“Parts, not the whole”
30 Jan 2011 22 Comments
in Asperger's, Asperger's Syndrome, autism, gratitude Tags: Asperger's, Asperger's Syndrome, autism, gratefulness, gratitude, parts not the whole, prayer, steam engines, steam locomotives
“spinning things” and “parts, not the whole” part 2
Two phrases, “spinning things” and “parts, not the whole” are descriptive of how I often view physical objects, as well as how I often think. In my previous post (part 1) I discussed “spinning things” and “spinning thoughts.” Now in this post (part 2) I will discuss how “parts, not the whole” seems to apply to both things and thoughts in my life.
Parts not the whole: THINGS:
I go back to steam locomotives: I was always fixated on the wheels and the connecting rods. If I moved my gaze elsewhere it would be to briefly take in the swinging bell, jets of steam, or the waving crew, and then I would return to the wheels. I can spend several hours in a row viewing steam locomotives on YouTube, often watching the same one repeatedly with my eyes fixated on the spinning wheels and connecting rods! Again, diesels for me were just big moving boxes and not at all fascinating. Whereas all the moving parts of a steam locomotive were on display and grabbed my attention.
However, I did design and build the house I live in, and I did paint landscapes and still life when younger. And people told me my photographs were well composed. I could draw an entire steam locomotive in astonishing detail. So at some level, when it came to things, I was absorbing the whole, or composing parts into a whole. So there definitely are times when I do see the whole, even though my preference is for the parts (especially if they spin!).
Parts, not the whole: THOUGHTS:
This is a fictitious example of how, in my thoughts, I can focus on the parts, and not the whole, and thereby miss the big picture. Say my wife heats up some frozen macaroni in the microwave and some cheese spills onto the turntable, and she doesn’t clean it up for a couple of days. Well, that could really begin to irritate me (yes I know I could clean it myself — but it’s the principle! 
). That thought could spin round and round in my mind and get me feeling quite dissatisfied about my marriage! Meanwhile my wife is out getting the groceries, or she has accompanied me to a doctor’s appointment, or she is making my supper for the how many thousandth time after thirty-three years of marriage. But would I remember that BIG picture? No, I’d just focus on that little bit of cheese still sitting on the microwave turntable and let that negative thought go round and round and affect my satisfaction with my marriage. This focus on the part could put me in a very unpleasant mood. Ugh. 
Even though I know, at a deep level, that God or the Universe will continue to provide, I still can become quite anxious about the details. I have indulged in micro-planning the future, micro-managing the present, and micro-analyzing the past. But I am glad to see this tendency is decreasing (and so, I am sure, is my wife! 
).
The “whole” or the “big picture”:
As I mentioned above, my art was about the whole picture. And I have noticed that a new post seems to come to me as a whole unit, rather than as bits that I stick together. So there are times when my thoughts do encompass the whole. And there are times when I can catch and correct my thinking to encompass the big picture. This usually brings a feeling of relief, a sense of freedom from worrying about the parts, a sense of contentment and satisfaction. The big picture, I mean the really big picture of the gift of living in this magnificent universe, is quite amazing and refreshing. Gratitude and gratefulness are reliable practices that help me reverse my small-minded thinking.
Gratitude and gratefulness:
Chloe has a very helpful poem on being grateful here. She suggests that we stop and take a moment to think of something that warms our heart and be glad. I found the tension draining away as I read her poem and did that exercise. And I wrote about gratitude and gratefulness here. I wrote about finding reason to be grateful in the simple fact that our heart continues to beat and our breathing carries on without direction from us. And Lisa’s blog has many posts about taking negativity and “turning it upside down.” Taking time to pray, and heeding that still small voice within, can restore the big picture. These practices help redirect my thinking from the details to the big picture, from the part to the whole.
In conclusion:
In both my thoughts and in my physical world it is often only the parts that I dwell upon. They are the main attraction and easily distract me from the whole. Focussing my thoughts on the parts, rather than the whole, can generate anxiety and dissatisfaction. My habit is to focus on the parts but I do seem to be capable of seeing the whole. I am learning to remind myself to keep returning to the BIG picture.
Gratitude, gratefulness, and prayer are key practices for me. They help me stay positive. They cut off the anxious thought loops that fuss over details. They keep me aware of the magnificent whole, and that gives me a peace that passes understanding.
Thank you dear readers for visiting my blog. Blessings to you and yours.
Questions?
I may have misinterpreted or misapplied the idea of “parts, not the whole.” I learn a lot by reading comments here, and from posts and comments on friends’ blogs. So as usual I invite your comments. Is “parts, not the whole” an issue for you? What helps you move from dwelling on “parts” to appreciating the “whole”?
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