Is the way we think killing our ability to feel?

On Intellect and the Reduction of Intimacy

Intellect, rather than IQ-based “intelligence” measures, refers to a sort of competence or self-reliance which allows people to move effectively through the world via means of task-based accomplishments. Self-reliance on the surface appears as an absolute good, but in reality, it has a negative side effect: a reduction of intimacy.

Intimacy refers to a sense of “loving-authenticity,” or a willingness to reveal vulnerabilities. The phenomenological “shine” which is the appearance of a vulnerability rather than a bolstering of strength within one’s self-image is not simply mere appearance, but the actual act of vulnerability, which allows one to speak more freely about one’s experiences.

At first, intimacy and intellect don’t seem exactly related to each other, but intellect, insofar as it refers to itself in order to complete tasks and becomes isolated, wagering nothing on others and relying fully on the success of itself, which empirically is often good for the specific tasks, in fact causes those with intellect to isolate, and as a result, become unable to accomplish things which require not isolating.

Quantity is its own quality, and a task which requires two or more people to do a job rather than one is different in quality to a task which requires the intellect of a single person. This is due to the simplifying which is necessary to not include others in the key parts of significant results.

The Accomplished Persona

The intellect can form a persona which is both a limited, and true reflection of its own strength. It is true insofar as it is a true reflection of the person’s ability to complete tasks, but it is limited as there is no ability to create a phenomenological shine which is the true experience of the person which does not fit into the logic of the accomplished persona.

The Negation of the Elements of the Accomplished Persona to Create Intimacy

When one looks at one’s self or measures one’s self, one often makes the mistake that they are seeing one’s self. The truth is they are seeing a certain fragment of themselves which is in fact, the measuring and creating of The Accomplished Persona.

We can even get hints here of how “Positive Psychology” reduces intimacy in favor of creating an accomplished persona which becomes efficient at task completion by reducing complexity via narcissism.

The experiment is this: negate The Accomplished Persona in order to create intimacy; in other words, overcome things which are intended to reflect one’s own power or competence in favor of achieving authentic relating to others. You will do this in order to increase perceived risk by relying on both the social nature as well as the competence of others. Instead of projecting strength and creating a shell, you will speak with a voice that one might call, “authenticity,” which is in fact, the willingness to reveal one’s self in greater multitudes than The Accomplished Persona can, establishing deeper and more meaningful relationships.