual), smell (olfactory), taste (epithelial and neuro receptors), touch (tactile), hearing (auditory), and “extra-sensory” (intuition, pheromones). This is where the process starts, even though most people’s consciousness begins in other areas (feelings, thoughts or actions). The brain analyses these data and sends chemical messages to the limbic system (feelings) and the upper cortex (thoughts).
The Feelings component involves the lower and inner brain stem. Almost the total range of feeling responses are included in the “Fight-Flight-Freeze” reactive response. Initially, these reactions are pre-conscious and stimulated by the triggering of the adrenal hormones. The process is circular and deeply connected to genetic patterns of choice. The function of feelings is to get other parts of the brain to pay attention to “what may be out in the world.” Feelings are poor sources of what is actually in the world, and therefore, very poor decision makers.
Thoughts are where we begin to make meaning out of the sensory data we receive along with the feelings. Meaning is made using logic, linear connections among ideas and concepts and learned experiences. This activity takes place mainly in the areas of the upper (newer) brain. “Thoughtful” decision making begins here and continues into Wants/Intentions and Actions.
Wants/Intentions are our desires for ourselves and for others. These may be short or long term, realistic or fantasy, general or specific in nature. This is the arena for creative options and possibilities. Doing this also slows down the chemical reactivity of feelings and “hurry up and get this done” of thoughts. I suggest a magic number, mine is seven. For any major or important decision, I commit to finding at least seven alternate choices for action. For each option, I will list the pros and cons of carrying the action out, or of choosing to not act on that want. A cost-benefit analysis moves us from the magic number of intentions to a single commitment to action.
Actions are what we do or say. They must be observable behaviors. They are in the present. Future actions (I’ll do that tomorrow or next week) are veiled intentions until they actually occur. Paying attention to the results/consequences of our actions produces new sensory data which starts us around the wheel again.
Additional parts:
ISSUES – in the center of the wheel is a space to identify the specific content to be worked upon; only one at a time; start a new sheet for each issue. Issues may be for individuals, couples, families or groups.
5 A’S – are another tool for learning and growth; an initial presentation can be found in my blog October 2014, “The Four A’s”. A new edition, with 5, will be coming shortly (an intention, not an action), showing the inter-action of the “A’s” and the Awareness Wheel.
Questions, comments, disagreements, snide remarks and silly stories are welcome.