Spannungsbogen

Don't ask me how it's pronounced. Hindi ko rin alam.

I came across the term while re-reading Dune. As usual, nasa mood na naman akong basahin ang mga nabasa ko na at panoorin ang napanood ko na at pinagsawaan na ng iba.

Anyway, Herbert defined this as the "the self-imposed delay between desire for a thing and the act of reaching out to grasp that thing."

From the mundane issue of taking that last bit of chocolate at keber sa calories (ano yun?!) to taking life-changing decisions that only come by once in a while, laging may moment of consideration. May "spannungsbogen".

We always take a pause. We must always take a pause. Minutes, hours, days, months or years. Due to discipline, sense of morality, ingrained beliefs, principles or kung ano pa mang kunsiderasyon, we always take that pause. It is what makes us different from other beings.

Pero minsan, we are immobilized by indecision and the need for self-preservation. I've often been guilty of this. Recently nga lang, I really wanted to call this guy with whom I had something going on a couple of months ago. I wrestled with the idea for days. Finally, I didn't call.

Sometimes I think it's great to overcome something that I badly want but will probably hurt me more in the end. Other times, I just think I'm a cowardly prick.

Hay, nasa "spannungsbogen" pa rin yata ako. I need to get of out it real soon.