Dr. David Alter

So they're still oriented to the negative.

Okay.

That's a good point.

Part of why I'm picking that is

as a way of responding to your question is that the human brain and therefore the human mind has this capacity by virtue of the internal conversation between our prefrontal cortex and our subcortical structures to both be in an experience

and detached from it and looking in on the experience.

So the detached observer, right?

When we're in the experience, a metaphor that's often used is the difference between being swept along by the rapid current of a river versus sitting on the side of the river and looking at the rapid current, right?

So I think that one of the ways to help people find the balance that you were alluding to

is to step out of the river of craziness that's happening within and around us.

When each day people start the day by reading the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal or listening in to Fox News, you're in the river.

And you're going to be fed a nonstop stream of, and you won't believe what's happening next.

Those fools, those, and right away you're swept into the upheaval that's ripping through the society in the world.

When you can step into a meditative state, you're getting out of the river.

You may be dripping wet, but you can sit there.

begin to dry off and feel the sense of safe distance from the upset and be able to regain a sense of control that Barry was alluding to.

That's the benefit of this.

That's why people often come

to these curiosities about meditation in response to some loss or struggle because they're hurting and they want a way of being able to manage and respond to that pain.

Sometimes what we have to do is create an emotional detachment, a cognitive distance, so we can look at it and say, yeah, it's happening, but right now it's happening less in here.