Our Crystal Ball

We all have made decisions that in hindsight would have been better not having made or definitely should have been modified to get a better result than we achieved. Sometimes, the consequences can be minor and we kind of shrug it off. However, when it is major it is a different story.

The results we expected to have happen seemed so straight forward at the time of making the decision. We didn't foresee the result we got; but, in hindsight we don't see how we could have missed it. So we feel we screwed up; big time.

What's wrong with this picture?

No one has a crystal ball. Our predictions are based either on our direct experiences or on knowing the results generated by someone else and our determination of the relationships between causes and effects. If we don't have perfect knowledge or the correct understanding then we get unexpected results.  

All we have done is once more proved that the future is always a prediction. Our best guess. The phrase comes to mind:

If hindsight were foresight then we would make no mistakes.

It is our choice whether we beat ourselves up for mistakes or learn from them.

Technorati tags: decisions, perspective, personal growth, thinking skills

Finding Truth

Truth is used as if there is some kind of external dictionary somewhere that if we could find it; then, we would know what is true and we could all have the same path to follow.

The more I read my way around the blogosphere the more I see that some of us struggle with our truths about concepts such as love, identity, needs, wants, happiness, and self. Why do we have this struggle? Why aren't we satisfied with our answers?

There are some who say I know and you are just not listening. They have found an answer; the truth, that satisfies them and have stopped thinking about it. Their minds are closed and they feel that there are two ways of looking at life: their way and the wrong way.

Not everyone is satisfied with some else's answer. We feel that we need to find our own answers and have that feeling of certainty for ourselves and are not content with borrowing.

Maybe the truth is that we will never have that certainty. We each see the world through our glasses of perception and experiences. Our truth is just that; our truth. It will change as we gain new perspectives, new experiences and our truths will not be the same for anyone else.

Can we accept that no one will every see our truth as we see it? Can we accept that other people have their truths which we will never see with the same eyes? Can we accept that is what we have in common with every other person on earth? Can we accept that as a minimum starting point for respecting another's truths? 

Food for thought. 

Technorati tags: truth, perspective, thinking skills

Life on InnerTV

We all seem to have an inner life of drama or InnerTV with multiple hi-res screens and Dolby surround sound. Things, events and people happen in our lives and up pops our InnerTV in technicolor complete with an announcer (little devil on our shoulder) with just the right voice to drive our emotions as our story lines unfold complete with commercials.

Screen 1 has Channels 1-23 and are the craving channels for all the things that we like and find pleasant. We like screen 1 and generally keep an eye on the channels as much as possible with an occasional flip to channel XX or the fantasy channel when we want an extra boost. Always new programs coming on all the time. 

On screen 2 are Channels 24-96. They are for the things we don't like and try to avoid looking at but peek at from time to time when nothing good is on the other screen. Screen 2 also shows our drama programs; the poor me and life sucks programs have high ratings due to high viewer interaction.

Screen 3 is for the reality channels and is reserved for all the things that we ignore and unless a special bulletin comes up we don't pay attention to it and just let it drone on in the background.

 Screen 3 will be displaying a beautiful sunset and all we can watch is the chocolate cake program on Screen 1 and we won't rest until we run and get it and then we will watch the guilt channel. Something happens today and we rush to watch the reruns on the hate/anger channel; the one that shows all the people that have wronged us so we won't forget instead of seeing the look of love in someone's eyes on Screen 3.

We need to take over control of the programming on some of the channels and/or create a special channel which features 'A new story line is in progress and under development. Stay tuned for previews'.

What programs do we choose to watch? What programs would we rather watch? What programs do we want to create? 

Technorati tags: story line, perspective, personal growth, habits

Blogblast for Peace

 

I really struggle with the concept of peace.

Some say that peace is the absence of war. War is automatic when we have enemies. To have peace then we need no enemies. This would extend to the war on oppression, poverty, hunger, drugs, crime and so on. If this is our definition of peace is it ever to be accomplished? Would we sacrifice others to keep it for ourselves by not aiding others in need of our help to obtain it for themselves?

Some say that peace means peace of mind. An inner tranquility and serenity of soul. The absence of mental stress or anxiety. If this is not freely available to every person on earth can we have peace?

Some say that peace is harmonious relations and freedom from disputes. If we have scarcity in any way is peace possible?  Would we live with less rather than more as a choice for peace?

If we hold opposing views do we have the possibility of peace? When someone is starving? When someone doesn't have the freedom and opportunity to be the best that they can be? 

So if peace is our moral value dependent on our view of the world, our experiences and our sense making of our place in the world vs others. How do we achieve it for everyone?

It will come only when everyone wants it both for themselves and for others equally and consider it a basic human right.

In the meantime I will continue to support any steps in that direction starting with myself and supporting efforts like Mimi and her Blogblast for peace.

May we all live in peace.

Technorati tags: peace, Blogblast for Peace, perspective