What is morphology, and why is it worthy of our consideration? Morphology, according the dictionary (that old book, gathering dust on the shelf that we never seem to use anymore) can have different meanings depending upon its use in linguistics, biology or other scientific endeavors. Generally, however, morphology refers "form" and "structure." It relates to the shape of things, considered as a whole. When superheroes or characters from animated productions (cartoons) talk about "morphing" they are talking about changing shape. I, for one, would like to improve my morphology.
Although all living things change through growth and development, generally speaking, most of us would likely assume that basic physiological structure or morphology changes very little (excepting of course metamorphic processes such as seen in caterpillars changing to butterflies). I would like to suggest that assumption may be at least somewhat inaccurate. I believe that the physiology of our physical being (our bodies) may be continually changing in response to many factors including environmental, behavioral and even the cognitive/emotional. If this were true, it would have great implications for all of us, almost all of the time.
At first glance, the idea that morphology or structure is always changing might seem silly. Most things likely appear relatively stable in their structure from one day to the next. If things were constantly changing, it would be visible. To help our understanding in this matter, we may, however, need to look no further than our eyes. The eyes, it is said, are "windows to the Soul." Conventional wisdom tells us that we may tell much about an individual through his eyes. The eyes can indeed tell us much about someone, not the least of which is information about their physical health. Eye doctors typically identify high blood pressure and other physical ailments through eye examination.
It was Ophthalmologist William H. Bates, M.D. in his highly acclaimed book Better Eyesight Without Glasses (1971, Pyramid Books, New York, NY) who noted "Under conditions of mental or physical discomfort, such as pain, cough, fever, discomfort from heat or cold, depression, anger, or anxiety, errors of refraction are always produced in the normal eye or increased in the eye in which they already exist (p.29)." Further, he stated that "It has been demonstrated in thousands of cases that all abnormal action of the external muscles of the eyeball is accompanied by a strain or effort to see, and that with the relief of this strain the action of the muscles becomes normal and all errors of refraction disappear (p. 37)." To paraphrase, it would appear that stress, and the resultant strain that it produces causes, in and of itself, defective eyesight. It changes the morphology of the eye itself and therefore causes errors of refraction.
Yet, one might ask, why is it that all of us, when we return to a normal restful state, do not have perfectly normal vision? Why is it that after a full night's sleep everyone's vision is not returned to normal? Dr. Bates informs us that "During sleep the refractive condition of the eye is rarely, if ever, normal (p. 28)," and that if our eyes are under a strain when we are awake, "that strain will certainly be continued during sleep, (pp. 41, 42)." Further, most of us would agree that we all know individuals who, even though ostensibly relaxed, have vision problems.
I would suggest that negative emotions, over time, have cumulative effects upon the structure and function of the musculature surrounding the eye, and therefore the eye itself. That could be why, even with Dr. Bates' innovative methods, older individuals (especially those who have made use of glasses) have a much harder time and require a longer period to effect an improvement in their vision. Perhaps it is that over time, and with constant repetition of certain behavioral patterns, morphological changes become relatively permanent. Any behavior in which we engage continually will become ingrained as a habit. Habits, for most of us, are stubbornly tenacious and difficult to change.
If we were to consider these principles more generally, we might include the effects of stress and strain upon the entire body, not just the eye. It has been said that stress can cause or is implicated in very large number of physical ailments. Some of these include heart disease, diabetes, asthma, obesity, depression, anxiety, gastrointestinal problems, Alzheimer's disease, chronic inflammation, premature aging and even premature death. Certainly some of these conditions would seem to imply a fundamental change in physical morphology. The result of stress and strain can be not simply a matter of subjectively feeling "stressed out." It can potentially be a matter of pathologically changing the very structure of our physical being.
How many times do we hear or see something and think to ourselves "wow, I should really look into that," and then do nothing, or allow that thing to simply fade from our consciousness? While this could be "one of those things," it shouldn't. Attending to and mitigating the effects of stress will have real and immediate benefits in our lives.
The process of accessing a peaceful and deeply relaxed state is not difficult, tricky or mystical. It is, in fact, very simple. When we think about our schedules and the tasks we have to do, it seems to activate (at least to some degree) our "fight or flight" response. We tense up, and get ready for action. For this process we need the exact opposite. We need a conscious "letting go," and simply allowing ourselves to "be."
Having just made the statement that this is not hard to do, I will admit that it is something that many find elusive. Perhaps it is in the way in which we've been programmed over time. Perhaps it relates to the values we hold. Perhaps over time, we have been gradually "rewired" to stay busy and shun inactivity as useless, slothful and morally inferior. Whatever the reason, it will require that many of us change our thinking.
There are a multitude of sources for information about accessing this level of peace and quietude, in print, over the internet and likely even in our own communities. Please avail yourself of those resources and get started. It doesn't matter how "well" you do at them, just start to use them and make them habitual. They will improve your life.
Although all living things change through growth and development, generally speaking, most of us would likely assume that basic physiological structure or morphology changes very little (excepting of course metamorphic processes such as seen in caterpillars changing to butterflies). I would like to suggest that assumption may be at least somewhat inaccurate. I believe that the physiology of our physical being (our bodies) may be continually changing in response to many factors including environmental, behavioral and even the cognitive/emotional. If this were true, it would have great implications for all of us, almost all of the time.
At first glance, the idea that morphology or structure is always changing might seem silly. Most things likely appear relatively stable in their structure from one day to the next. If things were constantly changing, it would be visible. To help our understanding in this matter, we may, however, need to look no further than our eyes. The eyes, it is said, are "windows to the Soul." Conventional wisdom tells us that we may tell much about an individual through his eyes. The eyes can indeed tell us much about someone, not the least of which is information about their physical health. Eye doctors typically identify high blood pressure and other physical ailments through eye examination.
It was Ophthalmologist William H. Bates, M.D. in his highly acclaimed book Better Eyesight Without Glasses (1971, Pyramid Books, New York, NY) who noted "Under conditions of mental or physical discomfort, such as pain, cough, fever, discomfort from heat or cold, depression, anger, or anxiety, errors of refraction are always produced in the normal eye or increased in the eye in which they already exist (p.29)." Further, he stated that "It has been demonstrated in thousands of cases that all abnormal action of the external muscles of the eyeball is accompanied by a strain or effort to see, and that with the relief of this strain the action of the muscles becomes normal and all errors of refraction disappear (p. 37)." To paraphrase, it would appear that stress, and the resultant strain that it produces causes, in and of itself, defective eyesight. It changes the morphology of the eye itself and therefore causes errors of refraction.
Yet, one might ask, why is it that all of us, when we return to a normal restful state, do not have perfectly normal vision? Why is it that after a full night's sleep everyone's vision is not returned to normal? Dr. Bates informs us that "During sleep the refractive condition of the eye is rarely, if ever, normal (p. 28)," and that if our eyes are under a strain when we are awake, "that strain will certainly be continued during sleep, (pp. 41, 42)." Further, most of us would agree that we all know individuals who, even though ostensibly relaxed, have vision problems.
I would suggest that negative emotions, over time, have cumulative effects upon the structure and function of the musculature surrounding the eye, and therefore the eye itself. That could be why, even with Dr. Bates' innovative methods, older individuals (especially those who have made use of glasses) have a much harder time and require a longer period to effect an improvement in their vision. Perhaps it is that over time, and with constant repetition of certain behavioral patterns, morphological changes become relatively permanent. Any behavior in which we engage continually will become ingrained as a habit. Habits, for most of us, are stubbornly tenacious and difficult to change.
If we were to consider these principles more generally, we might include the effects of stress and strain upon the entire body, not just the eye. It has been said that stress can cause or is implicated in very large number of physical ailments. Some of these include heart disease, diabetes, asthma, obesity, depression, anxiety, gastrointestinal problems, Alzheimer's disease, chronic inflammation, premature aging and even premature death. Certainly some of these conditions would seem to imply a fundamental change in physical morphology. The result of stress and strain can be not simply a matter of subjectively feeling "stressed out." It can potentially be a matter of pathologically changing the very structure of our physical being.
How many times do we hear or see something and think to ourselves "wow, I should really look into that," and then do nothing, or allow that thing to simply fade from our consciousness? While this could be "one of those things," it shouldn't. Attending to and mitigating the effects of stress will have real and immediate benefits in our lives.
The process of accessing a peaceful and deeply relaxed state is not difficult, tricky or mystical. It is, in fact, very simple. When we think about our schedules and the tasks we have to do, it seems to activate (at least to some degree) our "fight or flight" response. We tense up, and get ready for action. For this process we need the exact opposite. We need a conscious "letting go," and simply allowing ourselves to "be."
Having just made the statement that this is not hard to do, I will admit that it is something that many find elusive. Perhaps it is in the way in which we've been programmed over time. Perhaps it relates to the values we hold. Perhaps over time, we have been gradually "rewired" to stay busy and shun inactivity as useless, slothful and morally inferior. Whatever the reason, it will require that many of us change our thinking.
There are a multitude of sources for information about accessing this level of peace and quietude, in print, over the internet and likely even in our own communities. Please avail yourself of those resources and get started. It doesn't matter how "well" you do at them, just start to use them and make them habitual. They will improve your life.
About the Author:
For more information about the process of establishing a new, more healthy baseline of relaxation please read the article Strain Relief. To give the process a tropical twist, be sure to check out Tiki Tranquility.. Check here for free reprint license: Morphological Changes From Stress.
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