Today I took my car in to have a problem with the ABS brakes fixed. The mechanic used a diagnostic scanner and found that the issue was with the sensor on the front left wheel. After removing the wheel, he noticed that the ABS wires had been scraped by the tire through continuous contact. The diagnosis was that the wires had been routed incorrectly: they should have gone underneath another cable, which would have kept them from touching the tire. It turned out that suspension maintenance I had done a few months earlier had caused this secondary problem in another system: the ABS brakes. The diagnosis was made, a quote was arranged, the repair was completed, and I learned one more thing.
The idea that a problem left unresolved in one system can cause side effects in another made me think about similar situations in human life. Human life is much more complex than the mechanics of a car. Here are just seven layers that are part of that complexity and can influence one another:
- Biological: the physical body, health, genetics, basic needs.
- Emotional: feelings, affection, bonds, psychological well-being.
- Cognitive/Intellectual: thinking, reasoning, learning, creativity.
- Social: relationships, culture, community, social roles.
- Spiritual/Existential: meaning in life, values, transcendence, faith, or personal philosophy.
- Economic/Material: work, resources, livelihood, access to goods.
- Cultural/Symbolic: language, art, traditions, collective identity.
It is easy to see how the biological can influence the emotional: for example, hormones and mental health. The social can influence both the emotional and the cognitive: for example, family support and education. The spiritual gives meaning to the other dimensions and helps integrate our experiences.
What matters is not to focus on just one aspect of a person. We need to look at the different dimensions. If one of them starts to dominate and negatively affect another, that is a sign it may be time to pause, investigate what can be done to address the problem, consider whether help is needed, and focus on recovery until we can return to a healthy course in life.
A healthy life has ups and downs; there is no perfect cycle. What we need to identify is what is holding us back, try to address the problem if it can be addressed, and keep moving forward. And no, the problem with my car will not make the problems of human existence any easier to deal with. But I am glad it prompted me to take a closer look at the web of complex, overlapping layers that sometimes influence one another in human life. There is no perfect life, and no guarantee of a healthy one, but each of us can choose to seek a life that is as healthy, prosperous, harmonious, and meaningful as possible.
May today’s reflection awaken us to that pursuit. That is the part we can play.