Impulse

We distinguish between our thought, our behaviours and our impulsive behaviours, our conscious behaviours and our subconscious, but in fact no real division exists. All of our behaviours are ultimately impulsive. Every behaviour we have at any moment, and every idea and experience we have ever had, are present at all times. This is why even our strangest behaviours, those that seem the most self destructive, remain remarkably consistent despite any effort at rational thought to control them. Some behaviours are so hard wired and impulsive that we don’t even have to learn the concrete components of them to be driven to act on them.

When we understand our behaviours as impulses rather than the dramatic blurbs of our emotion/memories, we can then look at how each behaviour shows up and see how they flow together naturally. Impulses are all life affirmative. It’s the conflicts we set up regarding our impulses that turn them into self destructive behaviours.

“I don’t believe in guilt, I believe in living on impulse as long as you never intentionally hurt another person, and don’t judge people in your life. I think you should live completely free.” Angelina Jolie (American Actress, b.1975)

“Impulse without reason is not enough, and reason without impulse is a poor makeshift.” William James (American Philosopher and Psychologist, 1842-1910)