Mindfulness teaches us that our physical reactions don’t need to reflect our mental states. We can’t ignore our heart racing, but we can choose our reaction. A recent episode of Doctor Who explains this lesson well.
Photo by BBC
As The Doctor explains.
Let me tell you about scared. Your heart is beating so hard, I can feel it through your hands. There’s so much blood and oxygen pumping through your brain, it’s like rocket fuel. Right now, you could run faster and you can fight harder, you could jump higher than ever in your life. And you’re so alert, it’s like you can slow down time. What’s wrong with scared? Scared is a super power. It’s your super power. There is danger is this room, and guess what? It’s you! You feel it?
Psychology Today analyses the episode and how its title “Listen” explains the message we can all take from it. The key is to recognise your physical reaction need not dictate your emotional state. We’ve covered before how to reinterpret our physical reactions. Zen Habits also reminds us fear doesn’t control us, but The Doctor and the Companion teach it much better. Much like a Weeping Angel, if we face our fears directly, we’re in control.
Check out the link for more about the episode…and beware of spoilers if you haven’t already seen it.
Doctor Who: “Listen” to Your Fear [Psychology Today]
Comments
6 responses to “Lessons From Doctor Who: ‘Scared Is A Super Power’”
I’m finding it very hard to take Capaldi seriously as the Dr… They’ve given him an erratic and erasable personality, which just adds to what I can only call poor writing this season..! Sorry Whovian’s, but we need a new Doctor and some new writers..!
I agree, but I really, really want to like Capaldi as the Doctor.
He certainly has the right look for the Doctor.
I sort of like his take on the Doctor, although I think they need to smooth out the character a little he seems to bounce between extremes. Other than the Robin Hood Episode it’s all been quite meh. I definitely think they need a new writer.
There seems to be more focus on the Promised Land Story Arc then having good individual episodes.
I also watch it with mates after we barbecue some hamburgers, good food and good friends tend to improve most things.
I can agree with that to an extent, but I’m hopeful that once he has a bit more time behind him and his own companion* the episode to episode quality will go back up.
*Clara is my favourite but she’s a legacy companion. I think she needs to either be replaced or ideally get teamed up with anohter companion who doesn’t know any other Doctor but Capaldi.
I’m enjoying Peter Capaldi as The Doctor, but Jenna Coleman’s Clara is giving me the irrits this season. I loved her in season 7, but she’s just a whingey Eastenders expy this time around, right down to the tedious over-emphasis on her relationship dramas.