How do you feel about the idea of consciousness as a constantly flowing stream, rather than a series of discrete thoughts?
- It makes perfect sense to me! My thoughts are always flitting around, connecting to one another.
- I can see it, but sometimes I feel like my mind can hold still, especially when I’m really focused.
- I’m not sure. It’s kind of a trippy concept to wrap my head around.
- I prefer to think of my thoughts as separate, distinct entities.
What’s your favorite metaphor for consciousness?
- A river, always flowing, sometimes calm, sometimes turbulent.
- A movie, a constant stream of images and sounds.
- A conversation, with different voices and perspectives chiming in.
- A kaleidoscope, with ever-shifting patterns and colors.
What makes you nervous about the concept of the “psychic fringe”?
- It makes me wonder how much of my understanding is influenced by things outside of my immediate awareness.
- I’m not really nervous about it. I find it fascinating!
- Honestly, I don’t really understand what the “psychic fringe” is.
- I’d rather not think about it.
How prepared are you to accept that your conscious experience is unique and cannot be replicated?
- That’s totally fine and makes me feel special!
- It makes sense, but it’s a bit of a mind-blowing concept.
- I’m not sure I entirely understand what that means for me, so I need more information.
- It makes me a bit uncomfortable because I like to relate to other people’s experiences.
What happens if you try to really focus on the “transitive” states, the moments between distinct thoughts?
- It feels like my mind goes blank, as if I’m chasing after something that’s impossible to catch.
- It’s tricky, but I can sometimes sense a kind of mental energy shifting.
- Nothing happens. I’m still just thinking my thoughts.
- I’m not even sure I can identify the “transitive” states. They seem to go by too quickly!
What do you think you need to better understand the concept of the “psychic fringe”?
- More concrete examples of how it operates in everyday life.
- A deeper dive into the neurological underpinnings.
- Some time to reflect on my own experiences and how they might relate.
- Honestly, I’m not that interested in the “psychic fringe.” It seems a bit abstract.
What comes to mind when you think about the experience of trying to recall a forgotten name?
- I can almost feel the word on the tip of my tongue, even though I can’t quite grasp it.
- It’s frustrating! I hate that feeling of knowing that I know something, but not being able to access it.
- It makes me wonder about all the memories and information that I might be able to access if only I knew how.
- Honestly, I don’t think about it that much. It happens to everyone sometimes.
How often do you pay attention to the “psychic fringe,” the subtle feelings and associations that surround your thoughts?
- Pretty often! I’m a very intuitive person and I pick up on those subtle cues all the time.
- Sometimes. I think it’s important to be aware of the subconscious influences on our thinking.
- Not very often. I’m more focused on the here and now.
- Rarely, if ever. I’m more of a logical, rational thinker.
How confident are you in your ability to accurately describe your own stream of consciousness?
- Pretty confident! I’m pretty introspective and I like to think I have a good grasp on my own thoughts.
- Somewhat confident. I can describe the general flow, but I know that some details are always going to be elusive.
- Not very confident. It feels like trying to catch smoke.
- Not at all confident. I’m not sure I even understand my own thoughts half the time, let alone anyone else’s!
How do you handle the realization that our conscious experience is constantly changing?
- I find it exhilarating! It keeps life interesting.
- It’s a bit bittersweet. It’s sad to think that we can never truly recapture a moment, but it also makes me appreciate each experience more.
- It makes me a bit anxious. I like things to be predictable.
- I try not to think about it too much. It’s just the nature of reality.
Do you have a clear understanding of the distinction between “substantive” and “transitive” states of consciousness?
- Yes, I find the distinction to be really helpful in understanding the flow of my thoughts.
- I get the general idea, but I’m still a bit fuzzy on the details.
- I’m not sure. I need to go back and review those concepts.
- No, and I don’t find it a particularly useful distinction.
How well do you think you would have gotten along with William James?
- We’d be best friends! I love his way of thinking about the mind.
- I think we’d have some really interesting conversations.
- I’m not sure. He seems a bit intense for me.
- We probably wouldn’t have much in common.
Which of the following is most accurate when it comes to your ability to control your attention?
- I have a pretty good handle on my attention. I can focus when I need to, but I can also let my mind wander when it’s appropriate.
- My attention span isn’t what it used to be. Thanks, internet!
- I’m easily distracted. It’s something I’m working on.
- My attention is like a wild animal. It goes wherever it wants!
To what degree do you experience the “psychic fringe” in your everyday life?
- Very strongly! I’m very sensitive to the subtle connections and associations that surround my thoughts and experiences.
- I definitely notice it from time to time, especially when I’m feeling creative or intuitive.
- Not that often. I’m more of a concrete, practical thinker.
- Rarely, if ever. It sounds a bit “woo-woo” to me.
Which of these best describes your current understanding of the “stream of consciousness”?
- It’s a powerful concept that has fundamentally changed the way I think about my own mind.
- It’s an interesting idea, but I’m still wrapping my head around all the implications.
- It’s a bit too abstract for me. I prefer to focus on more concrete things.
- I don’t really get it.
What is your current biggest challenge when it comes to understanding your own consciousness?
- Quieting the constant chatter of my mind and just being present in the moment.
- Understanding the relationship between my conscious and subconscious thoughts.
- Finding the vocabulary to accurately describe my own subjective experiences.
- I don’t really think about it that much. Ignorance is bliss!
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you encounter a concept that challenges your existing beliefs about consciousness?
- I get curious and want to explore it further.
- I try to consider it objectively and see if it fits with my own experiences.
- I get a little defensive. I don’t like having my beliefs challenged.
- I ignore it. Life’s too short to worry about that kind of stuff.
How do you handle the realization that you may never fully understand the complexities of your own consciousness?
- I’m okay with that! It’s what makes life mysterious and interesting.
- It’s a bit frustrating, but I’m still going to keep trying to learn as much as I can.
- It makes me feel a bit uneasy. I like to feel like I’m in control.
- It doesn’t really bother me. Ignorance is bliss!
How would you describe your relationship to your own stream of consciousness?
- We’re close friends! I spend a lot of time reflecting on my own thoughts and experiences.
- It’s complicated! Sometimes I feel like I’m along for the ride, other times I feel more in control.
- We’re not really on speaking terms.
- I’m not even sure I have one.
Are you stuck in any particular ways of thinking about consciousness?
- I’m open to exploring different perspectives and don’t believe I’m stuck.
- I might be a bit attached to certain ideas, but I’m willing to challenge them.
- I tend to stick to what I know, so I might need a little push to think differently.
- I’m not really sure, as I haven’t explored this topic deeply before.
What would you say are your top struggles right now when it comes to understanding or managing your own stream of consciousness?
- I overthink everything, which makes it hard to quiet my mind.
- I have trouble focusing for long periods of time.
- I often feel overwhelmed by my own thoughts and emotions.
- I don’t really struggle with that.
What is your ultimate “stream of consciousness” goal?
- To achieve a state of flow, where my thoughts and actions are effortless and aligned.
- To be able to quiet my mind and be fully present in the moment.
- To better understand my own motivations and desires.
- To be honest, I don’t really have one.
What do you think is missing in your exploration of your own consciousness?
- A more structured approach to introspection and self-reflection.
- A deeper understanding of the neurological basis of consciousness.
- The courage to really confront my own subconscious thoughts and beliefs.
- Nothing! I’m perfectly content with my current level of self-awareness.
What is your current level of expertise in navigating your own “stream of consciousness?”
- I’m like a seasoned explorer! I can navigate the twists and turns with ease.
- I’m getting the hang of it, but still have much to learn.
- I’m a bit lost, to be honest.
- I haven’t even started packing for the trip yet!
You’re having a conversation and you completely forget what you were talking about. How do you respond?
- I laugh it off and blame it on my “stream of consciousness”!
- I try to retrace my mental steps and figure out where I went off track.
- I get flustered and embarrassed.
- I change the subject.
What word best describes how you feel when you try to hold onto a thought and examine it closely?
- Curious
- Frustrated
- Confused
- Bored
Which of the following do you notice yourself worrying about on a day-to-day basis?
- Not being able to achieve a state of flow in my work or creative pursuits.
- Losing track of my thoughts and not being able to express myself clearly.
- Being controlled by subconscious impulses that I’m not even aware of.
- I don’t really worry about that kind of stuff.
How clear and confident do you feel in your ability to communicate your thoughts and ideas to others?
- Very clear and confident! I rarely struggle to find the right words.
- I do alright, but I sometimes feel like I could be more articulate.
- It depends on the situation and who I’m talking to.
- I often feel misunderstood.
How well do you think you balance analytical thinking with intuitive, stream-of-consciousness thinking?
- It’s a constant dance, but I think I strike a pretty good balance.
- I tend to favor one over the other, depending on the situation.
- I’m not even sure I know what that means!
How connected do you feel to your own intuition and gut feelings?
- Very connected! I trust my gut implicitly.
- I’m working on listening to my intuition more.
- I’m a bit skeptical of anything that isn’t based on logic and reason.
- What intuition?
Which of the following is most likely to frustrate you?
- Getting stuck in a loop of negative thoughts.
- Not being able to articulate my ideas clearly.
- Feeling like my mind is racing a mile a minute.
- I’m pretty laid back. It takes a lot to frustrate me.
What is the trickiest part about trying to describe your own subjective experience?
- Finding the right words to capture the nuances of my feelings and perceptions.
- Overcoming the feeling that my experiences are too unique to be relatable.
- Quieting the “inner critic” that tells me my thoughts aren’t interesting or important.
- I don’t really find it that tricky.
Do you find yourself more drawn to introspective activities like journaling and meditation, or outward-focused activities like socializing and exploring the world?
- I need a balance of both!
- I’m definitely more introspective.
- I’m more of an extrovert.
Do you have a journaling or meditation practice in place, such as a daily gratitude journal or a 10-minute mindfulness exercise?
- Yes, I find these practices very helpful.
- I’ve tried them, but haven’t found something that sticks.
- I’m not really interested in those types of practices.
How do you determine your personal growth’s objectives each month?
- I reflect on my experiences and identify areas where I want to grow.
- I set goals based on my values and what’s important to me.
- I go with the flow and see what unfolds.
Are your personal goals consistently helping you feel more in tune with your “stream of consciousness?”
- Yes, I feel more aligned when I’m actively working towards my goals.
- Sometimes, but it depends on the goal.
- Not really, as I haven’t made that connection before.
How do you manage the introspective aspect of self-reflection in your daily life?
- I schedule dedicated time for journaling, meditation, or simply being alone with my thoughts.
- I try to incorporate mindfulness into my everyday activities.
- I don’t manage it very well, to be honest.