We human beings are a combination of various components: we have a mind and a body, thoughts that are rational and emotions, we have a brain composed of areas with different functions (some more reflective, others more impulsive).
When these components function in synergy with one another, that is, when we achieve a good integration of these functions, we experience a state of well-being.
Imagine navigating a river in a canoe. To navigate safely, you must remain stable in your canoe and aware of your movements and sensations, in balance, attentive to your surroundings, knowing what to do in case of danger and adapting to the speed of the current and the winding course of the river.
Every time you manage to navigate like this, activating all your functions in a flexible and functional way, you succeed in maneuvering through the river, and when the canoe sways, you are able to notice it and immediately bring it back to safe waters.
Sometimes, however, you might get too close to one of the banks without realizing it and could run aground on the rocks, becoming trapped without being able to get back on course. The only solution might be to get into the water and dislodge the canoe, but you might become stuck and persevere with clearly ineffective strategies just because you’re convinced that the water is too cold (but how do you know?) and you don’t want to get wet.
Other times, you might not notice that you’re being carried into a part of the river full of tumultuous rapids and whirlpools, thus losing control of the canoe.
This latter situation represents chaos, a condition of dysregulation, confusion, and agitation, which can surprise us when emotions take over. The situation where we are stranded represents, instead, a state of rigidity, in which we try to impose control over everything around us, without being willing to make the slightest adaptation and not taking into account our sensations and what is around us.
Each of us during our day can find ourselves in both of these conditions, especially when we try to “survive” and overcome difficult moments. Recognizing this and having a good repertoire of strategies to recover integration is crucial for building the path towards a life rich in meaning and resilience – understood as the ability to overcome difficulties and emerge stronger.
Integration promotes the flourishing of emotional, intellectual, and social skills; an integrated brain enhances decision-making abilities, better control of the body and emotions, a more complete understanding of oneself, safer interpersonal relationships, better academic performance, and improved work performance.
Harmony arises from integration.
