(no subject)
In order to understand the human condition one must recognize patterns. In order to organize these pattens in a systemic way, we have to identify how these patterns are patterned. These higher order patterns are meta-patterns. One example of this is dichotomies and continuums. Good/Bad, Liberal/Conservative, Happy/Sad.....these are the yardsticks by which we evaluate our lives, but these dichotomies do not exist separate from each other. They are on the same continuums and are therefore necessary for each other's existence.
How many times do you define something absolutely in your day to day life? And by doing so, completely deny the opposite experience as a valid aspect of human existence?
When we operate only in terms of one of these extremes, we are failing in a fundamental way. When we deny that the other pole is just as valid as our own, we cut ourselves off from more fully understanding what it means to be a human being. This separates us from each other, and leads to conflict (which in and of itself is NOT a bad thing, conflict CAN and should be productive, but that is a different meta-pattern).
In the end, it is intolerance that separates us. It is our own choice to "argue against" instead of "listening to" that blocks us from connecting with each other in the ways that really matter. It is the instinctive drive to protect what is most precious to our being vs learning to tolerate differences, even when they threaten us, in order to achieve something greater than we can achieve all by ourselves. It is a failure of understanding when we can not agree on a solution to a problem. It is a communication problem. We have the potential to solve any problem, it is built into us to be problem solvers. One must make the conscience choice that solving a problem is more important than what one believes about the world. If you truly WANT to solve a problem, you will be willing to be flexible in what you require of the solution, and in what you believe about the universe.
In light of this you HAVE to ask yourself...
Are we in this together or not?
How many times do you define something absolutely in your day to day life? And by doing so, completely deny the opposite experience as a valid aspect of human existence?
When we operate only in terms of one of these extremes, we are failing in a fundamental way. When we deny that the other pole is just as valid as our own, we cut ourselves off from more fully understanding what it means to be a human being. This separates us from each other, and leads to conflict (which in and of itself is NOT a bad thing, conflict CAN and should be productive, but that is a different meta-pattern).
In the end, it is intolerance that separates us. It is our own choice to "argue against" instead of "listening to" that blocks us from connecting with each other in the ways that really matter. It is the instinctive drive to protect what is most precious to our being vs learning to tolerate differences, even when they threaten us, in order to achieve something greater than we can achieve all by ourselves. It is a failure of understanding when we can not agree on a solution to a problem. It is a communication problem. We have the potential to solve any problem, it is built into us to be problem solvers. One must make the conscience choice that solving a problem is more important than what one believes about the world. If you truly WANT to solve a problem, you will be willing to be flexible in what you require of the solution, and in what you believe about the universe.
In light of this you HAVE to ask yourself...
Are we in this together or not?