The Human Psyche is the connective fabric between cognition, intuition, and volitional action. Elements of the Human Psyche include:

• Bravado
• Insecurity
• Empathy for others
• Self Interest
• Madness

(From this point forward, in this week's written thought, Empathy will always imply Empathy for others).

We are able to exert some influence through our choices surrounding these five elements of our Human Psyche. This influence is represented by one's cognition, one's intuition, and (most obviously) by one's volitional action. In other words, the interplay within one's psyche gives direction to one's thoughts, feelings, and actions. This influence may allow us to believe that our fear is within our control, or even nonexistent; but in actuality, through our choices, we are simply creating a more comfortable and user-friendly version of our fear.

Fear is the nest in which the Human Psyche makes its home. Fear drives our choices surrounding the elements of our Human Psyche.

Bravado is Bravado because all knowledge is pretentious. Insecurity is not the opposite of Bravado. Insecurity is Insecurity because we acknowledge that all knowledge is pretentious.

Healthy Fear manifests as a relative balance between Bravado and Insecurity. Inordinate Fear results in a noticeable imbalance between the two, and/or a sudden sharp decline in Bravado. In this latter instance, instead of increasing insecurity, the decline in Bravado may create an equally sudden spike in Madness. In the short term, this path to Madness looks a lot like Bravado.

A relative balance of Empathy and Self Interest creates social dexterity. An imbalance leads to awkwardness. Empathy and Self Interest must remain in close proximity for each to be productively effective. Yet in more moments than not, Empathy will remain in the bottom one-third of its range, while Self Interest enjoys the rarefied air near the top of its range.

Healthy Madness is driven by fear to consult with one's intuition and report back. Thus Healthy Madness is a product of intuition properly administered and utilized, resulting in greater productivity and an increase in efficiencies as seen through volitional action. Healthy Madness accomplishes this by encouraging creative exploration. Madness (healthy or unhealthy) is not the same as intuition; though those whose Madness tends to run below the recommended minimum, may be prone to confuse the two.

Unhealthy Madness can be the result of an overemphasis of, or an excessive focus on, intuition. One's Psyche should give direction to one's intuition. To put the cart before the horse is Madness. An overdose of intuition suppresses cognition, thus creating cold, drafty spaces for (otherwise healthy) Madness to be stricken with disease.

For the Human Psyche to maintain a healthy balance, on a scale of 100, Bravado, Insecurity, Empathy, and Self Interest should each range (individually) between 15 and 30, and Madness should fall into the range of 10 to 20. An unhealthy balance occurs when any element falls outside a range, and/or when there is a separation of more than 10 between Bravado and Insecurity, and/or when there is a separation of more than 10 between Empathy and Self Interest. These numbers fluctuate moment-to-moment, according to circumstance. These numbers will always add up to 100.

In many cases, a quantifiable change in Bravado is equitably reflected in Insecurity and/or Madness.

In some cases, a quantifiable change in Insecurity is equitably reflected in Bravado and/or Madness.

In some cases, a quantifiable increase in Insecurity is accompanied by an equitable increase in Bravado. When this occurs, the overall increase is equitably reflected by a decrease in the Empathy-Self Interest tandem.

In some cases, a quantifiable change in Insecurity is equitably reflected in Self Interest.

In some cases, a quantifiable decrease in Bravado is equitably reflected by an increase in Empathy.

In many cases, a quantifiable change in Empathy is equitably reflected in Self Interest and/or Madness.

In some cases, a quantifiable increase in Empathy is equitably reflected by a decrease in Bravado.

In many cases, a quantifiable change in Self Interest is equitably reflected in Empathy and/or Madness.

It is possible for a quantifiable change in any element to be equitably reflected in any other element.

In some cases, these triggers become rapid-fire, producing a series of staccato reactions ricocheting recklessly around the psyche.

A quantifiable change in Madness is typically a result of a change in Bravado, Insecurity, Empathy, or Self Interest. But, the longer the duration of its stay above its healthy limit, the greater the potential for Madness to feed upon the Human Psyche and self-generate; equitably reflected in one or more of the other four elements.

On occasion, (though it is Madness to do so), one must put the cart before the horse in order to make some sense of the big picture. This is commonly known as contemplation; or, (for some), meditation; or, (for some), spirituality.

Fear drives our choices. Our choices exert influence on the elements within our Human Psyche. Our psyche gives direction to our cognition, our intuition, and our volitional action.

Imagine a cylinder, open at both ends and placed (with one open end down), securely nestled into the deepest, darkest folds of your essence, where no light is able to enter through the bottom. When settled, fear rests near the bottom of this cylinder, the Human Psyche (and its elements) are most comfortable in the middle portion, and our cognition, intuition, and volitional action prefer the open-ended top of the cylinder where the bright light of day comes streaming in. When settled, and in turn, fear exerts gentle pressure upward on one's psyche, and the elements of the psyche exert gentle pressure upward influencing one's thoughts, feelings, and actions; and then the elements monitor results and, (with the aid of one's cognition and intuition), report back. On occasion reports are unsettling. When unsettled, fear, the elements of the psyche, thoughts, feelings, and actions become muddied and muddled, and may, (depending upon the degree of turmoil), produce a volatile concoction where fear and some elements of the psyche may bubble over the top, spilling into the light of day. This is a visual representation of a potentially unhealthy balance, with the overflow made necessary in order to maintain a level of 100. However, in moderation, the occasional frothy brew may also bring to light some normally-hidden fears or aspects of one's psyche that may in turn add to one's learning and growth. I believe it is good to shake things up every now and then.

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I write within the week and then move forward. This is my first run-through focusing on the Human Psyche; though much of it layers nicely with other previous written thought. I have only the barest of inklings as to how this thought jibes with Jung, Freud, and other relevant thinkers on the topic. I may research and write more, (this week or next), or I may move on. Regardless, the depth and flow this week, (at least for me), has touched upon previously untouched and/or incoherent dynamics.