The heaviness of efficiency

I was recently learning the Sifsei Chaim on zrizus. He described something over 40 years ago that neuroscience and psychology are only just beginning to understand.

Because mankind is constructed from the earth (adama), we have a heaviness to our nature. We are always looking for the easy way out, seeking the fastest, most efficient way to do things so we don’t have to work as hard.

As I pulled this together with the challenge of Focusing, I realized why experiential work is so difficult for us as practitioners.

We can’t resort to a fast protocol or an efficient shortcut. We have to really sense into what is happening, right here, right now.

That demand for profound presence can be overwhelming for people. It is not a flaw of the methodology; it is simply a feature of being human.

The Next Step: Join me to explore these concepts in depth in my weekly podcast – The Embodied Jewish Woman.​

Warmly,
Rena

P.S. Don’t forget to connect with me on WhatsApp. I share visual reminders to anchor these ideas and link to new content weekly.

This week’s book recommendation: If this email resonated with you, I recommend The Power of Focusing by Ann Weiser Cornell. Cornell writes about the felt sense — that vague, unclear something inside that already knows more than your words do — and how to turn toward it with curiosity instead of pushing past it. A warm, practical guide to learning the practice that Gendlin developed, written by one of the world’s leading Focusing teachers. Order a copy here — this is an affiliate link which doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps support my work.

Soul Tilling (registration for Av opens on July 13):