Great Poignancy
So how much control do we have over ‘state’ and ‘worldview’? I don’t profess to reproduce Mr. Robbins teachings here, and in fact, for a long time, I was sceptical of and indignant about the utility of any self-help style books and programs, mostly because of my disagreement with the commoditisation of humans (in other words, to turn us into money making assets) and the endless need to earn money for the sake of making money; but this TED speech and his teachings seem like good self-improvement guidelines, something to help us increase consciousness of our own being and actions.
As for self-help in general, these days I perceive them as an increase in personal awareness and knowledge, and useful thus. Many of the great people I know and respect have read books like Rich Dad, Poor Dad and Awakening the Giant Within. So long as their teachings, like all teachings, are followed with eyes wide open. I guess that’s the problem with self-help, it’s a fine balance between scepticism and faith in the expertise of the author/teacher. In fact, one of the steps for success in the application of these books is to discard your preconceived notions and to cast aside all doubt. I guess that’s fine too, just don’t blame me if you end up in a cult.
But that’s all beside the point… ‘state’… is something we might not be able to control except by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, being active mentally and physically and trying to find emotional stability. Take these Asics commercials, for example.
Click to view“Sound mind, sound body.” - or “Anima Sana in Corpore Sano” - A poignant point, and like all good poignant points, self-explanatory. It brings me back to some points of discussion, shared with friends in the past. The first was regarding health foods.
The health food industry has boomed alongside decadence and plenty, and I used to think of it in the same way as I did self-help; another fanciful notion of the forever unhappy. I thought it was unnecessary suffering, self-flagellation, done to live slightly longer.
But not unlike self-help (or perhaps, forming part of self-help’s domain), the health food industry instead increases happiness or life satisfaction by improving well-being, state of being and emotional stability. Your every moment might be brighter, happier, more colourful just for having eaten healthier. The old adage “You are what you eat” comes to mind. So feel free to be tofu, air-dried fruit and detox shakes. (On an off note, tofu is flipping delicious. If you don’t like it, you’re probably just not eating it right.) … Just don’t become one of the sanctimonious preachy types who tries to sell their goods to every sodding person they manage to strike up a conversation with.
The second point I was going to make about health was gymming. This aspect I never really doubted in terms of utility, my only qualms being the exorbitant prices charged for what seems like rather menial services.
What’s wrong with going to a gym, participating in group classes and getting fit? Nothing really, I used to think it was unfortunate that fitness could not be gotten through more natural means, but really, gymming is just a necessary side-effect of living, working and procreating in the well-oiled machine of society.
The list of motivations for gymming is plentiful, and each item has its own merits: narcissism, discipline, strength, health, to meet people, recreation, to increase attractiveness, sports, due to lack of time … etc; it’s often either unsafe, inconvenient or too expensive to maintain fitness outside the gym; So, in fact, there is really very little more for me to say about gyms, except that I’m certain the prices being charged are as exorbitant as those of health foods and self-improvement.
And maybe that’s my problem. I’m just stingy,
And if you’re like me, and you still want to improve your quality of life, then you can spend all your time improving your world view. How? Knowledge, experience and education. I’m not telling you to spend copious sums on multiple university degrees. (Unless that works for you.) There’s always the internet. Go to a library, read a book. Date someone interesting. Go travelling. Save some orphans. Go hungry for a while. Watch a play. Build a school. Read a blog.
Heh, blatant self-plugging aside, I hope you find a way to improve your life. Maybe what you discover is entirely ancillary to what I’m saying, but my end goal is to live by the Dalai Lama’s rules. May your life be better, or at least not be worse as a result of reading this. Good evening to you.