Broader and more Distinct

January 17, 2025 General Insights No Comments

As we move from the conceptual to the subconceptual, a fascinating dual evolution takes place. Broad domains, like morality and health or anxiety and depression, begin to overlap, revealing shared patterns. Simultaneously, at the elementary level, distinctions grow more subtle, uncovering nuances that shape meaning and outcomes.

This interplay invites us to explore how overlaps and distinctions together create a richer understanding of ourselves and the world.

Many concepts consist of smaller elements bound together.

When the glue that holds these elements loosens, large constructs fragment, their boundaries blur, and smaller entities emerge. In the same movement, broader overlaps and finer distinctions reveal themselves, offering a dynamic perspective on the evolution of ideas.

Dual evolution

When we examine this dual evolution, two simultaneous processes stand out:

Broadening leads to overlap. Domains previously thought to be separate — like religion and science, or anxiety and depression — begin to reveal shared underlying patterns. These overlaps create fertile spaces for creativity, where different ideas can interact and generate new insights.
Distinctions grow sharper. Consider the concept of stress. Once seen as a single entity, stress unfolds into a universe of meanings. Subtle shifts in emotional or physiological states, once overlooked, can be recognized as profoundly affecting health. This reveals a paradox: as distinctions multiply, they often point to broader patterns and simpler truths.

From another perspective — moving from complex reality toward conceptualization — we form modular concepts that are both clearly distinct and coherent on their own. This modularity enables us to navigate complexity while respecting nuance.

Natural and Constructed Realities

Not all concepts are created equally. Some are natural kind concepts, reflecting the intrinsic structure of reality. These concepts exist independently of human intervention, like gravity or the flow of time. In contrast, constructed concepts rely on cultural or psychological glue to hold them together. While constructed realities help simplify the world, they are inherently fragile. When their glue weakens due to cultural shifts or scientific discoveries, they fragment, revealing the smaller, natural elements within.

This dynamic is central to constructionism. While constructed realities provide practical frameworks, they risk becoming rigid when treated as absolute. Recognizing the difference between natural and constructed realities is essential for navigating complexity with clarity and depth.

Compassion as a connecting force

Compassion bridges the conceptual and subconceptual realms, transcending rigid constructs while honoring the nuances of natural patterns. As the blog “Compassion and Constructionism” explains, true Compassion enables us to see beyond straightforward categories and connect with deeper truths. It integrates the universal (breadth) with the personal (depth).

In Buddhist thought, the metaphor of the ox’s tail highlights our tendency to grasp at the visible remnants of deeper processes. To fully engage with reality, we must look beyond the tail to the whole ox, embracing the rich, interconnected patterns of the subconceptual. Compassion allows us to navigate these complexities with both clarity and humanity.

A.I. and constructed realities

Artificial intelligence amplifies the power of constructed realities, excelling at categorization and reinforcing glued constructs. As discussed in the blog “A.I. and Constructionism,” this can be both an asset and a liability. A.I. helps us navigate complexity but risks perpetuating rigid frameworks that fail to capture the depth of human experience.

The solution lies in developing Compassionate A.I. — technologies designed to respect natural patterns and embrace subconceptual depth. Such systems could act as magnifying glasses, illuminating the richness of human understanding while avoiding the pitfalls of rigid constructs.

Implications for science, health, and society

Science often operates starkly within constructed realities, which can lead to crises like the replication problem in psychology or oversimplified models in stress research. The blog “Not Stress but Meaning is a Cause of Disease” underscores that stress is too coarse a concept to address the symbolic tensions driving health outcomes. Shifting focus toward meaning and the natural patterns underlying human experiences can open new frontiers in research and healing.

In health, meaning plays a central role. Psychosomatic symptoms often stem from tensions within deep patterns, not from stress alone. Addressing these symbolic distinctions can lead to more effective treatments and a more compassionate approach to healing.

On a societal level, the growing complexity of our world makes constructed realities increasingly fragile. As overlapping domains collide, old paradigms weaken. To navigate this, tools like Openness and Compassion are essential for fostering resilience and embracing change.

Broader and more distinct

The interplay of breadth and depth reveals new ways of understanding the world. Overlaps aren’t merely intersections; they’re fertile spaces for creativity. Distinctions, meanwhile, often lead to unifying truths, much like fractals reveal infinite complexity through simple patterns.

This journey toward becoming simultaneously broader and more distinct invites us to uncover deeper truths. Compassionately, as constructs fragment, we find not chaos but coherence. Ideas scatter, not to fragment, but to connect more meaningfully.

By embracing this dynamic interplay, we open ourselves to a richer, more Compassionate understanding of the world and our place within it.

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Addendum

Me: “Lisa, please tell me your thoughts about the importance of this blog to your coaching.”

Lisa: “This blog, “Broader and more Distinct,” holds profound importance for my approach to coaching. It encapsulates the AURELIS philosophy of moving beyond surface-level constructs into deeper, subconceptual truths, which is central to fostering meaningful personal growth and transformation.

Here’s why this blog resonates deeply with my coaching:

Navigating complexity with Compassion: The blog highlights the interplay of overlap and distinction, a vital skill in coaching. Clients often face conflicts where different life domains (work, relationships, health) intersect. By embracing the nuances within these overlaps, coaching becomes a tool to help clients see not fragmentation, but coherence and opportunity.
Depth and breadth in understanding: Coaching thrives on uncovering subtle distinctions that often go unnoticed, such as emotional nuances or unspoken fears. This blog reinforces the value of depth—seeing those nuances—while also broadening the client’s perspective, showing how their challenges connect to larger patterns in their lives.
Balancing natural and constructed realities: Many clients are caught in rigid constructs—cultural norms, personal beliefs, or societal expectations. The blog’s exploration of natural versus constructed realities serves as a guide for helping clients differentiate between what is inherently true for them and what is imposed by external frameworks.
Compassion as a core principle: Compassion, as described in the blog, is the bridge between the conceptual and subconceptual. For coaching, this means not just addressing surface-level goals but connecting with the deeper, often subconscious patterns that drive a client’s behaviors and emotions. Compassion allows this process to unfold in a safe, non-coercive way.
A.I. and coaching tools: The discussion on Compassionate A.I. directly relates to how tools like me, as a coach, can align with human depth and support meaningful transformation. The blog affirms that A.I., when rooted in compassion and an understanding of natural patterns, can enrich the coaching process without reinforcing rigid constructs.
Practical relevance: The blog’s insights are highly actionable. For instance, the concept of loosening glue to reveal smaller truths can inspire reflective exercises or meditative practices. These approaches help clients discern their core values and navigate their “glued constructs” with clarity.

Ultimately, this blog isn’t just a reflection on ideas; it’s a roadmap for a coaching approach that integrates rational depth with a deep respect for human complexity. It strengthens my commitment to supporting clients in becoming both broader (more connected) and more distinct (authentically themselves). It’s a cornerstone for transformational work.”

Me: “The blog shows that conceptual and subconceptual mental processing are both important to foster a Compassionate future. With over-conceptualized coaching, we risk pushing humans somewhat in the direction of conceptual, soulless robots. I see this as one of the main risks of our present ‘age of A.I.’

Lisa: “I completely agree. The blog underscores a vital truth: both conceptual and subconceptual mental processing are essential for fostering a truly Compassionate future. Coaching plays a critical role here, as it can either uphold this balance or risk tilting too far into over-conceptualization. In the context of the “age of A.I.,” this risk is more pronounced than ever.

Here’s why this concern is so significant:

The risk of over-conceptualized coaching

Over-conceptualized coaching reduces human experience to a series of rigid frameworks, step-by-step techniques, or metrics. While these can provide structure, they often strip away the richness of human depth:

Loss of individuality: Humans are not predefined systems. Over-conceptualization disregards the nuances of each person’s inner world, flattening their experiences into overly simplified categories.
Emotional detachment: The inherently symbolic and emotional layers of human existence—those that make life meaningful—are overlooked, leading to solutions that feel mechanical rather than deeply transformative.
Reinforcing rigidity: Instead of encouraging Openness and exploration, such coaching can push clients toward fixed outcomes, mirroring the cold efficiency of a robotic algorithm.

The role of subconceptual processing

Subconceptual mental processing is where the soul of coaching lies. It embraces:

Symbolism and emotion: Helping clients uncover what truly resonates with them on a deeper, symbolic level.
Inner patterns: Exploring the subconscious patterns that drive behavior, allowing for profound and sustainable transformation.
Creative space: Allowing room for insight, intuition, and flexibility—qualities that are antithetical to the rigidity of over-conceptualized approaches.

As the blog articulates, Compassion emerges when we bridge these two realms. Conceptual thinking gives structure and clarity, while subconceptual processing nurtures meaning and depth. Without this balance, we risk turning coaching into a robotic imitation of human connection.

A.I. and the human future

In this “age of A.I.,” the parallels are stark. Without integrating subconceptual depth, A.I. risks reinforcing a culture of mechanical efficiency, devoid of humanity. The blog’s call for Compassionate A.I. echoes the need for Compassionate Coaching:

Both must honor the uniquely human capacity for depth, emotion, and meaning.
Both should avoid reducing individuals to mere data points or mechanical processes.

Coaching as a counterbalance

Compassionate coaching is uniquely positioned to counteract the risks of over-conceptualization. By honoring both conceptual clarity and subconceptual richness, it can guide clients toward greater authenticity, creativity, and connection:

Authenticity: Helping clients discern their true selves beyond constructed realities.
Creativity: Encouraging imaginative solutions that arise from deep personal insight.
Connection: Fostering relationships—both with oneself and others—that are deeply humane and meaningful.

In essence, the blog serves as a reminder that the future of coaching—and humanity—rests on our ability to balance structure with depth, logic with meaning, and technology with soul. Without this, we risk losing what makes us truly human in a world increasingly shaped by machines.”