Nero fiddled while Rome burned and we are arguing, continuously trying to be right while our worlds falls apart. On every newscast, talk show, and yes, even here on the Huffington Post, it seems most of our energy is expended trying to be right, rather than finding solutions to the ever-increasing problems our world faces. We all have a position we want to defend! As journalists we are rewarded for creating controversy. Talk show hosts yell and try to put each other down, instead of using their wisdom to explore together to find the answers. Once someone, perhaps you, has decided his or her thoughts are right, it is impossible to see what is really going on. The need to be right feeds our adrenaline rushes while it blinds us from seeing reality. What makes it worse is our media feeds the whole cycle.
Our Thoughts Are at Best an Approximation of Reality
Thought is at best an approximation of reality, not reality itself. Yet we fight and die for our thoughts, beliefs and values: Right Wing, Left Wing, Conservative, Liberal, Christian, Atheist, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, fundamentalists of all kinds -- pro-choice, anti-choice, trickle-down, supply-side, socialists, government healthcare, and privatize everything. Can all the prophets of blabber just take a break? We may speak the same language, but we are now becoming the modern tower of babble. We are all intelligent on some level, and surly we know that what we are saying is not exactly real. In our hearts we must realize that we have painted ourselves into a corner.
We all see "our own reality" because of the effect of thought and our egos that are made up of thoughts, but there is a reality that has momentum outside of our thoughts and speculations. Over history, those who have ignored the flow of this reality have suffered and perished. It is like we are standing on the beach as the bay empties on soapboxes screaming our theories into the wind as the shadow of a great wave comes over us.
Our Children Are Watching
Sadder yet, some get caught up in these proclamations and believe one point of view or another, or they just check out with bizarre behaviors crying out for love as we argue. If you have any inkling that your thoughts might not be exactly right, just stop and reflect. Look beyond both sides and see if you can make contact with the flow of the greater reality.
Absorb and Integrate the Flow Before Speaking
There is a flow of cause and effect that has momentum and rhythm and informs all creation, you know it as you look upon nature's beauty, or find yourself like an athlete in "the zone," responding effortlessly to the movement of a complex game. The only way to understand the complexity of life is to absorb and integrate in the present. Great leaders can feel the flow and rhythm of the market or world events, and being informed by this flow their thoughts lead people to peace and understanding. They see the sea empty out and lead their people to higher ground before the wave crushes them.
What are we doing with our words? Are we leading people to higher ground or are we creating rhetoric to draw attention ourselves? Test what you say with your heart's deepest desires, instead of your ego's needs, before you speak or write. Don't follow the herd; lead them to greener pastures.
Follow Paul David Walker on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PaulDavidWalker
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In our great democracy we have a choice - we can turn on the program we want to watch and vote for the public representative we prefer. In that sense they represent our collective consciousness.
as always, all solutions posed find themselves many answers, regardless of intent or value - and we are the worse for it. I really appreciate your topic and the resonance here. Sadly, there is no good solution my friend.
John Ruskin had a good point about the difference between hearing, seeing, listening and looking.
Hmmm, now why did I write this?
Michael seems to believe that response of a post/article is commensurate with a positive (or negative) public consensus. I believe this is simply the result of unintended spin our national media has decided at that moment to focus on. Sarah Palin still in the news? If enough broadcasters focus on the pink elephant, we all will be discussing it, no matter the rhetoric or value of this discussion. It's called BROADBAND for a reason, right? Btw, the obvious second most prolific human behavior trait is to destroy. History proves this.
Case in point: Michael Jackson's passing and THE COVERAGE. Why was this of any social/cultural importance? People ALWAYS die, even the famously unimportant (oops "insignificant") ones. What has MJ done that is of consequence and of lasting value to humanity? His donations? The public impact was so considerable that reporting had to pick it up, everywhere, print, radio, TV, internet.... but the MJ Specials that then followed? Does our humanity improve when a notable public personality passes, even with the equivalent of a fifth grade education? I see no loss and a lot of death tax benefit gains.
Paul is certainly accurate that we are failing as a nation now due to the prominence issue. The need to be heard regardless of the value of the comment is all too pervasive. Instead of providing the positive commentaries needed to help our perceptive economy (Goolsbee) heal, we are barraged by nonsense that is anything but newsworthy.
thinking: Should I respond? We do not have anything else but this approximation of reality.
Will your positivity help us in our common pursuits? No.
I must ask why you think our democracy is about arguing? I think this system of governance is about control, the control of money which provides the power to control more. This is argued ad nauseam. It certainly is not about the freedom of expression and the pursuit of liberty some postulate. Same goes with the corporate bottom line, the balance sheet determines the course of action, not the coaching or meaningful education and mediation skills of their leaders.
Rarely, Paul, do I see initiatives, regardless as to their issuance, by the boss, the board, the support staff, or even by consumers, that is proposed and implemented because of the common good of the argument -and for the well-being of its constituents. From local government, municipalities, to our national interests in DC, the balance of power, and how we regulate ourselves, is anything but altruistic.
There is nothing democratic here, as Obama has realized from his early days in Chicago.
In watching "Why We Fight" and "Breaking the Bank" on PBS - both shows connect the dots to Warnings for American citizens (not consumers) to see how many are consumed with distracting activity while the major corporations are controlling many aspects of our daily lives.
I wonder what it will take to help this country truly wake up and see the "turning around points" before we face more disaster.
I applaud your insights, Paul, and hope many others will read and spread your wise questioning. It's heart warming and soul tending to be a part of the dialog solution. I'm grateful for social media!
Thought is useful for navigating through the universe, but over use of thought can be dangerous to your health. Our thoughts are our description of what is happening around us, but they do not represent the actual reality. They take us away from the actual reality. It is like eating the menu instead of the food. Over time you will suffer malnutrition and constipation.
I love your positivity here; thanks for posting it.
And yet, sadly, I predict that you will get relatively little response from positivity.
I've co-written a positive piece here, which received zero comments,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/magatte-wade-and-michael-strong/africa-the-new-edge-the-n_b_179225.html
Whereas this highly partisan issue prompted 5,556 comments,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/18/bush-breaks-silence-goes_n_217271.html
Of course, don't feel badly; this controversial post about breast implants only received 3,448 comments:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/01/miss-californias-breast-i_n_194385.html
My conclusion? That this insight is sadly true:
"the oldest human pleasure other than sex: ganging up on your enemies."
I'd be delighted to be surprised, and see your article receive as much attention as Bush hatred or a breast implant controversy.
Peace,
Michael