Tart and Hughes

Tart:
I identified with two parts of this reading. First, the thinking process in concern to Loading Stabilization. Tart mentions that "you have a constant internal thinking process going on, constant internal chatter, ...thinking, thinking, thinking." I'm a true believer in thinking positively, that is, thoughts that are positive. Some people seem to think that thinking the words "think positive" is thinking positively but it is not. It's the nature of the thought that has to be positive. If you were to describe your thoughts, would they be positive descriptions or not? Good things and happiness won't come about by streaming the words "think positive" through your mind. However, you can put a smile on your face by thinking a thought that is positive. Second, I found the example of falling asleep while driving kind of funny. Why? Because I have--almost. I had no idea how complex the learning process was for me to not almost fall asleep while driving any more. I figured that the first occurrence was scary enough so that now when I'm dozing off while driving I do all of the stereotypical things to stay awake---shift position in the seat, change the music, put down the windows, call someone, or my favorite--drink coffee. Apparently, my body sends anxiety and alarm through me that brings me back to full consciousness.

Hughes:
I've always said that I'm not a creative person, in that, I'm not artsy (I can't play an instrument or paint a picture, etc.) According to Hughes, I am a creative person by creating in reality the things that I imagine. Example: going to class, studying for a test, thinking I'll do well on the test, getting an A on the test. If this happens, am I creative? I hope so. Otherwise I'm back to saying I'm not a creative person. Also, Hughes states that both divergent and convergent thinking are necessary for creativity. I think I'm lacking in the divergent part but constantly operating through convergent thinking. I found it strange that words such as "unstable equilibrium", "balance", and "disturbed" were used to describe divergent thinking. The definition seems like one big contradiction. No wonder I can't think divergently.

Hughes also discusses consciousness through our senses and filters and that sometimes you can just know/feel something without any real life stimuli. I guess this is what people mean when they say they "had a gut feeling". Also, I like to quote "believe half of what you see and none of what you hear" (I don't know who said it though) as a way of sorting through all the nonsense you come across in day-to-day life. I suppose, though, that following this quote is more about thinking something through rather than just feeling it. In any case, if any one cares---I've been attempting to pick up yoga as an exercise to reach this "feeling" that I think I've been missing. I tried it once or twice and felt good after. But, I can't figure out if I really felt good or if that's just what I heard you would feel.