Living in the moment
What distinguishes we fellow humans from other earthly denizens is our ability to choose a course of action with considerable deliberation or with nothing more than whimsy as our guide. Either way we are creating both our future and karma when we do so.
So what?
If we choose unconsciously we remain a pawn of the "Fates"! And that's okay. But I believe we have been mandated by life to choose consciously and lovingly.
So here is a guide to choosing that will empower you:
(Note to the reader: I found these in my notes but the original source is unknown!)
These twelve fundamental choices will make or break your life.
1. We can regret the past and fear the future or choose to live fully here and now. < The Power of Now >
2. We can choose to feel bad in the present moment or choose to feel good. < The Choice to Feel Good >
3. We can be seduced by our ego or choose to heed our inner wisdom instead. < The Choice to Trust Yourself >
4. We can choose to remain lost and confused or choose to get clear about what we want to create. < The Choice of Being a Conscious Creator >
5. We can attempt to control the impossible or choose to surrender to inspired action. < The Choice to Trust Our Higher Power >
6. We can remain frustrated and immobile or choose to create momentum through sustained action. < The Choice to Act >
7. We can choose scarcity or choose abundance. < The Choice to LIVE Abundantly >
8. We can continue to resist what's so or choose to accept reality as it is. < The Choice of Acceptance >
9. We can choose to stay stuck with stressful thoughts or choose thoughts of peace. < The Choice to Live in Peace >
10. We can choose to remain helpless victims of circumstance or live and act from a place of power. < The Choice to Claim One's Power >
11. We can choose to be a people pleaser in order to secure their love and approval or we can progress toward a life that honors our values and brings inner fulfillment. < The Choice to Live with Integrity >
12. We can wish the world was different than it is or we can choose to accept it as it is. < The Choice to Accept Reality As It is >
Each of these choices are made one way or another everyday. Its up to you to choose again and again the ones that will deliver more joy, momentum, progress and growth. Choose this day which you will serve. Choose wisely.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
How to Live Courageously in Turbulent Times
The world is dynamic. Life uncertain. We are challenged everyday to find something to believe in. Something we can rely on. Something we can live for. A Purpose. A reason for being, for living , for toiling...for acting in the face of the forces of FUD.
Fear, uncertainty and doubt are the tools. Used by the enemies of truth to confuse us, we are easy targets. All of us. Our arsenal is simple yet powerful. Truth. Sober , vigilant and awake.
We rise to challenge those whose mission is to keep us one of the sheeple...with the full armor of truth. To restore our sovereignty we walk in faith.
Faith in what you may ask? In yourselves. In life. In the mysterious and magnificent muse which created us...and whom lovingly sustains us. Faith in the invisible and seemingly impossible. Faith in each other.
What do we do? Nothing? Perhaps. We need to see our lives in a transcendent way. The big picture. No. The biggest of all possible pictures. We need to see our lives as integral parts in the expression of truth. Transcending by trance ending the fog cultivated by the agents of confusion.
I know this may seem a bit obscure. The rational mind may find this path irrational. So be it. Truth is paradoxical or its not truth at all. As the German mystic monk Meister Eckhart observed: "What ever you can say about God is untrue." Think about it. Let the apparent contradiction sit in the middle of your resistance. Truth will set you free..if you allow it.
We can transform our desperation into aspirations. We can believe in the power of the truth to set of free from the corrals of sheeple. The path is simple but not easy. It will require courage. It will require action in the face of the great unknown and it will require faith.
Let's play it as a game. Not an ordinary game. But a game worth playing. Heraclitus suggested that play is the path to authentic action. In fact, he asserted that we are most nearly ourselves when we achieve the seriousness of a child at play. The game is a means to put a structure to our actions and to keep us going in the midst of life's challenges. If it is truly a game worth playing, it will keep us engaged.
Moving beyond quiet desperation... embracing truth requires that we play it as if our life and sanity depend on it. Because it does.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Four Things You Need To Know
1. A life which does not fully engage your interest is boring.
Change it!
Engage life with passion. Follow your bliss. Take the fork in the road that engages your curiosity. Explore. Discover. Live.
2. A life which does not fully engage your values is unfulfilling.
Change it!
Make a list of everything you value. Most of it will be BS. Make the list anyway. Tune into the feeling of each value. How does it feel? If it doesn't light your fire its not your value. You just think it is. So how do you know what you actually value? Easy. You'll move heaven and earth to get it, to experience the "feelings" that make this value real for you. Pick your top five and began to reorganize your life around them. Life is short. Living your true values will make the brief journey worthwhile.
3. A life which neither engages your interest or expresses your values is likely to be a life of frustration.
Change it!
No need to continue living a life of quiet desperation. Put the bottle of booze down, drop the needle, stop invading your mother's prescription for oxycontin and don't toke that joint my friend... Get real. Maybe for the first time in your life. Look at the person in the mirror. What do you see? Is there anyone home? I can assure you there is. You'll come alive the moment you decide its your life and you can do what you came to do. To live your best life, not their best life for you. So get interested in the person you see in the mirror. Let your hair down (that is if you still have any) and play as if your life has a purpose. As Captain Piquard commands: "Engage!" Drop the sorry narrative you call your life and get real.
4. A life filled with challenges that require strength where you are weak will drain your life energy, rob you of the the true joy of living and give you the ultimate reason not to get out of bed...you'll be dead.
Change it!
You have only one life to live. Turbo charge it. How? By delegating all the tasks, duties and obligations that drain you to other people. Pay em to do it. You'll feel a few tons lighter almost immediately. Then you'll be free to focus on your strengths. Not just things you are good at, but things you are good at and actually enjoy. Beyond power & status, beyond the illusion of fear is the reason you came here in the first place. That reason is to fully self-express your uniqueness. When you do you will discover, perhaps for the first time, that life is a gift that keeps on giving.
Change it!
Engage life with passion. Follow your bliss. Take the fork in the road that engages your curiosity. Explore. Discover. Live.
2. A life which does not fully engage your values is unfulfilling.
Change it!
Make a list of everything you value. Most of it will be BS. Make the list anyway. Tune into the feeling of each value. How does it feel? If it doesn't light your fire its not your value. You just think it is. So how do you know what you actually value? Easy. You'll move heaven and earth to get it, to experience the "feelings" that make this value real for you. Pick your top five and began to reorganize your life around them. Life is short. Living your true values will make the brief journey worthwhile.
3. A life which neither engages your interest or expresses your values is likely to be a life of frustration.
Change it!
No need to continue living a life of quiet desperation. Put the bottle of booze down, drop the needle, stop invading your mother's prescription for oxycontin and don't toke that joint my friend... Get real. Maybe for the first time in your life. Look at the person in the mirror. What do you see? Is there anyone home? I can assure you there is. You'll come alive the moment you decide its your life and you can do what you came to do. To live your best life, not their best life for you. So get interested in the person you see in the mirror. Let your hair down (that is if you still have any) and play as if your life has a purpose. As Captain Piquard commands: "Engage!" Drop the sorry narrative you call your life and get real.
4. A life filled with challenges that require strength where you are weak will drain your life energy, rob you of the the true joy of living and give you the ultimate reason not to get out of bed...you'll be dead.
Change it!
You have only one life to live. Turbo charge it. How? By delegating all the tasks, duties and obligations that drain you to other people. Pay em to do it. You'll feel a few tons lighter almost immediately. Then you'll be free to focus on your strengths. Not just things you are good at, but things you are good at and actually enjoy. Beyond power & status, beyond the illusion of fear is the reason you came here in the first place. That reason is to fully self-express your uniqueness. When you do you will discover, perhaps for the first time, that life is a gift that keeps on giving.
Friday, April 8, 2011
What does 1984 have to do with 2011?
Sweet mother of pearl! The hallowed halls of government of the people, by the people and for the people are ringing from sea to shining sea with lies, double talk, triple talk and just plain bullshit. It matters not which party does the talking. We the people are its victims.
It reminds me of one of the best quotes from George Orwell's 1984:
"In a way, the world-view of the Party imposed itself most successfully on people incapable of understanding it. They could be made to accept the most flagrant violations of reality, because they never fully grasped the enormity of what was demanded of them, and were not sufficiently interested in public events to notice what was happening. By lack of understanding they remained sane. They simply swallowed everything. . ."
Its time we wake up. Its time we demand accountability. Its time for Congress and the Administration to stop the snow job.
God help us all....
It reminds me of one of the best quotes from George Orwell's 1984:
"In a way, the world-view of the Party imposed itself most successfully on people incapable of understanding it. They could be made to accept the most flagrant violations of reality, because they never fully grasped the enormity of what was demanded of them, and were not sufficiently interested in public events to notice what was happening. By lack of understanding they remained sane. They simply swallowed everything. . ."
Its time we wake up. Its time we demand accountability. Its time for Congress and the Administration to stop the snow job.
God help us all....
Thursday, November 4, 2010
From "No How" to "Know How"....in 60 seconds or less
Is knowledge primarily a mental construct? Or is as much an attitude? Let's take a look.
When we think we know, we hold a position of confidence internally that we can draw upon "on demand" to bring to bear our "knowing" to gain mastery of the presenting circumstance. This application of knowledge gives us power. This capacity to act consciously in the moment is our real power.
But what happens when we don't know or that we don't know that we don't know or we simply lack the confidence in our ability to face and resolve the problem in front of us?
We get stuck...stopped in the "not knowing" of the circumstance. Our doubts pile up, inertia replaces action, our motives become confused and worry contracts our options. Not very pretty. Yet it is what it is; ignorance fueled by fear. The consequences are often painful causing us to suffer "the slings and arrows" of misfortune brought upon us by our own ignorance. We hesitate to act because we feel that we cannot act. We say "no how" when we are not feeling "know how."
Its not clear if we are merely incompetent or actually just plain ignorant. What's missing in this daily dilemma? A feedback loop with reality. Until we reconnect this feedback loop, our ignorance will remain.
What can we do about it?
For most of us the learning loop was shut down a very long time ago. We are disconnected from what's really happening. Learning has ceased. We just don't know it. That is the paradoxical nature of ignorance; we don't know that we don't know. The primary reason for our ignorance is staring us right in the face; we actually stopped learning...and we don't know it. Its really quite maddening.
Fortunately the solution is simple; complete the reality circuit. This is the beginning of wisdom. The opportunity is present in every moment; to move from ignorance to knowing. The critical time is in the recognition of your "not knowing" and remaining vigilant of your shift into "no how" mode.
Gain wisdom. Learn. Move your mind from ignorance to knowing through your conscious willingness to learn. Go for Know How! It takes less than a minute...
When we think we know, we hold a position of confidence internally that we can draw upon "on demand" to bring to bear our "knowing" to gain mastery of the presenting circumstance. This application of knowledge gives us power. This capacity to act consciously in the moment is our real power.
But what happens when we don't know or that we don't know that we don't know or we simply lack the confidence in our ability to face and resolve the problem in front of us?
We get stuck...stopped in the "not knowing" of the circumstance. Our doubts pile up, inertia replaces action, our motives become confused and worry contracts our options. Not very pretty. Yet it is what it is; ignorance fueled by fear. The consequences are often painful causing us to suffer "the slings and arrows" of misfortune brought upon us by our own ignorance. We hesitate to act because we feel that we cannot act. We say "no how" when we are not feeling "know how."
Its not clear if we are merely incompetent or actually just plain ignorant. What's missing in this daily dilemma? A feedback loop with reality. Until we reconnect this feedback loop, our ignorance will remain.
What can we do about it?
For most of us the learning loop was shut down a very long time ago. We are disconnected from what's really happening. Learning has ceased. We just don't know it. That is the paradoxical nature of ignorance; we don't know that we don't know. The primary reason for our ignorance is staring us right in the face; we actually stopped learning...and we don't know it. Its really quite maddening.
Fortunately the solution is simple; complete the reality circuit. This is the beginning of wisdom. The opportunity is present in every moment; to move from ignorance to knowing. The critical time is in the recognition of your "not knowing" and remaining vigilant of your shift into "no how" mode.
Gain wisdom. Learn. Move your mind from ignorance to knowing through your conscious willingness to learn. Go for Know How! It takes less than a minute...
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Paradox of Love
What is love? A feeling? A state of mind? A chemical state? Whatever it is, if it is from our ego then we can be assured that it is not love. It may feel so good that our heart's feel like they are about to burst. Yet, it may send us to the deepest levels of hell when our ego-bound ideas run the show.
True love is not romantic, not sexual, not physical...definitely not a feeling, certainly not a thought.
True love is the state of mind that only occurs when the clash of opposites are collapsed into a synthesis of higher understanding. It is transcendent. A daily death of the ego, a birth and resurrection of your true self.
Its not the projections of the ego onto the other, nor is it the hearts and flowers we give on Valentine's Day. It is the awareness of our higher self living in the the truth of the moment.
The great paradox of love is this: When you give the real thing away, you end up having more.
True love is not romantic, not sexual, not physical...definitely not a feeling, certainly not a thought.
True love is the state of mind that only occurs when the clash of opposites are collapsed into a synthesis of higher understanding. It is transcendent. A daily death of the ego, a birth and resurrection of your true self.
Its not the projections of the ego onto the other, nor is it the hearts and flowers we give on Valentine's Day. It is the awareness of our higher self living in the the truth of the moment.
The great paradox of love is this: When you give the real thing away, you end up having more.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Is life a problem to be solved?
If you use your analytical mind to figure life out from a personal perspective, you are likely using the wrong part of your mind. Life is not a problem to be solved. So stop trying to "figure it out."
Its all this "figuring" that got you in the intractable mess you call your mind in the first place. As good old Albert observed; "You cannot solve the problem on the level it was created, you must go up a level." Up a level in awareness. There you will see the so called "problem" from a new perspective.
There is nothing to figure out.
Really!
There is only the requirement to live in the now. Stop trying to solve your pain by turning your "ouwies" into problems. It only perpetuates the foolhardy notion that life is a problem to be solved. It isn't. And worst, it orients your thinking into a problem/pain paradigm. The result is the improper placement of your attention on your "don't wants"...and a life organized to manage pain.
The problem with the "problem" is this: Its all in your head. Well, mostly:)
Ouch! Stop it!
Stop expecting your mind to fix what's "wrong" inside of you.
Stop trying to "figure it out."
Stop asking your mind to "manipulate the world" in order to "fix" your personal problems.
And most importantly...Stop Resisting Reality! Any denial of essential facts or the shifting of personal responsibility for your choices and their consequences is the road to a deeper delusion...a delusional reality that can only lead to more pain and frustration.
Life is not a problem to be solved. Dissolve your so called problems by dropping the thinking which creates problems for you. And for God's sakes...trust yourself...then you will actually know how to live.
Liberate your soul...dissolve your troubles by rising ever higher in awareness. And remember this; Life is a reality to be experienced. Enjoy the beauty as it unfolds.
"Life itself is your career and your interaction with life is your most meaningful relationship" - Michael Singer
Its all this "figuring" that got you in the intractable mess you call your mind in the first place. As good old Albert observed; "You cannot solve the problem on the level it was created, you must go up a level." Up a level in awareness. There you will see the so called "problem" from a new perspective.
There is nothing to figure out.
Really!
There is only the requirement to live in the now. Stop trying to solve your pain by turning your "ouwies" into problems. It only perpetuates the foolhardy notion that life is a problem to be solved. It isn't. And worst, it orients your thinking into a problem/pain paradigm. The result is the improper placement of your attention on your "don't wants"...and a life organized to manage pain.
The problem with the "problem" is this: Its all in your head. Well, mostly:)
Ouch! Stop it!
Stop expecting your mind to fix what's "wrong" inside of you.
Stop trying to "figure it out."
Stop asking your mind to "manipulate the world" in order to "fix" your personal problems.
And most importantly...Stop Resisting Reality! Any denial of essential facts or the shifting of personal responsibility for your choices and their consequences is the road to a deeper delusion...a delusional reality that can only lead to more pain and frustration.
Life is not a problem to be solved. Dissolve your so called problems by dropping the thinking which creates problems for you. And for God's sakes...trust yourself...then you will actually know how to live.
Liberate your soul...dissolve your troubles by rising ever higher in awareness. And remember this; Life is a reality to be experienced. Enjoy the beauty as it unfolds.
"Life itself is your career and your interaction with life is your most meaningful relationship" - Michael Singer
Monday, April 12, 2010
"Food" for Thought
“If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.”
Thomas Jefferson
What say you?
Thomas Jefferson
What say you?
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
What You Do in LIfe Echoes in Eternity
You matter.
Your thoughts matter.
Your choices matter.
Your actions matter. And not only in this moment, but in the moments which comprise eternity. Your life matters. What you do is up to you, but your life matters to the degree that you choose it to matter. Life means something...when you attend to it in a conscious loving way.
The meaning of life is actually quite simple. What you consciously choose to attend to is the meaning of your life. You are the chooser. Your life, its meaning is up to you.
All you need do is actually choose...and allow your life to unfold naturally. Go with the flow and realize meaning in every moment. In truth, you really do know what to do and when to do it, and who to do it with.
You matter. Your actions matter....
For time and eternity...its true...What you do in life does indeed echo in eternity.
Your thoughts matter.
Your choices matter.
Your actions matter. And not only in this moment, but in the moments which comprise eternity. Your life matters. What you do is up to you, but your life matters to the degree that you choose it to matter. Life means something...when you attend to it in a conscious loving way.
The meaning of life is actually quite simple. What you consciously choose to attend to is the meaning of your life. You are the chooser. Your life, its meaning is up to you.
All you need do is actually choose...and allow your life to unfold naturally. Go with the flow and realize meaning in every moment. In truth, you really do know what to do and when to do it, and who to do it with.
You matter. Your actions matter....
For time and eternity...its true...What you do in life does indeed echo in eternity.
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Paradoxical Wisdom of "Paradoxical Wisdom"
The inspiration for paradoxical wisdom has its roots in the winsome wit of the gadfly of Athens...old Socrates. The one who chose to drink the Hemlock and die rather than live a lie.
Well, as it is written "it is appointed for each man to die but once" so who am I to say if he did not choose wisely:)
What is relevant here is that Socrates understood the limits of his own wisdom which paradoxically made him wise. And that is the point here. To accept that we don't know as much as we think we know. Mark Twain observed a few thousand years later that "the problem with most of us is we know too much that isn't so."
Not to complicate the issue of knowing with wisdom but knowing you are not wise makes you wise I surmise...at least in the paradoxically wise sense.
The key to living wisely is to live the paradox...of knowing yet not knowing. That is the essence of paradoxical wisdom. Test the riddle of the oracle at Delphi yourself....ask: "Am I wiser than Socrates?":) Who knows what you will discover.
Have fun...
Well, as it is written "it is appointed for each man to die but once" so who am I to say if he did not choose wisely:)
What is relevant here is that Socrates understood the limits of his own wisdom which paradoxically made him wise. And that is the point here. To accept that we don't know as much as we think we know. Mark Twain observed a few thousand years later that "the problem with most of us is we know too much that isn't so."
Not to complicate the issue of knowing with wisdom but knowing you are not wise makes you wise I surmise...at least in the paradoxically wise sense.
The key to living wisely is to live the paradox...of knowing yet not knowing. That is the essence of paradoxical wisdom. Test the riddle of the oracle at Delphi yourself....ask: "Am I wiser than Socrates?":) Who knows what you will discover.
Have fun...
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Sunshine on a Cloudy Day
I started this blog with high aspirations... to peel away the layers of BS that masquerade as truth. Mission not accomplished:)
The simple truth is most of us are just trying to survive the current uncertainty and prefer the familiar landscapes of comfort and certainty. Can't say I blame you. I like the familiar as well:) But I got this nagging feeling that the Matrix is realer than we thought and realer than we can think.
Too real perhaps, too scary to even contemplate for mere mortals so...I've decided to forgo my original highfalutin intentions and focus on the mundane affairs of this side of the Matrix:) Things like eating, sleeping and ...other creature comforts.
I'll begin with what I had for breakfast; Honey Nut Cheerios with organic milk and a supposed organic apple. I washed it down with a breakfast burrito from Jack in the Box...not!
This morning I chose the red package of Seattle's Best Organic House to wash away the sands of time. Mission accomplished. Comfortably ensconced in the illusion. Survival assured at least until lunch...when the battle for survival reemerges and I must once again choose the blue pill or face ultimate reality. God forbid that I should choose to wake-up! No, no, no! The blue pill for me please...with a piping hot cup of organic El Salvador.
That's the ticket!
PS The Red Pill sits in a jar by the door...which in case of a "real" emergency will be broken.
The simple truth is most of us are just trying to survive the current uncertainty and prefer the familiar landscapes of comfort and certainty. Can't say I blame you. I like the familiar as well:) But I got this nagging feeling that the Matrix is realer than we thought and realer than we can think.
Too real perhaps, too scary to even contemplate for mere mortals so...I've decided to forgo my original highfalutin intentions and focus on the mundane affairs of this side of the Matrix:) Things like eating, sleeping and ...other creature comforts.
I'll begin with what I had for breakfast; Honey Nut Cheerios with organic milk and a supposed organic apple. I washed it down with a breakfast burrito from Jack in the Box...not!
This morning I chose the red package of Seattle's Best Organic House to wash away the sands of time. Mission accomplished. Comfortably ensconced in the illusion. Survival assured at least until lunch...when the battle for survival reemerges and I must once again choose the blue pill or face ultimate reality. God forbid that I should choose to wake-up! No, no, no! The blue pill for me please...with a piping hot cup of organic El Salvador.
That's the ticket!
PS The Red Pill sits in a jar by the door...which in case of a "real" emergency will be broken.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
There is So Much Beauty in the World
There is so much beauty in the world. Yet we tend to take our attention elsewhere. Why?
I will not make a vain attempt to explain it. You and I both know we are distracted. Knowing this, what do we do about it? We create remedies for the distractions. Remedies born out of the same contracted energy that took our soulful eye off the prize which is our inherent love of beauty. Distractions to distract us from what we inherently don't want. Its crazy.
Yet there is so much beauty in the world. Its everywhere...and found in every moment. All we need do is open our hearts with gratitude...Where will you find it? Where will you look?
Look within...beauty is there waiting to be born! Look without...beauty is everywhere! Let those who have eyes see.
I'm reminded of this fact by the profound words of Lester Burnham the protagonist in the movie "American Beauty." As the movie draws to a close and Burnham's body lay cold and still on his kitchen table...Burnham narrates his own death and resurrection:
Lester Burnham: [narrating]" I had always heard your entire life flashes in front of your eyes the second before you die. First of all, that one second isn't a second at all, it stretches on forever, like an ocean of time... For me, it was lying on my back at Boy Scout camp, watching falling stars... And yellow leaves, from the maple trees, that lined our street... Or my grandmother's hands, and the way her skin seemed like paper... And the first time I saw my cousin Tony's brand new Firebird... And Janie... And Janie... And... Carolyn. I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me...
but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude
for every single moment of my stupid little life... You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry... you will someday."
Beauty is everywhere. All we need do is remove the obstacles to our awareness of it. With the approach of Valentines Day, perhaps you will discover this beauty for yourself! Look within you own heart and awaken:)
I will not make a vain attempt to explain it. You and I both know we are distracted. Knowing this, what do we do about it? We create remedies for the distractions. Remedies born out of the same contracted energy that took our soulful eye off the prize which is our inherent love of beauty. Distractions to distract us from what we inherently don't want. Its crazy.
Yet there is so much beauty in the world. Its everywhere...and found in every moment. All we need do is open our hearts with gratitude...Where will you find it? Where will you look?
Look within...beauty is there waiting to be born! Look without...beauty is everywhere! Let those who have eyes see.
I'm reminded of this fact by the profound words of Lester Burnham the protagonist in the movie "American Beauty." As the movie draws to a close and Burnham's body lay cold and still on his kitchen table...Burnham narrates his own death and resurrection:
Lester Burnham: [narrating]" I had always heard your entire life flashes in front of your eyes the second before you die. First of all, that one second isn't a second at all, it stretches on forever, like an ocean of time... For me, it was lying on my back at Boy Scout camp, watching falling stars... And yellow leaves, from the maple trees, that lined our street... Or my grandmother's hands, and the way her skin seemed like paper... And the first time I saw my cousin Tony's brand new Firebird... And Janie... And Janie... And... Carolyn. I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me...
but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude
for every single moment of my stupid little life... You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry... you will someday."
Beauty is everywhere. All we need do is remove the obstacles to our awareness of it. With the approach of Valentines Day, perhaps you will discover this beauty for yourself! Look within you own heart and awaken:)
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The Paradox of Change
We do what we do usually because we have already been "conditioned" to act and react in a particular way. Over time, "change" becomes more difficult as we become "comfortable" with our "habits" of being us. The process of developing new behaviors is "uncomfortable" as we move into adulthood even if they hold the promise of a better life.
The reality for the majority of us is that "change" will become more difficult over time. The challenge for us is to find both the willingness within us and the means to implement change that is both compelling and effective. We must discover within ourselves "change we can believe in."
This requires of us the ability to adapt over time to maximize our life experience. Conscious change and adaption is essential. I like the assertion made by Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget:
Whether you agree with this assertion about intelligence or not, what is essential to keep in mind is that "adaption" aka the ability to "change" in a conscious way is an "intelligent" asset to have in our mental arsenal.
We are creatures of habit
This acquired pattern of behavior often occurs automatically and unconsciously. Over time we become "habituated" to "being" and "doing" in a pattern of behavior that we come to accept as "me."
These patterns of behavior are "embodied" in such a way as to ensure that the behavior will persist come hell or high-water. This fact is neither good nor bad, its just how it is. The challenge arises when decide to "alter our normal pattern of behavior."
The Good News
The good news is that our habits tend to make our lives easier.
1. They act as reliable shortcuts for "routine" tasks
2. They lay down "tracks" so that the mind has a "pattern" for the body to follow
3. They free the mind to consciously handle other matters
The Bad News
The bad news is that our habits once formed are hard to break. This is good news when our habits are serving our life needs successfully. Its bad news when we realize that some of our " habits" are getting in the way of living a successful life.
This "reality" of you is "creating" your life experiences. To change both your experiences and your outcomes requires that you be able to "disrupt the pattern" that is driving your current experience and replace it with a pattern that "embodies" the desired new behavior.
We must be willing to do what ever is necessary to "embody the change" and to temporarily "suffer" the discomforts that naturally arise when doing life "differently."
The Discomfort of Change
Any attempt to alter our "habitual pattern of behavior" will be met with some form of resistance and discomfort. The new pattern of behavior feels "uncomfortable" or awkward. It just doesn't "feel right." With the passage of time we tend to "identify" with our habits, and these patterns eventually become what we experience as "us." Changing us over time just "feels" wrong even if the change is "right.":)
What can we do about it?
Change "You" can Believe in
For us to actually "change", we must "break the habit" of our normal self. We must "disrupt the pattern" of how we do what we "normally" do.
How?
Real change, change you can see, change "you" can believe in can be achieved in a 3-step process:
1. Knowledge and awareness of a pattern of behavior you want to have
2. A set of instructions to apply this "knowledge" correctly
3. Feedback to help correct and adjust behavior to produce the desired outcome. This helps to match our "intentions" with our "actions" aka "behaviors."
We all want change to be easy. Sometimes it can feel that way. Usually its "uncomfortable." Knowing this in advance, it behooves us to find our own compelling reason for change...change "we" can believe in.
The reality for the majority of us is that "change" will become more difficult over time. The challenge for us is to find both the willingness within us and the means to implement change that is both compelling and effective. We must discover within ourselves "change we can believe in."
This requires of us the ability to adapt over time to maximize our life experience. Conscious change and adaption is essential. I like the assertion made by Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget:
"Intelligence is an adaptation…To say that intelligence is a particular instance of biological adaptation is thus to suppose that it is essentially an organization and that its function is to structure the universe just as the organism structures its immediate environment"
Whether you agree with this assertion about intelligence or not, what is essential to keep in mind is that "adaption" aka the ability to "change" in a conscious way is an "intelligent" asset to have in our mental arsenal.
We are creatures of habit
This acquired pattern of behavior often occurs automatically and unconsciously. Over time we become "habituated" to "being" and "doing" in a pattern of behavior that we come to accept as "me."
These patterns of behavior are "embodied" in such a way as to ensure that the behavior will persist come hell or high-water. This fact is neither good nor bad, its just how it is. The challenge arises when decide to "alter our normal pattern of behavior."
The Good News
The good news is that our habits tend to make our lives easier.
1. They act as reliable shortcuts for "routine" tasks
2. They lay down "tracks" so that the mind has a "pattern" for the body to follow
3. They free the mind to consciously handle other matters
The Bad News
The bad news is that our habits once formed are hard to break. This is good news when our habits are serving our life needs successfully. Its bad news when we realize that some of our " habits" are getting in the way of living a successful life.
This "reality" of you is "creating" your life experiences. To change both your experiences and your outcomes requires that you be able to "disrupt the pattern" that is driving your current experience and replace it with a pattern that "embodies" the desired new behavior.
We must be willing to do what ever is necessary to "embody the change" and to temporarily "suffer" the discomforts that naturally arise when doing life "differently."
The Discomfort of Change
Any attempt to alter our "habitual pattern of behavior" will be met with some form of resistance and discomfort. The new pattern of behavior feels "uncomfortable" or awkward. It just doesn't "feel right." With the passage of time we tend to "identify" with our habits, and these patterns eventually become what we experience as "us." Changing us over time just "feels" wrong even if the change is "right.":)
What can we do about it?
Change "You" can Believe in
For us to actually "change", we must "break the habit" of our normal self. We must "disrupt the pattern" of how we do what we "normally" do.
How?
Real change, change you can see, change "you" can believe in can be achieved in a 3-step process:
1. Knowledge and awareness of a pattern of behavior you want to have
2. A set of instructions to apply this "knowledge" correctly
3. Feedback to help correct and adjust behavior to produce the desired outcome. This helps to match our "intentions" with our "actions" aka "behaviors."
We all want change to be easy. Sometimes it can feel that way. Usually its "uncomfortable." Knowing this in advance, it behooves us to find our own compelling reason for change...change "we" can believe in.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Action is Risky
All courses of action are risky. All. There is no risk free path. None. Some are less risky. Some are more.
The important point: Its better to do bold things.
Fortune favors the bold. History confirms it. Sure there are casualties along the way. So what. Life is risky business. Accept this fact and move on. Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Better to have moved in the direction of your dreams.
As Henry David Thoreau observed, "if you will advance confidently in the direction of your dreams you will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."
In a word; Act! Act despite your fears. Act in favor of your dreams. Believe and have faith. The enemy within masquerading as fear roams unfettered until you decide to act. Action is the antidote to fear. Action reigns supreme.
One only becomes "real" at the point of action.
You must win the war with yourself and your unconscious fears before you can win the wars of the world outside you. Stop running away from the challenges which lay before you. They are opportunities in disguise. They are the very reason you were born. Face them and live. Develop the strength to do bold things not the strength to suffer.
Act.
"All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not avoiding danger but calculating risk and acting accordingly. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer."
Machiavelli - The Prince
The important point: Its better to do bold things.
Fortune favors the bold. History confirms it. Sure there are casualties along the way. So what. Life is risky business. Accept this fact and move on. Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Better to have moved in the direction of your dreams.
As Henry David Thoreau observed, "if you will advance confidently in the direction of your dreams you will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."
In a word; Act! Act despite your fears. Act in favor of your dreams. Believe and have faith. The enemy within masquerading as fear roams unfettered until you decide to act. Action is the antidote to fear. Action reigns supreme.
One only becomes "real" at the point of action.
You must win the war with yourself and your unconscious fears before you can win the wars of the world outside you. Stop running away from the challenges which lay before you. They are opportunities in disguise. They are the very reason you were born. Face them and live. Develop the strength to do bold things not the strength to suffer.
Act.
"All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not avoiding danger but calculating risk and acting accordingly. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer."
Machiavelli - The Prince
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Standing on the edge of time
Tending a blog which attempts to delve into the mysteries of existence through the portal of paradox is a delicate matter fraught with peril for yours truly. Just like Kermit the frog noted "It ain't easy being green!"...it ain't easy reducing everyday waking reality to a brief, albeit brilliant entry into a blog of mystical proportions...
I do try, and there is the rub dear reader. The mythological elements conspire to distract my attempts to capture wisdom which only occurs at the ephemeral conjunction of the known, which is more often an assumption about reality, the unknown which lay upon a path that has no boundaries, no certainty until tested and even then all I can do my fellow explorer is assert a probability regarding such machinations...the semi-permeable barrier where such "thought experiments" may take me, and ultimately collide with the greatest mystery of all, the really great unknowable.
The ultimate paradox for yours truly is the wisdom which has emerged in my own dalliances with the unknowable was a pleasant surprise. Based on my personal exploration of the unknowable, there is still something profoundly important to be discovered...as Hamlet reminded Horatio, " And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
As you can see the process of capturing wisdom which lay within the amorphous mass of the known, unknown and unknowable is not a trivial task:) Perhaps a Hegelian Dialectic with a lemon twist would help to discover the hidden splendor?
Yet, this humble holy mully of a man proceeds with courage, seeking out new paradoxes, new ways of understanding the mystery, which masquerades as our history or her-story...and in the end the love we take is equal to the love we make:)
Now that's a paradox this holy mully can live with:)
I do try, and there is the rub dear reader. The mythological elements conspire to distract my attempts to capture wisdom which only occurs at the ephemeral conjunction of the known, which is more often an assumption about reality, the unknown which lay upon a path that has no boundaries, no certainty until tested and even then all I can do my fellow explorer is assert a probability regarding such machinations...the semi-permeable barrier where such "thought experiments" may take me, and ultimately collide with the greatest mystery of all, the really great unknowable.
The ultimate paradox for yours truly is the wisdom which has emerged in my own dalliances with the unknowable was a pleasant surprise. Based on my personal exploration of the unknowable, there is still something profoundly important to be discovered...as Hamlet reminded Horatio, " And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
As you can see the process of capturing wisdom which lay within the amorphous mass of the known, unknown and unknowable is not a trivial task:) Perhaps a Hegelian Dialectic with a lemon twist would help to discover the hidden splendor?
Yet, this humble holy mully of a man proceeds with courage, seeking out new paradoxes, new ways of understanding the mystery, which masquerades as our history or her-story...and in the end the love we take is equal to the love we make:)
Now that's a paradox this holy mully can live with:)
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Meaning of Life
In turbulent times its a worthy endeavor to revisit some of the quintessential questions of life.
What is the meaning of life? What is its purpose? Why are you here? And where are you going?
There is no exact answer of course. Just speculations that are derived from scientific inquiry, political philosophies, religious traditions and personal experiences.
"Life is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be experienced" -- Soren Kierkegaard Danish Philosopher
Science cannot provide an answer to "meaning." What it can do is exam the evidence of life, the observable "effects" including "what's so" and "what was." The Big Bang theory is the scientific orthodoxy for how it all began and in some sense a scientific analog to the story of Genesis.
Science attempts to explain things by documenting physical phenomena in the form of principles and theories. The method is systemic, repeatable and probabilistic.
Science is an extraordinary tool for understanding the nature of physical reality. But it is no substitute for your own 360 degree participation in the "reality of experience." It does provides a context to create "knowledge" and discover "cause and effect" relationships. It can inform us regarding the physical. Yet, it does not derive meaning.
Instead, it gives "context" for meaning.
To ask what "something" means is in essence asking what consequence it has now and into the future. Ultimate meaning is elusive. Contextual meaning is not. Every thing has its essence, and a predisposition to behave in a particular way depending on the stimulus.
I believe meaning is discovered in the act of living a fully conscious life. We know the meaning when we commit to living in full awareness even if we cannot articulate what it is exactly.
We know it by living it.
The quest for meaning is found in the act of living.
Inquiry is useful, profoundly useful at times. The quest of living a fully conscious life is the space and place to experience meaning in the most delightful way.
It is not found in a Petri dish, or the halls of congress or in our personal philosophies.
We find meaning in context. We create meaning in living a fully conscious life.
What is the meaning of life? What is its purpose? Why are you here? And where are you going?
There is no exact answer of course. Just speculations that are derived from scientific inquiry, political philosophies, religious traditions and personal experiences.
"Life is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be experienced" -- Soren Kierkegaard Danish Philosopher
Science cannot provide an answer to "meaning." What it can do is exam the evidence of life, the observable "effects" including "what's so" and "what was." The Big Bang theory is the scientific orthodoxy for how it all began and in some sense a scientific analog to the story of Genesis.
Science attempts to explain things by documenting physical phenomena in the form of principles and theories. The method is systemic, repeatable and probabilistic.
Science is an extraordinary tool for understanding the nature of physical reality. But it is no substitute for your own 360 degree participation in the "reality of experience." It does provides a context to create "knowledge" and discover "cause and effect" relationships. It can inform us regarding the physical. Yet, it does not derive meaning.
Instead, it gives "context" for meaning.
To ask what "something" means is in essence asking what consequence it has now and into the future. Ultimate meaning is elusive. Contextual meaning is not. Every thing has its essence, and a predisposition to behave in a particular way depending on the stimulus.
I believe meaning is discovered in the act of living a fully conscious life. We know the meaning when we commit to living in full awareness even if we cannot articulate what it is exactly.
We know it by living it.
The quest for meaning is found in the act of living.
Inquiry is useful, profoundly useful at times. The quest of living a fully conscious life is the space and place to experience meaning in the most delightful way.
It is not found in a Petri dish, or the halls of congress or in our personal philosophies.
We find meaning in context. We create meaning in living a fully conscious life.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
What does 2009 and 1934 Have in common?
Life is curious indeed. Just one look and it will be apparent. God help us all.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Adversity - Friend or Foe?
"All Growth is Forged in the Crucible of Conflict" - Robert Louis Stevenson
What does every story require to keep our attention?
Two things; A protagonists we can relate to and actively cheer on and an antagonists we can project our fear and anger on to and deeply want to see vanquished by our hero. In short, the story requires conflict. Not just any conflict, but conflict that casts doubts on the ability of the protagonist to win the day.
To keep our attention the story needs tension, moments of sublime doubt, adversity.
It is the tension created by this conflict that compels us to read further. We want to know how our hero overcomes the challenge set forth by his rival. The conclusion to this struggle is always resolved in the climax when hero and anti-hero battle it out in one final clash.
The key element is how the protagonists handles ADVERSITY.
Within the framework of our own journey, many battles are fought. More often than not, we find ourselves in over our heads. Ill prepared for the demands of the challenge.
The options are alliterated in the classic "Flight, Fight or Fright" pattern.
Challenges created through adversity are with us as part of the warp and woof of daily life. How we respond to these assaults on our psyches determine the quality of our life.
Every adverse circumstance, condition or challenge is a clarion call to live our own heroic journey, and a choice point to follow our bliss and live the life we have endeavored to imagine.
Now here is the sticky part.
We all have a closet full of fears poised to crush our will and a few gators hiding under our beds (aka our subconscious minds). Within this house of fears we all have strategies albeit mostly unconscious to handle "adversity" They consists of the standard pattern of "Fight or Flight" behaviors and its myriad derivatives.
At worst, we avoid the challenge all together hoping to live another day. At best, we manage the challenge by reducing the risk of lost. With either approach we somehow stay alive.
Is this really living?
Is there another way? Can we transcend our risk adverse tendencies which are centered on a combination of coping behaviors?
I say we can.
What is required is a new way of harnessing the power contained in the struggle. Within every challenge is the seed of an opportunity. To find this opportunity we must choose a path that supports our deepest aspirations.
How?
Rather than seeking ways to avoid, cope with, survive or manage the adversity we can choose to find the benefit hidden within, the golden nugget of transformation and personal power reclamation. Seek the benefits that will accrue to you as a direct result of your choosing to take it on.
Turn your fear into power by turning your adversity into a challenge.
The crucible of conflict need not be shied away from when you take it on as a challenge. The benefit to you is the reclamation of your authentic personal power and the realization of your real self.
What does every story require to keep our attention?
Two things; A protagonists we can relate to and actively cheer on and an antagonists we can project our fear and anger on to and deeply want to see vanquished by our hero. In short, the story requires conflict. Not just any conflict, but conflict that casts doubts on the ability of the protagonist to win the day.
To keep our attention the story needs tension, moments of sublime doubt, adversity.
It is the tension created by this conflict that compels us to read further. We want to know how our hero overcomes the challenge set forth by his rival. The conclusion to this struggle is always resolved in the climax when hero and anti-hero battle it out in one final clash.
The key element is how the protagonists handles ADVERSITY.
Within the framework of our own journey, many battles are fought. More often than not, we find ourselves in over our heads. Ill prepared for the demands of the challenge.
The options are alliterated in the classic "Flight, Fight or Fright" pattern.
Challenges created through adversity are with us as part of the warp and woof of daily life. How we respond to these assaults on our psyches determine the quality of our life.
Every adverse circumstance, condition or challenge is a clarion call to live our own heroic journey, and a choice point to follow our bliss and live the life we have endeavored to imagine.
Now here is the sticky part.
We all have a closet full of fears poised to crush our will and a few gators hiding under our beds (aka our subconscious minds). Within this house of fears we all have strategies albeit mostly unconscious to handle "adversity" They consists of the standard pattern of "Fight or Flight" behaviors and its myriad derivatives.
At worst, we avoid the challenge all together hoping to live another day. At best, we manage the challenge by reducing the risk of lost. With either approach we somehow stay alive.
Is this really living?
Is there another way? Can we transcend our risk adverse tendencies which are centered on a combination of coping behaviors?
I say we can.
What is required is a new way of harnessing the power contained in the struggle. Within every challenge is the seed of an opportunity. To find this opportunity we must choose a path that supports our deepest aspirations.
How?
Rather than seeking ways to avoid, cope with, survive or manage the adversity we can choose to find the benefit hidden within, the golden nugget of transformation and personal power reclamation. Seek the benefits that will accrue to you as a direct result of your choosing to take it on.
Turn your fear into power by turning your adversity into a challenge.
The crucible of conflict need not be shied away from when you take it on as a challenge. The benefit to you is the reclamation of your authentic personal power and the realization of your real self.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mothers Day
Mom died a little over three years ago. Still hard to fully embrace. Always that lingering temptation to pick up the phone and call.
When I was a small boy she would say "Kenny, a shinny face is like a shinny new penny. Be clean, well groomed, make your mother proud!"
Now, every time I find a shinny penny I think of her. Whenever I need to be reminded of her strength and her love a shiny penny seems to show up out of nowhere, strategically placed in those soft pillow moments. And I remember. I remember her love, the sacrifices she made, the stand she took for me and my siblings in the most difficult of circumstances.
She was a beautiful woman filled with angst, yet determined to love her children with every fiber of her being. She did.
She always said to me, "Kenny, you think too much." Never understood what she meant. I suppose being a genius isn't as glamorous as it seems. I thought and was taught that thinking was "all that." The "Sin qua Non' of a highly educated man. Could never even entertain the idea that one could "think too much."
Well mom I "think" I finally understand what you meant. Its yet another paradox. Thinking is no substitute for knowing, and it clearly is no replacement for action. And thinking I could "think" my way through life was an error in, well my thinking.
Now I have a "higher education." I know "there are things in heaven and earth not dreamed of in my philosophies." That there are places in the heart not yet touched. I know now that "the heart has reasons that reason knows nothing of." The conflict I felt between the need to act and live in a completely rational way and the irrationality of my heart is now resolved. It took a while, a lifetime of whiles. But I got it. Wish I could have got it sooner.
Maybe it was my lack of courage, or just ignorance. I know it now. I know its true. Thank you for being patient. I know it wasn't easy for either of us.
I miss you mom.
I hope and pray that you are surrounded by light and love where ever it is your spirit sailed off to.
I love you. I miss you. You will always be in my heart.
Thank you for being my mom.
Happy Mothers Day
When I was a small boy she would say "Kenny, a shinny face is like a shinny new penny. Be clean, well groomed, make your mother proud!"
Now, every time I find a shinny penny I think of her. Whenever I need to be reminded of her strength and her love a shiny penny seems to show up out of nowhere, strategically placed in those soft pillow moments. And I remember. I remember her love, the sacrifices she made, the stand she took for me and my siblings in the most difficult of circumstances.
She was a beautiful woman filled with angst, yet determined to love her children with every fiber of her being. She did.
She always said to me, "Kenny, you think too much." Never understood what she meant. I suppose being a genius isn't as glamorous as it seems. I thought and was taught that thinking was "all that." The "Sin qua Non' of a highly educated man. Could never even entertain the idea that one could "think too much."
Well mom I "think" I finally understand what you meant. Its yet another paradox. Thinking is no substitute for knowing, and it clearly is no replacement for action. And thinking I could "think" my way through life was an error in, well my thinking.
Now I have a "higher education." I know "there are things in heaven and earth not dreamed of in my philosophies." That there are places in the heart not yet touched. I know now that "the heart has reasons that reason knows nothing of." The conflict I felt between the need to act and live in a completely rational way and the irrationality of my heart is now resolved. It took a while, a lifetime of whiles. But I got it. Wish I could have got it sooner.
Maybe it was my lack of courage, or just ignorance. I know it now. I know its true. Thank you for being patient. I know it wasn't easy for either of us.
I miss you mom.
I hope and pray that you are surrounded by light and love where ever it is your spirit sailed off to.
I love you. I miss you. You will always be in my heart.
Thank you for being my mom.
Happy Mothers Day
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Mandates or Nudges? Which will serve the Greater Good?
With all the "Change" in Washington and the hysterical demands for "more government regulations, more burdens on the private sector and more government interference in our private lives" its time to reconsider the direction we are headed in.
Whether you believe it is a "Marxist" form or "European" style of socialism, clearly the US government has moved toward more direct control and interference in both the private sector and in our private lives.
You don't believe it? Can't believe it? Think it is propaganda? Consider this recent commentary published in Pravda of all places:
"It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people."
Here is the link for the entire article: http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/107459-0/
What's at stake?
Our freedom and our liberty.
Those that argue that only government has the ability and resources to fix the current problems and stabilize the economy are at best only partially right. Legitimate arguments have clearly been made demonstrating the role of politics, politicians and government interference in the recent economic calamity.
Of course there's plenty of blame to go around and depending on your political affiliation and personal philosophy (and family of origin issues I might add:) you'll assign this blame accordingly.
What we have here is a failure to communicate!
Someone has screwed up big time.
Whether you believe its the Republicans fault, the Democrats, the Federal Reserve, Greedy corporations, DC, Wall Street...all of the above, aliens, or whom ever else you choose to assign blame to, it is human nature to blame someone or something when the proverbial "poop" hits the fan.
Clearly there was a systemic breakdown as the risk grew. Financial instruments involving repackaged mortgages became increasingly more risky.
Complex risk assessments gave a false sense of control. Greed was steering the ship. The Emperor had new clothes and no one thought to take a closer look. Well, actually there were plenty of warnings from some very bright people, but alas it was to no avail. This ship of greed was destined to sail on until the inevitable "rock bottom" was hit.
Did the unexpected happened?
Yes it did. Few, if any risk assessment models considered the possibility of catastrophic failures in the continually repackaged mortgage markets. They were derived and re-derived, continually pushing the "risk" just over the event horizon. Then the "housing bubble" burst and we were in for the worst.
The "Poop" hit the fan and the blame game took off and is now in full gallop.
What ever comes of this current hunt for the "bad guys", however they are held "accountable" one thing seems clear; We are right on the hairy edge of fascism. From a superficial view point its easy and convenient to assign the cause of the troubles to unregulated greed on Wall Street. And its even easier to blame Bush and the Republicans. Easy. Convenient.
Especially so when you now have all the power concentrated in one party and "that" my fellow truth seekers is the "rub" as Shakespeare would say.
The cabal of power in Washington now believes it has a "Mandate" to change the fundamental architecture of liberty and freedom, our US Constitution.
Not change by amendment as is actually prescribed in the Constitution, Article 5 but change by informal methods that are as powerful and pervasive as the formal amendment process itself without all the hurdles to doing so.
Article 5 of the US Constitution states:
"The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate."
Amending the Constitution is an arduous process.
There are less onerous methods to achieve the same result. Better to take the path of least resistance. Amend by changing its meaning, by reinterpreting it.
Judicial reinterpretation.
This now seems to be the preferred means to circumvent Article 5. This judicial slight of hand and the self-proclaimed mandate to reengineer the USA will be used to remake America into something deemed more "equitable" by redistributing its wealth and power.
The question of the day is:
"To whom shall this wealth and power be redistributed too?"
Judicial activism has become a means to circumvent the vote and the will of the people to promote social change and "equality." No need to enact a law when you can conveniently reinvent it by reinterpretation of the "meaning" of existing laws. The balance of governmental powers is now doubtful. It can only mean more "forced changes" for "our own good and the good of the country."
Another means of "informal constitutional change" is through the process of cultural change and circumstance. One example is the evolution of voting rights. The original language reserved the right to vote to only male monied land holders. Of course voting rights have now been extended to all citizens 18+. The Constitution was never formally amended to reflect this change. Yet it is now part of the status quo and considered a fundamental right. Not a bad thing of course. The danger lies in the erosion of the two party system and the loss of the one party to limit the power of the other.
The changes in our culture and the presumed "mandate for change" will push this informal process of "constitutional" change even further. Though this informal process of constitutional change has become part and parcel to the "warp and woof" of the American political system it can become a tool for reducing our liberty as well.
Mix together politics, politicians, politically appointed judges and a filibuster proof congress and voila, you have a recipe for fascism. I am shaken and stirred by the possible consequences of one political party holding all the cards. Now the change game has no oversight, no brakes to slow down the runaway power grab. The possibility of a new kind of fascism is disturbing to say the least.
Regardless of your political affiliation everyone should be deeply concerned.
This supposed "mandate for change" is on the path to becoming deterministic. The attitude is parochial. The unspoken voice of a determined invisible parent "who "knows what best for you." "Be a good citizen!" "Do what we tell you do, ITS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD -- or else!!!"
Or else what? Reeducation camps? Prison? Be called a hater, a racist, a xenophobe? Be marginalized for voicing your opinion?
I am not opposed to "change." It is essential for growth, for renewal and for the health of our society.
What I am opposed to is having "change" force fed to me.
What I am opposed to is being told that "they" know what's better for me.
Well guess what? "They" don't know better than me what's best for me. Shocking Y'all?:)
Good. I'm a free thinker not a puppet of the State or a hack for a political party. I can think, choose and decide for myself. Thank you very much.
So I have a few "changes" myself I would like to propose:
1. People should be free to do what they want. All things considered:)
2. People should be able to opt out of any undesirable arrangement if they so choose to do so.
3. Our liberty should be preserved by the actions of our government. Mandates, regulations and other forms of forced behavioral changes should be kept to the bare minimum.
4. Government should always seek to preserve our liberty yet enact legislation that encourages our choice in such ways will improve our lives.
If there is a mandate, let it be this; the government as protector of freedom and architects of choice should do everything they can to preserve freedom of choice while "nudging" us in directions that will improve our lives.
Let us help those who need help but let us do it as a matter of choice not force or mandate.
Whether you believe it is a "Marxist" form or "European" style of socialism, clearly the US government has moved toward more direct control and interference in both the private sector and in our private lives.
You don't believe it? Can't believe it? Think it is propaganda? Consider this recent commentary published in Pravda of all places:
"It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people."
Here is the link for the entire article: http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/107459-0/
What's at stake?
Our freedom and our liberty.
Those that argue that only government has the ability and resources to fix the current problems and stabilize the economy are at best only partially right. Legitimate arguments have clearly been made demonstrating the role of politics, politicians and government interference in the recent economic calamity.
Of course there's plenty of blame to go around and depending on your political affiliation and personal philosophy (and family of origin issues I might add:) you'll assign this blame accordingly.
What we have here is a failure to communicate!
Someone has screwed up big time.
Whether you believe its the Republicans fault, the Democrats, the Federal Reserve, Greedy corporations, DC, Wall Street...all of the above, aliens, or whom ever else you choose to assign blame to, it is human nature to blame someone or something when the proverbial "poop" hits the fan.
Clearly there was a systemic breakdown as the risk grew. Financial instruments involving repackaged mortgages became increasingly more risky.
Complex risk assessments gave a false sense of control. Greed was steering the ship. The Emperor had new clothes and no one thought to take a closer look. Well, actually there were plenty of warnings from some very bright people, but alas it was to no avail. This ship of greed was destined to sail on until the inevitable "rock bottom" was hit.
Did the unexpected happened?
Yes it did. Few, if any risk assessment models considered the possibility of catastrophic failures in the continually repackaged mortgage markets. They were derived and re-derived, continually pushing the "risk" just over the event horizon. Then the "housing bubble" burst and we were in for the worst.
The "Poop" hit the fan and the blame game took off and is now in full gallop.
What ever comes of this current hunt for the "bad guys", however they are held "accountable" one thing seems clear; We are right on the hairy edge of fascism. From a superficial view point its easy and convenient to assign the cause of the troubles to unregulated greed on Wall Street. And its even easier to blame Bush and the Republicans. Easy. Convenient.
Especially so when you now have all the power concentrated in one party and "that" my fellow truth seekers is the "rub" as Shakespeare would say.
The cabal of power in Washington now believes it has a "Mandate" to change the fundamental architecture of liberty and freedom, our US Constitution.
Not change by amendment as is actually prescribed in the Constitution, Article 5 but change by informal methods that are as powerful and pervasive as the formal amendment process itself without all the hurdles to doing so.
Article 5 of the US Constitution states:
"The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate."
Amending the Constitution is an arduous process.
There are less onerous methods to achieve the same result. Better to take the path of least resistance. Amend by changing its meaning, by reinterpreting it.
Judicial reinterpretation.
This now seems to be the preferred means to circumvent Article 5. This judicial slight of hand and the self-proclaimed mandate to reengineer the USA will be used to remake America into something deemed more "equitable" by redistributing its wealth and power.
The question of the day is:
"To whom shall this wealth and power be redistributed too?"
Judicial activism has become a means to circumvent the vote and the will of the people to promote social change and "equality." No need to enact a law when you can conveniently reinvent it by reinterpretation of the "meaning" of existing laws. The balance of governmental powers is now doubtful. It can only mean more "forced changes" for "our own good and the good of the country."
Another means of "informal constitutional change" is through the process of cultural change and circumstance. One example is the evolution of voting rights. The original language reserved the right to vote to only male monied land holders. Of course voting rights have now been extended to all citizens 18+. The Constitution was never formally amended to reflect this change. Yet it is now part of the status quo and considered a fundamental right. Not a bad thing of course. The danger lies in the erosion of the two party system and the loss of the one party to limit the power of the other.
The changes in our culture and the presumed "mandate for change" will push this informal process of "constitutional" change even further. Though this informal process of constitutional change has become part and parcel to the "warp and woof" of the American political system it can become a tool for reducing our liberty as well.
Mix together politics, politicians, politically appointed judges and a filibuster proof congress and voila, you have a recipe for fascism. I am shaken and stirred by the possible consequences of one political party holding all the cards. Now the change game has no oversight, no brakes to slow down the runaway power grab. The possibility of a new kind of fascism is disturbing to say the least.
Regardless of your political affiliation everyone should be deeply concerned.
This supposed "mandate for change" is on the path to becoming deterministic. The attitude is parochial. The unspoken voice of a determined invisible parent "who "knows what best for you." "Be a good citizen!" "Do what we tell you do, ITS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD -- or else!!!"
Or else what? Reeducation camps? Prison? Be called a hater, a racist, a xenophobe? Be marginalized for voicing your opinion?
I am not opposed to "change." It is essential for growth, for renewal and for the health of our society.
What I am opposed to is having "change" force fed to me.
What I am opposed to is being told that "they" know what's better for me.
Well guess what? "They" don't know better than me what's best for me. Shocking Y'all?:)
Good. I'm a free thinker not a puppet of the State or a hack for a political party. I can think, choose and decide for myself. Thank you very much.
So I have a few "changes" myself I would like to propose:
1. People should be free to do what they want. All things considered:)
2. People should be able to opt out of any undesirable arrangement if they so choose to do so.
3. Our liberty should be preserved by the actions of our government. Mandates, regulations and other forms of forced behavioral changes should be kept to the bare minimum.
4. Government should always seek to preserve our liberty yet enact legislation that encourages our choice in such ways will improve our lives.
If there is a mandate, let it be this; the government as protector of freedom and architects of choice should do everything they can to preserve freedom of choice while "nudging" us in directions that will improve our lives.
Let us help those who need help but let us do it as a matter of choice not force or mandate.
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