Philosopher or Farmer?

Is it easier to deal with people when you feel you are different, or when  it's you who has to deal with someone who is different? Imagine that, on one side, you are a philosopher in a crowd of farmers. On the other side 'you' are one of the farmers having to deal with the philosopher. Which situation is more comfortable for you? In the first case, you know nothing about farming, so you find it difficult to interact with your interlocutors. In the second case, you know nothing about philosophy, so you can't think of anything to talk about with the newcomer. A solution could be to show interest in the activity of the other(s). Acquiring new knowledge in an unknown field could be more beneficial than feeling awkward in a situation where difference may be perceived as a factor of distance, separation, division. In reality, all people are human beings under the sun, no matter the education, skills, race, origin, social status. Getting to know each other better can be valuable for all concerned.

In a Whim

Have you noticed how quickly your mood can change? One moment you feel well, calm and relaxed, content with yourself and with your environment, the next moment everything seems to change suddenly, and you don't know why. A small, consciously unnoticed 'event' took place, and your outward and inward 'reality' changed. A word - heard or read - a sight - actually seen or imagined - a feeling caused by something real or just perceived as such: many are the causes of the actual transformation that took place inside yourself (whose origin is clearly not factual). Something that was only in your mind upturned what you felt, affected your mood in a way that made your initial state of wellbeing become a state of 'ill-being'. How logical does all this is? How beneficial is it to allow something that has no reality to affect your emotional disposition?  

Giving and Receiving

Which is more rewarding, giving or receiving? Giving means providing something to somebody. You can give material stuff such as a gift. You can give emotional support, like offering a listening ear or the traditional shoulder to cry on. You can give spiritual closeness, such as sharing the path to personal growth. Receiving is the other way around: someone else is providing you with presents, with support or consolation. Is it for you more fulfilling to show a friend your love by means of tangible stuff, your time, availability? Or is it more gratifying to feel loved, appreciated, cared for? You might like to find out if you experience greater inner satisfaction when you can prove to a dear one that you love, appreciate, care for them, or if you feel better when you are the recipient of such "gifts". Besides, do you express gratitude in the first case? Do you need to be thanked in the second?    

'Upgrading' Life

If you look at the sky when there is little or no wind, you see the clouds moving slowly, sometimes even imperceptibly. If a mild wind is blowing, they move faster, and change into different shapes. But when  the wind is strong, the clouds move across the sky in a sort of unstoppable race towards an unknown finish line. The human existence seems to follow a similar pattern across the centuries and millennia. At first it took a long time for appreciable change to happen in prehistoric times. Then things started to move faster and progress happened at a rather steady pace throughout the centuries first, then the decades. Presently, it's not even a matter of years. Transformations in every field happen at a blink of an eye. Technology advances, fads change, people seem to acquire new ways...as fast as the racing clouds in a windy day. You look around, and are amazed at the ceaseless 'upgradings' (unless you, yourself, are engulfed in the 'race').

The Missing Piece

Have you ever done a jigsaw puzzle? If you have, it might have happened that once, one piece was missing. How disappointing! You worked carefully, you took your time, you proceeded successfully till the 'dramatic' moment when you realized that you couldn't complete your endeavor because of that missing piece. You looked everywhere, in case it had been misplaced, to no avail. It just wasn't there. What a perfect parallel with Life! You had a plan, everything was perfectly clear in your mind, you made all the necessary arrangements, you took the first step and proceeded enthusiastically. Nevertheless, when you approached the completion of our project, you realized that the result was not what you had expected. What went wrong? Was it a mistake of yours? Of someone else's? You can't find out. So, what can you do? Only one thing: accept it and move on. Stop brooding, complaining, trying to find someone's fault at all costs. Life doesn't always work according to your 'rules'. It has its own, and you can't do anything but comply. For your own peace of mind.

Resilience

Resilience is a useful feature human beings are endowed with. Some have it more that others, while some seem to have almost none. Those who have it are able to rise when hit by setbacks and failure. Those who have just a little, can also rise, but with effort. It takes them a longer time to get out of the 'ditch'. Those who have (almost) none are the least lucky. They stay down, complaining and cursing, unable to lift themselves up and look for a way out. In such case, a few simple 'rules' may be of help. Acceptance of what happens independently from your will and action is the first step, along with recognizing that it's part of every human existence. Next step is to realize that there are things that it's in your power to change, but others aren't. Finally, ask yourself if what you are presently doing is helping or harming you. If you are honest with yourself and succeed in finding the answer, you are on the right path. Keep going and you will soon be up on your feet and ready to go. Again.

"This, Too..."

"This, too, shall pass." You may have heard these words. You may have said these words. And you may believe the meaning they convey. Yet, you still worry about the future, you still get upset about unwelcome situations. If you do, (everybody does!) it means that you have not understood their deepest meaning. Living your life in the best way is important. Yet, every experience is temporary and fickle. Now you are in a specific temporal here, the next moment you are there, in a different, still mysterious 'location'. Later, you won't even be anywhere. If you take the time to reflect upon this reality, you might come to realize that whatever happens is something you are bound to experience. Therefore, just accept it, do what you need to do, and move on. No fretting or losing your serenity because... it is what it is and...it shall pass. 

 

Come Together!

The official definition of 'belief' is: "an acceptance that a statement is true". Does acceptance mean that you have no doubt about it or may it also mean that you decide that one possibility is just more probable than others? Truth is supposed to be "one", yet beliefs are many, often opposite. Is there an explanation for such variety? As human beings are different, also their minds are wired differently. That's why, in real life, you can never have a unified interpretation of any occurrence. The same happens with beliefs. You may follow what someone else states as true, or you may refuse it. Ultimately, no-one can really tell if what they, you, or another believe is totally veracious. Nevertheless, different perspectives may contain bits of the ultimate truth. So, if instead of opposing each other, differences were brought together, a more correct picture might be painted on the canvas of "What Is".   

A 'Virtual' World?

Have you ever wondered why many people think differently from you? You see this as right, they see it as wrong. You are sure that this is green, they swear that it is blue. You believe that a certain person tells lies, they believe that person tells the truth. How can this happen? A thing must be either right or wrong (you think). That color must be either green or blue. That person must tell either the truth or a  lie. It is not so. Better: it "must" be so, but it doesn't really matter. Why? Because you, like everybody else, have created - all around your 'self' - a world made of thoughts (of how things 'should' be), according to which you think, feel, judge, decide in a certain way...and "they" do the same. Your world is your own creation, as it is theirs. If you accept this reality, accepting others as they are becomes easier. And such acceptance can make your own life easier.

Seize the Opportunity

The most common characteristic, universally experienced in this world, is challenge. Every living creature in general, and human beings in particular, keep facing challenges throughout their lives. These challenges are different, according to their personal plane of existence. A plant, an animal, a human being experience life in a different way, therefore their trials must differ, while they still cause distress and pain. But they all push towards finding solutions. If you consider your difficulties under this light, you may be able to detect a hidden reason beneath them. You may realize that each unpleasant happening is an opportunity to understand yourself better. It also encourages you to use your mind and intelligence, as well as your heart and feelings to find a suitable way out. Although there are questions that might never be answered, yet, there are others that, if you understand their importance, will motivate you to go deeper into your own 'self'.   

Multifaceted Time

When you talk, or just think about 'time', you may believe that you are always referring to the same thing. You are not. The usual meanings are rather practical: time can be intended as chronological (indicated by a clock) or it can more generally mean the progress of events. But there is also an "emotional" time, which is not 'fixed'. It is experienced when you are anxiously waiting for something to happen or when you are bored (and time seems to never pass), or when you are enjoying yourself a great deal (and time seems to fly). Time can be also undetermined, as in memories, in which case it doesn't actually have a measurable length. You can leap from one memory to another, in your past, in your present, possibly even in your future - when a memory hasn't been created yet. What a fascinating thought!

Pondering Choices

Some people make decisions without thinking of what their actions will entail. They act on impulse, without reflecting on the possible consequences they may need to face. If the sky is heavily overcast but you decide to go out without taking an umbrella, when it starts raining you get soaked and wish you had made a different choice. Some people believe they can have behaviors or utter words without wondering whether they can be perceived as hurtful. They are (or prefer to be) unaware of the impact they are having on someone else's feelings. Others would rather pick the fastest or easiest alternative because they see it as the best option. Usually, it isn't. A smart choice before making any decision (or doing something that can affect people or yourself) needs time to ponder, to weigh possible outcomes. In conclusion, reflection is better than hastiness or immediate advantage.