Toward Healing | The Sum of Parts Is Smaller Than The Whole

Aristotle stated over 2300 years ago that "the whole is something over and above its parts, and not just the sum of them all" (Metaphysics, 1045a). Aristotle's statement is one of the most basic observations on both the natural and man-made world and has become the foundation for a multitude of theories and practices based on synergy. As a design theoretician and practitioner I have been constantly experiencing the value of this fundamental observation.

A Menger sponge as visual example of whole and parts. Image from spacetecture © daniela bertol

Unfortunately "the whole being greater than the sum of its parts" is true also in negative destructive actions in personal life. I can be a perfect case study as in the past four years I have been experiencing how seemingly separated events and people have merged together to produce severe damage to my wellbeing. Some of these events are considered major life stress, each on its own: brutal divorce proceedings, betrayal from friends, lack of support from immediate family, the challenging pursue of a doctoral degree caught in the crossfire of academic politics.  Other events are something which anybody can face on a daily basis: e.g. dealing with dysfunctional public and private services, bureaucracy, delayed deliveries, rude strangers, greedy neighbors. Facing all or several of these adversities several at once can become an explosive cocktail for emotional and physical health bringing stress to dangerous levels.

A week ago I had this insight which has become a major life changer in dealing with adversities. If I am overcome the whole of negative people and events encountered in my daily life, why not dealing with each negativeness separately, deconstructing the whole into its parts.  Dealing with each negativity at the time can be accomplished especially when starting with smaller tasks. It is important to start with something we can successfully accomplish without other people—especially when the others are  narcissistic obstructionist spouses and family members. 

Logic is an important component of Greek, and overall, philosophy. Therefore, whenever the whole points to negative actions and effects, why not changing "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" into "the sum of parts is smaller than the whole"?

copying strategies | Healing by the Sea: Surviving Divorce Brutality, Academic Politics, Financial Institution Abuse and Home Renovation

Mar Tirreno and I. Photo by Silvia Bordini

Swimming by memory lane —metaphorically and literally—is the survival means du jour. The past month has been definitely not boring, unfortunately for the wrong reasons. At once I have been dealing with several stressor, which usually are enough to impact wellbeing even one at the time; the caused of my stress are also spread in three continents:

1. Dealing with financial losses for my retirement account due to the underperforming of Fidelity Investment and their "professionally managed" (how ludicrous!) team, most recently by their appointed team at almost unheard NorthCoast; probably my outrage is shared by many others from the 99% crowd. It looks like Fidelity and NorthCoast Asset Management are using small retirement account as guinea pigs .
2. dealing once again with academic politics in Australia, denying financial assistance to present at the Symmetry conference in Vienna and creating many other obstructions to the completion of my doctoral research
3. Flashbacks of my life in NYC, dealing with domestic abuse, bullying and lack of a supportive community—namely my divorcé brainwashed by his greedy family, my close-minded hateful neighbors, lack of a legal-social infrastructure to assist victims of bullying, the greed of the divorce "industry".
4. Last but not least, my Rome home renovation: frustration with contractors are commonplace but in my case has become a huge stress factor in conjunction with all of the above.

I decide to go with Silvia to the beach accessible by Cancelli of Castelporziano, to resort to the soothing power of the Mediterranean sea as relief of the extreme stress. Castelporziano is part of the Litorale Romano, located south of the mouth of the river Tevere, and is ecologically characterized by dunes and vegetation typical of Macchia Mediterranea. It was part of the adjacent presidential estate (Tenuta Presidential) unti president Saragat in the mid-sixties transferred the beachfront part of the property to the municipality of Rome.
   We enter the beach at the former "Ar Buco", the alternative beach from the seventies and eighties, still a quiet, enjoyable spot. Swimming and conversations—about life, art and life as art—brings grounding about living in a simple yet meaningful way, escaping from the various vultures which are brutally attacking my peace of mind these days.
   The psychosomatic practice "Finding the Axis Mundi" could not have a better place and time: the meeting between the Mediterranean Sea at almost sunset, in geospatial terms 41.67102, 12.3949 at 2016 07 27 17:43 GMT.

Finding the Axis Mundi by mar Tirreno

Rome and its surrounding are magical and its theatrical beauty acts like a healing potion. Walking through the many centuries old streets makes you feel the power of urban space to generate beauty and inspire. And most of all there is still a sense of community: places and people interact in a continuum evolving through times. Walking in the neighborhood of my childhood I still recognize stores and people. Yes Rome is eternal, timeless and somehow comforting.