This is all just my general opinion on life. I value greatly other peoples opinions, we're all entitled to them so please leave yours! I feel as if everyone works in there own self interest, sometimes unknowingly. We live in a society where there are many ideals and expectations in place. Humans as a species have created a false paradigm in which Good and Bad rule social behavior and expectations. This comes in many different forms however. As a human being, we are all born with awareness, essentially the ability to report and act upon information received by our senses. As we grow up and experience more things, we develop ideals based on our senses. These ideals are embedded in us, and anytime we judge or criticize someone we're playing off of those ideals. Well every single person has their own set of ideals and thats where conflict comes in. Many people feel the need to try to control others because we think that we know what's "Best" for them. How many times does one think to themselves "I would be so much happier if I had this," or "If he/she did that then this would be so much better." Ultimately what I'm getting at is this: People feel guilty, fearful, sad, or angry when they can't make what IS into what they think OUGHT to be. My question for everyone is would you be a lot happier if you didn't have preset ideals in your head as to what should or should not be?
Great thread, man. Super though provoking. I totally agree that every experience we have we compare to some reference we have stored in our minds. Every thing that we precieve, (with our limited 5 senses) we refer back to some point that we recognize. Our brain automatically says 'this new sensation of ___ is like ___' Which is why babies are so fascinating. Everything is completely new to them. I think, though, that these preset ideals (nice word choice!) are necessary. I mean, if we never had the preset ideals of love ( and everything that comes with it) would we be able to expand on it and create all the art, music, and culture that comes from it? I mean, I get what you're saying. And it totally makes sense, but I think reference points also serve for growth potiental.
Yes, but it is very difficult to rid yourself of preconceptions. Since birth we are deliberately conditioned to feel guilt, fear and anxiety because it is through this range of emotion that we are controlled.
No doubt that some of the ideals we have set up are important, but the problem is that we have so many ideals that aren't necessary and only hurt us in the long run. This can be seen in schools, the work place, ANYWHERE. Conflicts continuously arise because person A feels that person B is inferior and therefore should do what A thinks "ought to be." I know that I personally cloud myself on the daily with thoughts of how my life would be better if I had such and such amount of money, or this or that. But the truth is when I stop and look around at what actually IS taking place, without mentally trying to change it into something better, that the world is truly a beautiful place.
Yeah, you're right. I also think that this has a lot to do with the Ego and Self. We let our Ego get the best of us and decide we need to be identical to what someone tells us we need to be. Without taking things for as they really are, and accepting it. It's great that you've found something to help you appreciate life. Hold on to it. This world is wonderful.
Self is such a little word with such a BIG meaning haha. We all build a false picture of "self" as we grow up, justifying things we did, establishing rights or entitlements, and ultimately defining ourselves as the product of our societies. Our ego forms when we constantly seek approval while trying our hardest to avoid disapproval. Thats one of the underlying causes to all the negative emotions we feel, fear, guilt, regret, all things that happen as a result of being disapproved of. The Human mind is such a fascinating thing. I wish we used more resources on expanding our knowledge of the world, the universe, and ourselves instead of funding wars on innocent people and personal choice <--- (War on Drugs).