Cognitive Wall

A Cognitive Wall is an intellectual wall between you and an idea that prevents you from connecting with/understanding the idea.

Notes

We implement a cognitive wall for emotional reasons, like low self-esteem (we erect the wall because we are afraid that if we try to understand, we won't), avoidance of painful awareness (we don't want to read a book on pedophiles because we are one, or we know one), because we reject something outright (atheists have a cognitive wall when it comes to discussions of God), or because we are indoctrinated to reject (Christians are indoctrinated to reject the tarot), etc.

You will know you have a cognitive wall if you pick up a normal book and simply cannot access the meaning of the words on the page. You will see the words, you will read them, but you will not be able to understand them, even when they are simple and straightforward. Cognitively, you will withdraw to another space. As you drift away, the words will lose all meaning.

If there is a cognitive wall preventing you from connecting with some ideas, recognize it is there and power through it. It might take a bit of practice, and you may have to read the same passages over a few times before you have cleared the way, but you can do it. It is simply a matter of identifying the wall and clawing your way through. Be persistent and patient and you will make it through.

See Also

Awareness Reduction Mechanisms

Further Reading

Lightning Path Workbook Three: Connection. Lightning Path Press. https://www.patreon.com/posts/lp-workbooks-and-91290808