It's so easy to become offended. It actually comes pretty natural. Someone says something. You feel it's directed at you Strong reaction follows No need to react, it's got nothing to do with you as a person Imagine some remarks about academic work versus manual one, a bit dismissive about the latter. You don't have a degree and never wanted one. You know very well it takes years of experience and training to do what you're doing. Talent is involved too, as some people do have "two left hands". You still feel you should add something to the conversation, but not sure if it is going to be well-received. No need to enlighten the other party right now Most people think in terms of opposites. If it's not this, it's that and it can't be anything else. Certainty of one's convictions is also a form of self-reassurance that everything is stable in one's world. Other points of view cannot be allowed because they are disruptive. Cognitive disrup
Should we worry that there is a whole self-help industry out there, from blogs to books to downloads of digital products?
I think we should, if only because self-love and looking after oneself were meant to be triggered (or so I thought) by the mere state of being alive.
If this is no longer part of our survival instinct, what is then? A conscious and determined effort to protect ourselves? From what? From life?
I am sure that one day someone will be able to record the sensations that course through a newborn's body and brain, as they enter the world. Maybe they are very pleasant. From outside, they certainly seem to be the opposite.
The exit is slightly more documented. At least we got some witness accounts from people who say they've been at death's door, turned around (or were turned around) and came back.
Nothing at all from life's door, not yet though.
In between these two, it looks like we need to be taught how to be kind to ourselves, eat well, sleep enough and live in harmony with our fellow travellers.
It's either we are missing something from the rule-book, or we were never meant to think too much about what we put in our mouth or how we would like things to be.
Imagine (apologies, John Lennon) a world in which love would be like the air that we are breathing, enough for everyone, sometimes cleaner, at other times not.
Self-air, just doesn't sound right.
I think we should, if only because self-love and looking after oneself were meant to be triggered (or so I thought) by the mere state of being alive.
If this is no longer part of our survival instinct, what is then? A conscious and determined effort to protect ourselves? From what? From life?
I am sure that one day someone will be able to record the sensations that course through a newborn's body and brain, as they enter the world. Maybe they are very pleasant. From outside, they certainly seem to be the opposite.
The exit is slightly more documented. At least we got some witness accounts from people who say they've been at death's door, turned around (or were turned around) and came back.
Nothing at all from life's door, not yet though.
In between these two, it looks like we need to be taught how to be kind to ourselves, eat well, sleep enough and live in harmony with our fellow travellers.
It's either we are missing something from the rule-book, or we were never meant to think too much about what we put in our mouth or how we would like things to be.
Imagine (apologies, John Lennon) a world in which love would be like the air that we are breathing, enough for everyone, sometimes cleaner, at other times not.
Self-air, just doesn't sound right.
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