A Dreadful Cure

Instead of interpreting this post in a political sense, I ask that it be viewed in a Universal sense as it applies not just to the situation at hand, but to life in general.

We have been talking so much about ego fantasy and the frustration and destruction caused by flawed strategies for achieving personal peace. So I was struck by how clear an example of this was displayed by President Bush's comments after touring the Israel Holocaust Memorial.

(read the article here.)

Having been moved to tears he is reported to have said to Condoleeza Rice that the U.S. should have bombed Auschwitz during World War II as an appropriate response to intelligence confirming the operation of the death camps. His response is astonishing because it verifies that he has learned nothing from his experience as a world leader. It seems any option outside of brute force escapes him as a possible solution. Even more telling is his flippancy about second guessing the decisions of leaders a few generations ago with only a molecule of hindsight to base it on.

If he were not the President of the U.S. his narcissism would be merely unfortunate. But in light of his position and power it is downright gut-wrenching. This incident really sums up the demeanor of his entire political career. He is a man who is sincere in his compassion but deeply flawed in his response to the point of absurdity. Sadly, he may never understand that violence can't end violence any more than alchohol can cure alcoholism.

Now before you cast the first stone, consider how many times you do the same thing in your own contradictory pursuits. Do you find yourself working longer hours so you can afford to take time off? Do you try to calm angry people with more anger? Do you rely on the opinions of others to determine your own self-worth? All of these ridiculous strategies for happiness are far too common.

In most cases it would be better to do nothing at all, which ironically you may discover can be the hardest thing to do.

The Shape Of Change

When I wrote Wanting Less a few years ago it represented a real epiphany for me. In the book I wrote that happiness comes from examining our core beliefs, reducing fear and learning to want only things that meet our needs effectively. At the time I thought I had truly expanded my understanding of human motivation - and I had - but I did not know how much deeper my understanding would grow.

Recently I had another jump in understanding after reading about Spiral Dynamics which outlines the shape of change in every area of existence, from spiritual growth to organizational structure to biological evolution to child development and pretty much everything that we can comprehend. There are a growing body of thinkers using this idea to reach practical applications and I am only just peeling this onion trying to keep up.

It seems to me nearly impossible to explain the entire concept in a few brief paragraphs, but I will try to explain in a few points:

Everything is made up of smaller pieces while also being a part of something greater than itself. Think atoms, molecules, elements, chemicals etc. in greater amounts until you reach the entire Universe - then apply that to anything you can imagine. These structures are called holons.

Everything changes in a similar pattern like ripples in a pond. This applies particularly to the evolution of morality as described by Clare Graves and further examined by Don Beck. To get this imagine the evolution of a caveman to Gandhi and for bonus points find yourself somewhere on that line.

Everything absolutely must change in order to thrive and survive. The development or evolution of things is mandatory and unavoidable. It's pretty much change or die.

In practical application, this concept can helps explain why some cultures have a belief system based on magic and superstition, while others have more legalistic culture and others embrace a more universal worldview.

It also explains why children believe in fairy tales, teens are obsessed with their identity, and seniors do so much volunteer work. Their worldview expands as they grow older, and new understanding leads to newer understanding. It's only natural, and accepting this can lead to a better life.

So my current perspective includes what I wrote in my book, but the words seem so naive as I read them now. I am tempted to write another book to clarify, but I probably won't. It can serve as a historical marker for me and perhaps be a guide for others as they follow the path I have already tread.

New Year's Resolution Solution

The idea of "re-solving" sounds exhausting to me. If the problem has been solved already why bother re-solving it again. That's the kind of thing the ego mind does to justify its existence. Fixing things that don't really need fixing.

The word "solve" is from the Latin word solvere which means to loosen or release. This calls to mind the release of energy that is blocked and constricted. That would be a good thing if that's what we actually did when we make a resolution. But it isn't.

What we really do is exert more energy toward a goal which focuses our attention on an elusive ideal that we dangle in front of ourselves like a carrot. Meanwhile we continue to pass judgment on ourselves in the present, causing more blocked energy and pain. It rarely dawns on us that a) we choose how we define ourselves, and b) we can choose to accept ourselves as we are.

Blasphemy you say? Hardly. Who says you have to lose weight? Or quit smoking? Or spend more time with family? Or whatever you hate yourself for when you look in the mirror? Those things are great, but they will do nothing to change the infinite worth of who you are right now.

I dare you to believe that.