The dynamic wholeness of man

A concept of the functions of a human individual cannot be exclusively defined by the interaction between body and mind. There is no existing thing in this universe without a surrounding which this thing affects and is affected by. Man abides by the same imperative laws.

Environment

The great physical systems outside ourselves, which we constantly interact with, form the basis of all life on this planet to which we are so narrowly adapted. These systems include atmosphere, temperature, light, water in the ground and in rivers, lakes and oceans, woods and plants and many more.

Relations

We are herd animals. Therefore our relations to others of our kind are extremely impor-tant for us. Even if it at times feels good to be alone some time we usually suffer, and in the long run wither, mentally without a functioning social network.

Economy

We need food and water, clothes, a roof over our heads and some kind of heating when the weather is cold. We need tools to build our houses and to prepare and cook our food. All this belongs to the economic sector of our lives.

Activity

Like all other mammals we need some daily activities. If mind, brain and body are not regularly stimulated they wither and their functions weaken. But occupation in that sense is not the same as that wich we today call work. In modern civilizations we usually have to combine the areas of economy and activity and this together is called work. This combination is however not absolutely necessary for a balanced function of the human indvidual. It may sometimes even be harmful. Occupation in the sense of free and active use of body, brain and mind is normally something that gives pleasure to all higher animals, including man. The effort of gathering economic means to survive does not necessarily have the same positive effects on our life systems. Because of this we usually make a difference between occupation in employment and occupation in our free time. The first can often be seen, and felt, as less pleasant than the other.

In looking at a human being and her dynamically interacting life-systems in this way it is easy to understand that if one of our dynamic sub-systems is seriously unbalanced for a long period of time, this will inevitably disturb the balanced function in the next subsystem, and the next and the next, and so on. Our different life-functions are thus dependent on each other.