POSSIBLE HUMAN

Jean Houston (1982). The possible human: A course in enhancing your physical, mental, and creative abilities.


Houston began research on human possibilities in the 1960's as part of the Foundation for Mind Research for 17 years with over 1k people. The majority of the book guides the reader through activities/experiments in AWAKENING the body, senses, brain, memory, evolutionary history, and creative realms of inner space (including devices to alter states of consciousness). The description of the possible human at the beginning of the book is so INSPIRING...may we all move this direction in fulfilling our human potential! 


There are so many practices! I highlight only a few here: 1) Find out what "turns you on" by observing your own internal reactions to words and images, 2) Celebrate all of your senses with music and dance, 3) Create a time machine yardstick with three 12-inch segments: the left most 12 inches represents the past, the middle 12 inches is the present, and the 12 inches on the right side symbolizes the future...by altering, in your imagination, the inches one can alter perceptions of time...e.g., if you need more time to do something in the present, shrink the left and right sides to 6 inches each and make the middle of the ruler 24 inches long...you will feel like you have more time in the present. 

Tip: Many of the activities are "guided." Houston provides a few sentences for instruction and then you do them, more instructions, more activity. I found it awkward to read, put the book down, do as instructed, pick the book back up to read more, do more....So i recorded the instructions, allowing time for the actions, and play back the recording to avoid the back and forth reading. This allows for a better flow for the activity...much more enjoyable. 





 

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