Cognitive Dissonance as Medicine for Change

Recent world events have me meditating on cognitive dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance is alive in me when my values do not align with my actions.

Cognitive dissonance is also alive in me when another person projects their values onto me, demanding I act in the world in alignment with their values, at the expense of my own.

Cognitive dissonance can feel like a belly twist or contortion, like an opposing inner magnetic field. It is a not so gentle reminder to turn our attention inwards and deepen our self-reflection.

In yogic philosophy and psychology I draw a connection between my understanding of dharma and the western definition of cognitive dissonance. The topic of dharma begs more than a three paragraph description, so I have included a link to a recent talk I did on the subject in my online studio Body Poetry Space. You can listen and view it here.

What students of yoga are encouraged to remember about dharma is that we cannot live out our individual authentic life purpose at the expense of other sentient beings and the planet. This is at the heart of what we are called to practice. This includes the ways in which our liberation, health, and wealth is cultivated at the expense of other's liberation, health, and wealth.