"Inspiration" Energy: Is it useful?

[HowToBe]

When I watch movies or read stories that have an inspirational effect on me, I feel a wave of emotion that's sort of hard to describe, but often accompanied by tears. There seems to be an element of sadness or longing, at least at first, but the overall tone is perhaps one of "hope", as strange as that sounds to me as I write it. After this wave passes, I seem to have a lot of "creative" energy. It seems like I can play the piano better and like I possibly have more motivation during this time. If, for instance, I spend my energy playing the piano, I find I feel somewhat drained afterward, although perhaps that is because I push myself. What I'm wondering is this; is this "high" potentially useful in any way, or is it a side effect of some form of identification, or is it something else entirely? I hope I've explained well enough.

 

[Buddy]

As a process, this sounds similar to Gabor Mate's example of a desirable endorphin flow that occurs as reciprocal feedback loops between infants and a non-stressed, emotionally present care-giver like a mother. I also feel these waves and I occasionally break down in tears - mostly when I see expressions of sincere and tender caring, support and love. And I also feel an inspirational, creative energy afterward.

I tend to think if a person experienced the ideal model of treatment from birth through their formative years, these memories would be multiple and this energy would be freely available and accessible (for any creative work you choose) for your entire life. Otherwise, we tend to experience this kind of inspiration energy as separate islands in an overall sea of emotional lethargy or deadness, OSIT.

I think it's potentially beneficial for initating some creative work. But I suppose one could also just allow oneself the experience as an example of having an emotional life - for as long as it lasts. But these are just my thoughts.

 

[obyvatel]

What I'm wondering is this; is this "high" potentially useful in any way, or is it a side effect of some form of identification, or is it something else entirely?

At least some part of it may be related to what Daniel Goleman calls emotional contagion in his book Social Intelligence - where we catch emotions displayed by others - either in direct personal interaction or through movies. There is what Goleman calls "instant empathy" which occurs automatically through "low road" brain circuits before the higher thinking functions get a chance to process the data. And when we feel some emotions, the related response circuits are triggered which prepare us to act in ways appropriate to the emotion felt. Goleman says that the biological system (human brain in this case) spends the least amount of energy by firing the same neurons while both perceiving and performing an action.
The higher thinking functions which work slower come into operation later in the process and can be used to process the contents of the experience consciously. If this is done, then one has a choice to continue with the emotions that were automatically triggered or not. It also gives an option of conscious control on how the energy which is obtained from this experience (what Gurdjieff called the third type of food - impressions) is expended.

 

[HowToBe]

Thank you both for your replies.

I do get the impression that a person could perhaps receive or release such energy in the case of a sincere, non-repressed expression of love/affection, or maybe something similar. I'm not sure that the energy itself would be freely available in the long term as a result, though. Maybe the channels allowing such energy to flow would be clearer as the feeling center might be less clouded in such a case. I get the impression that a certain "amount" of energy is released by an inspirational experience, but I do notice that by remembering the inspirational moment, I can call up a new wave of energy. I wonder if analyzing exactly what essential idea or principle inspires us in each case might be useful in allowing us to "inspire ourselves to action" when it is required of us. For example, I tend to be inspired and invigorated when I see examples of "breaking the limit"; such as, when Neo "awakens" in The Matrix; or, when the horse, Secretariat, speeds far ahead of the other horses in a long distance race, which was considered to be "impossible". Maybe we need to identify the specific principle so that we can identify it in its larger context. For instance, in the examples I gave, I think what truly inspires me is the idea of breaking through illusory limitations imposed by others and self, and thus realizing true freedom. I think the main thing to defend against in these cases is rash action or reckless wasting of the energy provided; I find it can produce a feeling of being "powerful", which makes me wary of getting carried away. My visualizations can seem more "real" during this period, and I become physically restless. Also, it can keep me from wanting to sleep when I need to. However, these may be due to my particular conflicts. I have the feeling that it can be harnessed through self-awareness, and be used for motivating action. In fact, judging by my experiences the last couple of days, perhaps it can act as a fuel for self-work as well, at least if one catches it before the energy is expended.

Or so I think...