My friends (and everyone else, LOL!), please tell me about your sense of coherence!?

Question

I was reading an article on stroke risk and came across the term 'coherence'.

In this context coherence is "a measure of how strongly a person believes that what happens in their life is comprehensible, manageable and meaningful".

So, how strong is your sense of 'coherence'?

If weak, does it concern you that life is difficult to understand, manage or lacks meaning?

If strong, what is it that gives you your sense of 'coherence'?

Tell me what you think please. And if your inclination is to simply reply 'God' or 'Jesus', please remember I'm an atheist. So a bit more detail would be appreciated. Thanks.

Abstract link, for those who are interested: http://www.stroke.org.uk/media_centre/press_releases/coping_ability.html

Answer 1

I do feel that I float trough life. Last year a wonderful woman decided not to marry me because of this casual approach to the many hardships of daily life. Frankly, I think she made the right decision.



I think there probably is a better way, but this is my way, and learning to accept who I am has taken a life time. So I will float.

Answer 2

I am pretty certain mine is relatively strong.

Bottom line is I do not deem life as this outside influence or happenings separate from myself. I think instead that "I am life"

I don't understand statements like "Life is crazy sometimes" or "What is the meaning of life" as it seems to separate us from "life" when we are "life"

In looking at it that way then I make it manageable and meaningful..it is up to me.

Sure I can't not control outside influences such as accidents and doings of other people but I do on fact control how I react to them so that tells me that I am the only one who controls my life. (keep in mind I am speaking on a quality aspect not quantity as I know I could be hit by a Mac truck at any moment.)

Coherence comes into play when I am able to take a calm rational approach to the outside influences and decide not to let it influence me to a degree that I would drive myself crazy. And instead focus on how am I as an outside influence to others lives.

There might not be a purpose or a reason for any of our existence (as I am atheist as well) but I really don't care. Right now I focus on what meaning I can draw from humanity and the continuation of the mankind. As far as I know we are not on the verge of extinction so my purpose is to be "life".



In reading some of the other answers I would have to add that in some things the reason "why" does not make a difference. I have a huge birthmark on my left side. I have wondered why "wondered briefly" but knowing why won't change that I have it and have to deal with it. Same goes with having ADD, or a hole in my throat.



Edit:Cool article. I would also say that those with better coping skills recover from a stroke much faster. I hate to say this but in working with patients post-stroke I could probably tell after about two therapy treatments who would succeed and who would not. State of mind makes a tremendous difference in recovery as well.

Answer 3

I expect that I was born with a strong sense of coherence in contrast to what I observed in my siblings and friends. My sense of coherence grew as I observed the effect on my body (as a child) when I momentarily LOST it. Illness was always the result of fear - of others' illusions/irrationality.



Coherence was an awareness of being conscious (as an evolving field of consciousness) separate from my body, observing the effects of my environment ON the mind/body and my conditioned ego reactions.



These effects were primarily experienced as emotional electrochemistry, and I was keenly aware that fear of existential death (loss of coherence being tantamount to loss of dignity) was what was most dangerous to my physical health growing up. I had a few close calls, but I gradually learned to manage reality so that these stressful situations with adults did not occur.



I had early passionate interests and these provided a clear path ahead and became lifelong pursuits which provided a sense of purposefulness for this incarnation. I eventually understood why I had encountered this life structure and relationships, the causes and effects, and made a concerted effort to transcend the indoctrinated ego identity through contemplation.



Illness has always been perceived as a waste of time and not tolerated, though I am aware that our minds and bodies are susceptible to experiencing illness for all sorts of reasons, and have nothing but compassion for those who are trapped in this cycle.

Answer 4

rofl That is many different things to many different people. I could be speaking coherently and those who don't understand empaths would think I'd had a stroke! You scared me! I'm ordering that chelation therapy today. Gonna clean those suckers out! lol My coherence any more is ethics and intuition. The insanity is the sanity I feel every time I think I'm going insane. I know you're in the UK, but I'd like to honor you with an American Happy Father's Day. You are one of the coolest dads I know. Your daughter is very lucky to have you.

Answer 5

I am in transition. I am becoming stronger in so much as I understand that things are simply reactions to actions. If I can control it, I do that which I can. If I can not control it, I decide how I will deal with the issue. I do not worry, "much". I simple try my best to flow. I also understand that all of the "bad" things in my life have contributed to what I am and have now. I am glad and happy with now, so things happen "good" or "bad" are all relative to how I perceive the long term effect as well as the now. If the Now is unpleasant to me, I understand that how I perceive it effect the after now being pleasant or not. I am unsure of how well I articulate this, I hope you understand.

Answer 6

It seems that i spent most of my life in an incoherent state of mind/being. I believe I'm coherent now and my life is much more manageable yet not completely in my control. The creator is in control and I go where he leads me.

Answer 7

My life itself has taught me my sense of coherence...because I do believe that there is a purpose for every event and even if that event is unpleasant, there is much to be learned from it...an analogy--'Death must occur for re-birth to happen'...I don't mean literal death especially, but an ending...the endings always open the door for the beginnings...

Answer 8

Thanks for the little informative article. Medical research interests all of us.

My sense of coherence is slight. I don't know why I had asthma, why it went away. I was supposed to need hemorrhoid surgery, but they went away. Puberty created the incomprehensible nuisance of sexual neediness. Now my antidepressants take the libido away, hooray! I got a rare disease called cervical dystonia. I didn't go away. I'm a recovering, sober alcoholic, but I drank wildly too much for three decades. High blood pressure takes 5 medicines to control. High cholesterol doesn't bother me.

Yes, this concerns me. Especially it makes me willing to die. Not suicidal, but I just presume that the next thing God has ready for me is to kill me. Life is a rough playground where the gods play senseless games.

Answer 9

I would say that my life is reasonably comprehensible and meaningful. Manageable is another question in some senses, but I'm not overly concerned about it.

Answer 10

The sense of coherance will never be strong if you are identified with the body-mind.

The sense of coherance will be very strong if you are established in your self.

Answer 11

i don't EVER choose twins. Mucho painful./: i don't even think of i actual decide to have toddlers ;; possibly i'm going to undertake.. provide the sons and daughters without real mothers and fathers a huge gamble.(: i constantly had to be a twin whilst i replaced into little.. yet not anymore. by way of fact, i advise, incredibly ;; you will possibly could share each thing with them & human beings might usually blend you up. yet, incredibly, i've got in no way even had the seen wanting twins by way of fact of invoice & Tom. it is puzzling for me to even bear in mind that they are twins ;; they look not something alike. (different than for sometimess.) Butttt - if i ever did have twins, i might choose them to be like invoice & Tom - thoroughly unique & diverse from one yet another ;; yet constantly in accordance with one yet another.(: poll -;- i don't be responsive to.xD i constantly get at a loss for words whilst somebody asks me what share arms I actual have. xxo. ?