What I am trying to do here is not to just criticise our world and way of life, post philosophies and ideas about it. I am trying to open you eyes and get you (self-)aware through this blog, projects and later exhibitions. To organize it I have fragmented the general concept in 4 parts:
MENU
Self-Awareness
Past Present Future
Just Having Fun
Diary of an Optimist
Extra: Independent Projects & Experiments
Self- Awareness
This part of the concept are posted on this blog, thoughts and ideas about religion and mental awareness, the psychological side of humanity.
Past Present Future
Here you will find the physical destructiveness of humanity trough time, Past Present Future.
Just Having Fun
But I’m just not that cynical and changing the world just doesn’t happen by complaining about the current situation. So there is an optimistic part as well. Here I will show (ways and ideas) how you could just have fun and be happy, with your natural surroundings. Little things I do, create and see.
Diary of an Optimist
I am keeping a diary here, an optimistic one so I can centre my thoughts from time to time instead of getting depressed and lost in trying to grasp the big picture of our world, reality and humanity. And show you that my ideas are not just ideas but are also put into practice.
Extra:
Independent Projects & Experiments
Some projects have no or little relationship with the general concept so I have separated them, as well as my experiments and sketches who can be found here.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Disclaimer
Everything you will find here is the opinion of one person, ME. Enriched by research done, art made and news articles written by others. I not trying to make you believe anything nor do I want you to what I do. So before you start making up arguments to contradict me read what I have to say and keep in the back of you mind that everyone has the right to believe and thinks what he wants, just like I don’t mind that you might not agree with me. The reason I am showing you all this is just to make you aware:
Aware of the facts about our past, present and future
Aware of the possibilities of life and the ways of living it.
So I am not trying to prove anything, change anything or make anything happen. The only thing I want is to get you to start thinking about your life and the world around you, make you self-aware. I hope you will be happy with your life, because it is all you have got and I could be over at any moment.
Aware of the facts about our past, present and future
Aware of the possibilities of life and the ways of living it.
So I am not trying to prove anything, change anything or make anything happen. The only thing I want is to get you to start thinking about your life and the world around you, make you self-aware. I hope you will be happy with your life, because it is all you have got and I could be over at any moment.
Trying to grasp the concept of Non-Existence
Can you imagine a world without you in it? What would happen if you didn’t wake up tomorrow? What would the world be like if the entire human race were wiped from the face of the earth, ciphered out by evolution? Just like the limitless of space, these are questions we will never be able to truly understand let alone answer. Unlimited sushi in the sushi bar is already difficult to understand for most people (me included). Luckily they have rules and limitations in those places – you can only order 5 dishes per round and you can only eat for 2 hours – or else it would be unmanageable. Just as well as we need rules and limitations for our mind and make them up for the world around us so we can get trough this crazy life.
But still, a day will come that you won’t be there. Realising this once in a wile makes you appreciate life more and puts you life, achievements and plans into perspective. Or just makes you insecure, which is not bad a bad feeling from time to time.
Even though I can’t totally grasp the concept of non-existence I am going to give it a shot. Starting with my own absence in this world:
I belief that in the world without me almost everything would be the same, I am enough of a realist to know that I don’t play a significant part in this world (not yet at least). What would be different will be the lives of the people around me and not for the better I can proudly say. My mother wouldn’t be childless but I can honestly say that I am the most cheerful and lively one. My not being here would have spared my mother, father, brother and sister a lot of trouble (and my parents money) but I know that their lives would be a lot duller and less fun without me. I think this also goes for my friends, although I don’t think I caused them as much trouble, I hope. I try to be nice to all the people I meet so they would have missed that as well. So in all it is fair to say that overall I have a positive influence on the world around. On the rest of the world I have little effect. I do influence it, but in ways and on such a low and slow scale I will never know about it.
To keep this string of thoughts understandable this is all for the world without me.
A more interesting thought is what the world would look like without us humans. Have you ever ask yourself that question? What now follows is my vision of world without people:
There is only untamed nature; survival of the fittest is still in full swing and it is every species for itself and not all for one. Technology is a rock to crack nuts and shells. Species still die out and there is still global warming, but this is due too natural process and selection. There is no real progress just adaptation. There is balance and continuity. It is terribly boring, reproducing and keeping everything the way it is. But there is no needles killing (just eating), greed, cruelty and child abuse. Until the world ends in about a (few) million years, due to the ending (heating, expending, explosion) of the sun.
From my point of view the world is not a real fun place to be without intelligent self-aware life forms. This doesn’t mean that I think that the world is better of with us inhabiting it. Because we are not near as intelligent and self-aware as needed to be able to see the consequences of our actions, to realise that our selfish and cruel ways are really counterproductive. But I hope we can come to our senses before we destroy ourselves in some sort of global genocide and try to get the hell of this planet before it is to late. But if we die out, maybe then another intelligent species will arise due to evolution that will be able to do a better job then we did. Lets all hope for that to happen.
But still, a day will come that you won’t be there. Realising this once in a wile makes you appreciate life more and puts you life, achievements and plans into perspective. Or just makes you insecure, which is not bad a bad feeling from time to time.
Even though I can’t totally grasp the concept of non-existence I am going to give it a shot. Starting with my own absence in this world:
I belief that in the world without me almost everything would be the same, I am enough of a realist to know that I don’t play a significant part in this world (not yet at least). What would be different will be the lives of the people around me and not for the better I can proudly say. My mother wouldn’t be childless but I can honestly say that I am the most cheerful and lively one. My not being here would have spared my mother, father, brother and sister a lot of trouble (and my parents money) but I know that their lives would be a lot duller and less fun without me. I think this also goes for my friends, although I don’t think I caused them as much trouble, I hope. I try to be nice to all the people I meet so they would have missed that as well. So in all it is fair to say that overall I have a positive influence on the world around. On the rest of the world I have little effect. I do influence it, but in ways and on such a low and slow scale I will never know about it.
To keep this string of thoughts understandable this is all for the world without me.
A more interesting thought is what the world would look like without us humans. Have you ever ask yourself that question? What now follows is my vision of world without people:
There is only untamed nature; survival of the fittest is still in full swing and it is every species for itself and not all for one. Technology is a rock to crack nuts and shells. Species still die out and there is still global warming, but this is due too natural process and selection. There is no real progress just adaptation. There is balance and continuity. It is terribly boring, reproducing and keeping everything the way it is. But there is no needles killing (just eating), greed, cruelty and child abuse. Until the world ends in about a (few) million years, due to the ending (heating, expending, explosion) of the sun.
From my point of view the world is not a real fun place to be without intelligent self-aware life forms. This doesn’t mean that I think that the world is better of with us inhabiting it. Because we are not near as intelligent and self-aware as needed to be able to see the consequences of our actions, to realise that our selfish and cruel ways are really counterproductive. But I hope we can come to our senses before we destroy ourselves in some sort of global genocide and try to get the hell of this planet before it is to late. But if we die out, maybe then another intelligent species will arise due to evolution that will be able to do a better job then we did. Lets all hope for that to happen.
The I-Can’t-Get-No-Satisfaction Theory
I would like to tell you about a theory I have about people. This is only my opinion and just popped up when I was getting a coffee in the renovated supermarket and reading the opinions of the shoppers. The coffee corner in this supermarket is top notch, really great, you can have regular coffee and regular espresso and coffee and espresso of the month:
But this is what the shoppers write:
how about a nice piece of cake to go with it?
How about hot chocolate?
The coffee is to strong.
Then I realized, that even when people have the world (free delicious coffee) they still want more (cookies, hot chocolate and free samples). It looks like people can never be satisfied and keep wanting more. But for some reason I find it unbelievable that we can’t find lasting satisfaction due to what we are, because all the other animals look very satisfied with, with the cow as an example, grazing all day and walking around. It looks like it has something the do with who we are, how we are raised and indoctrinated by our consumption society. We are trained to keep wanting more, feel a whisper of satisfaction when we get what we wanted and then directly move on to the next thing on our wish list.
Just enjoy your coffee while you still can and stop complaining about things you are not having at the moment. (How can you enjoy it when you are doing that?) Get some satisfaction.!
But this is what the shoppers write:
how about a nice piece of cake to go with it?
How about hot chocolate?
The coffee is to strong.
Then I realized, that even when people have the world (free delicious coffee) they still want more (cookies, hot chocolate and free samples). It looks like people can never be satisfied and keep wanting more. But for some reason I find it unbelievable that we can’t find lasting satisfaction due to what we are, because all the other animals look very satisfied with, with the cow as an example, grazing all day and walking around. It looks like it has something the do with who we are, how we are raised and indoctrinated by our consumption society. We are trained to keep wanting more, feel a whisper of satisfaction when we get what we wanted and then directly move on to the next thing on our wish list.
Just enjoy your coffee while you still can and stop complaining about things you are not having at the moment. (How can you enjoy it when you are doing that?) Get some satisfaction.!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Your are not your thoughts
A common mistake is that people think they are what to think, that their thoughts define who they are. Just to clear the air: we are not our thoughts! We have hundreds of thoughts a minute going in al directions; it is physically impossible to be all of them.
Let me give you an example so you can go on with your life with out paying to much attention to all those random thoughts. When you are scared and run away, you might think later on that you were a coward by running away, am I right? But wouldn’t a real coward just run away without further thought and consider running the most normal thing to do? So in fact where are the direct opposite of our thoughts. Let you thoughts do what they do best, be random and roam free; coming up with the most ludicrous information and presumption. But always remember that they are just thoughts, nothing more nothing less, and you are something totally different.
Let me give you an example so you can go on with your life with out paying to much attention to all those random thoughts. When you are scared and run away, you might think later on that you were a coward by running away, am I right? But wouldn’t a real coward just run away without further thought and consider running the most normal thing to do? So in fact where are the direct opposite of our thoughts. Let you thoughts do what they do best, be random and roam free; coming up with the most ludicrous information and presumption. But always remember that they are just thoughts, nothing more nothing less, and you are something totally different.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
What do they think of me?
An average woman has a healthy and regular build, a slight hourglass figure and some body fat. But she thinks of herself as having more fat and a plump figure, she wants to be thinner than she actually is and thinks that men like to see her as she wants to be; while the average men like her the most with the figure she has now. So she feels bad about her body, while there is absolutely no reason.
An average man has a little belly and more fat than is deeded for a flat figure. He thinks of himself as being more muscular and with less fat than he really has. According to him women like him the most the way he thinks he is, but actually women like to see him thinner and less muscular, even thinner than he really is. So the man is satisfied with his body, while he is absolutely wrong.
Why is it so important what other people think of us?
An other thing is that when we look in a mirror we tent to look only at our flaws, because we think in ‘problems that need to be solved’, we overlook all the features that are alright, just for the reason that nothing needs to be done about them. We end up with thinking we don’t look ok, even though the defects might not outweigh the beautiful features. So what we think about ourselves and what we see in the mirror is not what the rest of the world sees.
The same goes for what other people might think of us. Because we are focused on our faults we think that everybody sees them and will see it when we slip up. Nothing is further from the truth; nobody is paying attention to our flaws. Everybody is to busy with his or her own faults and thinking about what everybody else is thinking of them. Considering we will never know for sure what somebody else is thinkin, it is a waist to spend time and energy on something that will only make you feel bad and insecure. Just think that no matter how secure everybody around you pretends to be, they are all wandering what everybody else is thinking about them and are just as insecure as you (were).
An average man has a little belly and more fat than is deeded for a flat figure. He thinks of himself as being more muscular and with less fat than he really has. According to him women like him the most the way he thinks he is, but actually women like to see him thinner and less muscular, even thinner than he really is. So the man is satisfied with his body, while he is absolutely wrong.
Why is it so important what other people think of us?
An other thing is that when we look in a mirror we tent to look only at our flaws, because we think in ‘problems that need to be solved’, we overlook all the features that are alright, just for the reason that nothing needs to be done about them. We end up with thinking we don’t look ok, even though the defects might not outweigh the beautiful features. So what we think about ourselves and what we see in the mirror is not what the rest of the world sees.
The same goes for what other people might think of us. Because we are focused on our faults we think that everybody sees them and will see it when we slip up. Nothing is further from the truth; nobody is paying attention to our flaws. Everybody is to busy with his or her own faults and thinking about what everybody else is thinking of them. Considering we will never know for sure what somebody else is thinkin, it is a waist to spend time and energy on something that will only make you feel bad and insecure. Just think that no matter how secure everybody around you pretends to be, they are all wandering what everybody else is thinking about them and are just as insecure as you (were).
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Supernatural telephone call
The intercom sounds and God hears the voice of his secretary say that he has a phone call on line one, it the Master of the Universe she says. A shiver goes down his spine; “this can’t be good” is God’s first thought. So he takes a deep breath and picks up the phone.
“Hello, this is God speaking, how are you Sir and what can I do for you?”
“Hi God, I’m fine thanks. How are you? I hope I haven’t caught you at a bad time?”
“I’m as well as can be under these circumstances. No not at all”
“Good, because this will take a wile. Its these so-called circumstances that I want to talk to you about.”
God sighs and replies: “I was wondering when you might call me about that.”
The Master of the Universe’s voice has a sombre tone when he says: “I am terrible sorry that I have to tell you this, especially considering the marvellous job you did with the creation of that little blue planet you are now supervising, but your results have become worse and worse. The shareholders are breathing down my neck about it and whisper that I should do something about it.
Gods voice sounds almost sad when he says: “so …. you are firing me?”
“I am afraid so, unless you give me a reason, a really good reason, not to”
God feels a mixture of sadness and frustration and first, but then there is only relief, like a big weight that has fallen from his shoulders. And before he can restrain himself he starts telling his boss how horrible the last two million year have been:
“It has been terrible, every time I tried so set things right again I failed or it turned against me. I’m almost glad that you are firing me. It all started when the board decided to have self-aware employees. Which at first brought better results, but everything went wrong when they tried to understand how their environment worked; because they couldn’t understand a lot of things. Before I could do anything about it the stared worshiping these unexplainables. This was keeping them from their work, so I tried to make them stop. But I found out that I couldn’t directly communicate with them, because they can’t understand anything outside their three dimensions. Instead of solving the problem, it made it worse. Now they started forming religions and making up deities. Not only did these ‘people’ (that what they call themselves) started worshiping something they made up, but also started killing ‘people’ from other religions. These self-aware mammals always were a violent species, at first the violence weight up to the better result of self-ware employees. But they started to form nations and conquering others and became quite good at killing each other. Something needed to be done, so I tried to contact them once more, and since it didn’t work out trying to stop them from worshipping me in all those different ways, I tried to get them all to worship me the same way, just one deity instead of many. This turned out to be a total disaster, they misunderstood everything. I don’t exactly know what went wrong, but instead of one, three religions were formed. These religions started to eradicate every other form of religion and then each other; instead of preaching love like they intended and were supposed to, they preached hate against they others. They made rules and books that contained them, according to them given by my. I have no idea where those books came from, but not from me, I tell you that. “
All this time the master of the universe has been silent, listening in amassment and after this last words he can’t control himself any longer and just burst out with laughter: “whahahaha ….. they …… they worship you?”
With a sigh god replies: “Yes, they do and I can’t do anything about it.”
“So making them self-aware wasn’t a good idea?”
“Well it worked for some, but most just are just greedy and sadistic”
After a long pause the Master of the Universe replies:
“well … some research has to be done, but from what you told me it seems like this isn’t your fault. The question now is what are we going to do with this failed experiment? Most likely these ‘people’ have to be exterminated to make room for new employees. What do you think?
God is just relieved to be of the hook, but he tries not to sound too happy and keep his voice steady: “ yes, I think that not much can be salvaged and that we have to start form scratch, even though the board members won’t be pleased with that.”
A thoughtful reply form the other end of the line: “you’re right, but if what you just told me is true we have no other option.”
“There is just one little problem; I’ve tried that already a few times, to start over. They are worse then roaches, somehow they overcame I’ve everything sent at them: a world-covering flood, a plague and now there is a world-wide venereal disease raging on, but still they keep going. I really am at wits end. “
“Then we have no other alternative to start an apocalypse. I’ll get my secretary to make all the necessary resources available to you: natural disasters, viruses and diseases. It’s to bad it had to come to this. Unless the second opinion proofs otherwise there is no other option then to eradicate the ‘self-aware’ what ever means necessary. But do try not to damage the little blue planet to much, it can be reused for another breed of employees.”
“Understood. Does that mean I will keep my job?”
“The outcome of the research will determine the truth of your story, if it is you will keep your job, of course. You’re not the blame for a failed experiment. So …. I’ll call you back when I have the research results.”
“Ok, I understand. Thank you.”
“Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
“Hello, this is God speaking, how are you Sir and what can I do for you?”
“Hi God, I’m fine thanks. How are you? I hope I haven’t caught you at a bad time?”
“I’m as well as can be under these circumstances. No not at all”
“Good, because this will take a wile. Its these so-called circumstances that I want to talk to you about.”
God sighs and replies: “I was wondering when you might call me about that.”
The Master of the Universe’s voice has a sombre tone when he says: “I am terrible sorry that I have to tell you this, especially considering the marvellous job you did with the creation of that little blue planet you are now supervising, but your results have become worse and worse. The shareholders are breathing down my neck about it and whisper that I should do something about it.
Gods voice sounds almost sad when he says: “so …. you are firing me?”
“I am afraid so, unless you give me a reason, a really good reason, not to”
God feels a mixture of sadness and frustration and first, but then there is only relief, like a big weight that has fallen from his shoulders. And before he can restrain himself he starts telling his boss how horrible the last two million year have been:
“It has been terrible, every time I tried so set things right again I failed or it turned against me. I’m almost glad that you are firing me. It all started when the board decided to have self-aware employees. Which at first brought better results, but everything went wrong when they tried to understand how their environment worked; because they couldn’t understand a lot of things. Before I could do anything about it the stared worshiping these unexplainables. This was keeping them from their work, so I tried to make them stop. But I found out that I couldn’t directly communicate with them, because they can’t understand anything outside their three dimensions. Instead of solving the problem, it made it worse. Now they started forming religions and making up deities. Not only did these ‘people’ (that what they call themselves) started worshiping something they made up, but also started killing ‘people’ from other religions. These self-aware mammals always were a violent species, at first the violence weight up to the better result of self-ware employees. But they started to form nations and conquering others and became quite good at killing each other. Something needed to be done, so I tried to contact them once more, and since it didn’t work out trying to stop them from worshipping me in all those different ways, I tried to get them all to worship me the same way, just one deity instead of many. This turned out to be a total disaster, they misunderstood everything. I don’t exactly know what went wrong, but instead of one, three religions were formed. These religions started to eradicate every other form of religion and then each other; instead of preaching love like they intended and were supposed to, they preached hate against they others. They made rules and books that contained them, according to them given by my. I have no idea where those books came from, but not from me, I tell you that. “
All this time the master of the universe has been silent, listening in amassment and after this last words he can’t control himself any longer and just burst out with laughter: “whahahaha ….. they …… they worship you?”
With a sigh god replies: “Yes, they do and I can’t do anything about it.”
“So making them self-aware wasn’t a good idea?”
“Well it worked for some, but most just are just greedy and sadistic”
After a long pause the Master of the Universe replies:
“well … some research has to be done, but from what you told me it seems like this isn’t your fault. The question now is what are we going to do with this failed experiment? Most likely these ‘people’ have to be exterminated to make room for new employees. What do you think?
God is just relieved to be of the hook, but he tries not to sound too happy and keep his voice steady: “ yes, I think that not much can be salvaged and that we have to start form scratch, even though the board members won’t be pleased with that.”
A thoughtful reply form the other end of the line: “you’re right, but if what you just told me is true we have no other option.”
“There is just one little problem; I’ve tried that already a few times, to start over. They are worse then roaches, somehow they overcame I’ve everything sent at them: a world-covering flood, a plague and now there is a world-wide venereal disease raging on, but still they keep going. I really am at wits end. “
“Then we have no other alternative to start an apocalypse. I’ll get my secretary to make all the necessary resources available to you: natural disasters, viruses and diseases. It’s to bad it had to come to this. Unless the second opinion proofs otherwise there is no other option then to eradicate the ‘self-aware’ what ever means necessary. But do try not to damage the little blue planet to much, it can be reused for another breed of employees.”
“Understood. Does that mean I will keep my job?”
“The outcome of the research will determine the truth of your story, if it is you will keep your job, of course. You’re not the blame for a failed experiment. So …. I’ll call you back when I have the research results.”
“Ok, I understand. Thank you.”
“Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
The Illusion of Control
You must think you are in control of your life. You probably have a job, a house and all the other aspects of what you consider a normal life in this modern society. You are responsible for them and in control. Even considering your family you think you have some measure of control. In short you are in control of your surroundings.
But everything can end in seconds; you can get fired, your house can burn down, and your life or that of the people around you can, for instance, end just as fast by a car accident. All you thought you were in control of can be taken away, so quick you didn’t see in coming. So there is only the illusion of control. You can help an apple tree grow or destroy it, but whatever you do, an apple tree will always be an apple tree. It can never be an orange tree; no matter how hard you try. The same goes for your entire life; you have some measure of influence, but most things happen without regarding your efforts and wishes.
So let go of this illusion, don’t waste your energy on the incontrollable. Don’t take your life to serious and get to attached to your belongings, because all things can be gone tomorrow. Enjoy every day of your life and everything and everyone you have around you. Don’t worry about thing you have no control over and especially don’t take yourself and the things you do and have to serious. Because when it ends they don’t mean anything.
But everything can end in seconds; you can get fired, your house can burn down, and your life or that of the people around you can, for instance, end just as fast by a car accident. All you thought you were in control of can be taken away, so quick you didn’t see in coming. So there is only the illusion of control. You can help an apple tree grow or destroy it, but whatever you do, an apple tree will always be an apple tree. It can never be an orange tree; no matter how hard you try. The same goes for your entire life; you have some measure of influence, but most things happen without regarding your efforts and wishes.
So let go of this illusion, don’t waste your energy on the incontrollable. Don’t take your life to serious and get to attached to your belongings, because all things can be gone tomorrow. Enjoy every day of your life and everything and everyone you have around you. Don’t worry about thing you have no control over and especially don’t take yourself and the things you do and have to serious. Because when it ends they don’t mean anything.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The power of sacrifice, lack of foresight’s destructiveness.
All people are environmentalists, caring about their surroundings, as long as it doesn’t cost them anything. Everyone has the best at hart for everything, but the reason nothing real is being done about the environment and human rights is that only a few want to sacrifice something, no great manager will give up his well paying job for a less paying job at environmental friendly concern. Only some really dedicate time to contributing to the environment when they could be doing something that would benefit them selves. It is a really hard thing to do, sacrificing yourself for the benefit of others.
But people tent to give something for the benefit of the environment and others, but more to sooth their conscience then out of love and caring for this world and its inhabitants. So they only give just enough to feel good about themselves, instead of enough to make others feel better.
Another problem is that people only look a few steps ahead. Everybody wants see fast results and everything has to happen now and if not now soon. Nobody seems to be able to grasp the idea of scarifying now for greater profit and benefit of others later. Even if the profit will be greater in the long run, people have difficulties with the sacrifice that has to be made now. They rather have something now, then to have more later. Everybody is so frightened, to lose the wealth the have acquired, nobody is willing to give up just a little, not even for the benefit of the entire world. No country is willing to sacrifice economically, for the benefit of the environment, out of fear that they will lose power en be over run by the countries that don’t join them in this plan and so lose everything. Almost every country rather exploits third world countries, keep them small and profit from the work that is done there, instead of helping them to build a strong economy of their own. This would in the long run probably benefit them more. This is what is really destroying this world; people wanting more and more, the more they get the more they are afraid to lose it and the less they are willing to give something up for others.
Sacrificing something of yours for someone else will cost you now, but always will benefit you later. So give and get even more in return.
But people tent to give something for the benefit of the environment and others, but more to sooth their conscience then out of love and caring for this world and its inhabitants. So they only give just enough to feel good about themselves, instead of enough to make others feel better.
Another problem is that people only look a few steps ahead. Everybody wants see fast results and everything has to happen now and if not now soon. Nobody seems to be able to grasp the idea of scarifying now for greater profit and benefit of others later. Even if the profit will be greater in the long run, people have difficulties with the sacrifice that has to be made now. They rather have something now, then to have more later. Everybody is so frightened, to lose the wealth the have acquired, nobody is willing to give up just a little, not even for the benefit of the entire world. No country is willing to sacrifice economically, for the benefit of the environment, out of fear that they will lose power en be over run by the countries that don’t join them in this plan and so lose everything. Almost every country rather exploits third world countries, keep them small and profit from the work that is done there, instead of helping them to build a strong economy of their own. This would in the long run probably benefit them more. This is what is really destroying this world; people wanting more and more, the more they get the more they are afraid to lose it and the less they are willing to give something up for others.
Sacrificing something of yours for someone else will cost you now, but always will benefit you later. So give and get even more in return.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Karma is Karma
Too many people worry about things they have no control over. These things remain unchanged, oblivious to the input of time and energy.
Asking yourself how it would have been if you had done something differently is as well a waste of energy. The wrong isn’t made right and you don’t feel better about yourself. Learn from your mistake and apply it on the present situation, don’t linger in it.
The same goes for the future, which you can’t control. Like worrying if you get the job or not, after your interview. Or asking your self over and over again if you had the right answers on your test, after you finished it. Because after that moment the future isn’t in you hand anymore. You gave everything you had (at that moment) the rest isn’t up to you. So why worry about it? When you should use the energy to focus on the moment you are in, the moment you can change what is coming.
Putting mental effort in thoughts about the near and far future, or the never returning and unchangeable past is totally ludicrous. Almost everything around just goes it’s own way separate from and uninfluenced by your thoughts and wishes. The only thing you can do is to learn from your past, plan the things you can do in and for the future, but concentrate on this moment. This is the moment where it’s all happening, putting the things you learned to use and do the things that may have effect on your future.
Also don’t ask yourself why something’s are happening to you, it’s a question you can’t answer. Things happen, don’t think about it, deal with it.
Asking yourself how it would have been if you had done something differently is as well a waste of energy. The wrong isn’t made right and you don’t feel better about yourself. Learn from your mistake and apply it on the present situation, don’t linger in it.
The same goes for the future, which you can’t control. Like worrying if you get the job or not, after your interview. Or asking your self over and over again if you had the right answers on your test, after you finished it. Because after that moment the future isn’t in you hand anymore. You gave everything you had (at that moment) the rest isn’t up to you. So why worry about it? When you should use the energy to focus on the moment you are in, the moment you can change what is coming.
Putting mental effort in thoughts about the near and far future, or the never returning and unchangeable past is totally ludicrous. Almost everything around just goes it’s own way separate from and uninfluenced by your thoughts and wishes. The only thing you can do is to learn from your past, plan the things you can do in and for the future, but concentrate on this moment. This is the moment where it’s all happening, putting the things you learned to use and do the things that may have effect on your future.
Also don’t ask yourself why something’s are happening to you, it’s a question you can’t answer. Things happen, don’t think about it, deal with it.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Busy Busy Busy
People are to busy, they have to do far to much, according to themselves. They are constantly working on several things at the same time. Even when they are physically relaxing, the mind is still processing the things that have been and have to be done. And while you are doing on thing you are already in your mind working on the next.
Through this everything you do will cost more time with lesser results. So there will be less time for the things you before worried about that caused the bad results. Which of course is frustrating, hereby further tiring the mind, already tired from the worrying.
It is also hard to really enjoy something when you have to do things all the time and multiple tasks at once. How can you enjoy something when your mind is already working on the next?
When you are doing something focus all you attention on it, because there is only this moment. Everything else, you are normally worrying about, has to be done in there own moment, worrying about it now has no effect on it only on the things you are doing now. So keep your thoughts with what you are doing at this moment, you will find it will be easier, finished faster and you will get better results. Your mind will be less tired trough the absence of worrying. You might even enjoy the job or at least the result.
There is only ‘NOW’ so focus on it, don’t waste time and energy on ‘LATER’ because it’s moment hasn’t come jet.
Through this everything you do will cost more time with lesser results. So there will be less time for the things you before worried about that caused the bad results. Which of course is frustrating, hereby further tiring the mind, already tired from the worrying.
It is also hard to really enjoy something when you have to do things all the time and multiple tasks at once. How can you enjoy something when your mind is already working on the next?
When you are doing something focus all you attention on it, because there is only this moment. Everything else, you are normally worrying about, has to be done in there own moment, worrying about it now has no effect on it only on the things you are doing now. So keep your thoughts with what you are doing at this moment, you will find it will be easier, finished faster and you will get better results. Your mind will be less tired trough the absence of worrying. You might even enjoy the job or at least the result.
There is only ‘NOW’ so focus on it, don’t waste time and energy on ‘LATER’ because it’s moment hasn’t come jet.
Busy Busy Grocery Shopping
Some people don’t like grocery shopping, because it is repetitive and time consuming, time better spent on other things you, according to yourself, have to do.
But if you want to eat it has to be done, so there is no sense in complaining. Just accept it, don’t worry about it beforehand, just do it.
When you are in the supermarket but mentally already with your future responsibilities, you are not concentrating on your shopping; so wasting energy, time, forgetting and overlooking things you (might) need. Of course you can’t enjoy it if your mind is already working on (for instance) the administration that has to be done and the time you are wasting on your groceries.
I see my time in the supermarket as an adventure with endless possibilities. It is like meditation, away from my everyday life and responsibilities, free and still inside. Just looking at all the products available and the most fascinating dinner ideas pop up; the weirdest people walking around, self-centred and unaware, not seeing all the wonderful things happening around them: the smells, sounds, colours, little accidents and friendly personnel.
And doing my shopping this way is extremely satisfying and peace giving, just because of the fact that my thoughts are not going everywhere (thoughts who in fact are just telling me how much I have to do, but who do nothing what so ever to relief the work pressure; on the contrary) here are just the incoming impressions and my reactions to them,
So I enjoy a peaceful mind, the wonderful and funny things happening around me; and afterwards the delicious meal, the result of my meditative adventure.
This way of grocery shopping can be applied on everything one does in life. You can only do something now, focus on it and don’t worry about the future.
But if you want to eat it has to be done, so there is no sense in complaining. Just accept it, don’t worry about it beforehand, just do it.
When you are in the supermarket but mentally already with your future responsibilities, you are not concentrating on your shopping; so wasting energy, time, forgetting and overlooking things you (might) need. Of course you can’t enjoy it if your mind is already working on (for instance) the administration that has to be done and the time you are wasting on your groceries.
I see my time in the supermarket as an adventure with endless possibilities. It is like meditation, away from my everyday life and responsibilities, free and still inside. Just looking at all the products available and the most fascinating dinner ideas pop up; the weirdest people walking around, self-centred and unaware, not seeing all the wonderful things happening around them: the smells, sounds, colours, little accidents and friendly personnel.
And doing my shopping this way is extremely satisfying and peace giving, just because of the fact that my thoughts are not going everywhere (thoughts who in fact are just telling me how much I have to do, but who do nothing what so ever to relief the work pressure; on the contrary) here are just the incoming impressions and my reactions to them,
So I enjoy a peaceful mind, the wonderful and funny things happening around me; and afterwards the delicious meal, the result of my meditative adventure.
This way of grocery shopping can be applied on everything one does in life. You can only do something now, focus on it and don’t worry about the future.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
I find myself making a decision
I find myself making a decision, to accept my reality. The world around me is the way it is, the moments are few that I can actually change ‘this moment’ all the others things I do only effect the near or distend future. So feeling miserable and sorry for my self doesn’t change anything. My self-pity only made facing the future harder and took out the fun of everyday life. Why did I feel this way, it didn’t change anything around me and gave me anything but motivation to get out of the dark hole of my misery.
Only a short wile ago I had this insight, about the nonconstructiveness of self-pity. This insight was directly followed by another, that I didn’t accept my reality; I was miserable but didn’t accept it, I kept asking myself “why me? It’s so unfair that I should be feeling this way. Did I deserve this?” In this moment of clarity – where I could see what I was doing and at the same time realise what the effect was on me and my life – I just accepted my situation. My misery didn’t vanish, but it reduced to a faint sting in the back of my mind. Why? Because I wasn’t thinking about it all the time, I just accepted it as a fact, like you accept and know that the grass is green. The moment I accepted my situation I didn’t have to think about it the whole time, my mind was free.
It was like being free and weightless, really being able to see the world around me for the first time. I had an optimistic way of looking at my life and everything around me was beautiful, because I could really see them and not trough the cloud of my own (dark)thoughts. I enjoyed every little thing around me, which before I took for granted. Even though my life and situation where far from perfect I was really happy, aware of and enjoying this moment, looking forward to the future.
That’s the way I have been feeling from that moment on. And you could too.
Only a short wile ago I had this insight, about the nonconstructiveness of self-pity. This insight was directly followed by another, that I didn’t accept my reality; I was miserable but didn’t accept it, I kept asking myself “why me? It’s so unfair that I should be feeling this way. Did I deserve this?” In this moment of clarity – where I could see what I was doing and at the same time realise what the effect was on me and my life – I just accepted my situation. My misery didn’t vanish, but it reduced to a faint sting in the back of my mind. Why? Because I wasn’t thinking about it all the time, I just accepted it as a fact, like you accept and know that the grass is green. The moment I accepted my situation I didn’t have to think about it the whole time, my mind was free.
It was like being free and weightless, really being able to see the world around me for the first time. I had an optimistic way of looking at my life and everything around me was beautiful, because I could really see them and not trough the cloud of my own (dark)thoughts. I enjoyed every little thing around me, which before I took for granted. Even though my life and situation where far from perfect I was really happy, aware of and enjoying this moment, looking forward to the future.
That’s the way I have been feeling from that moment on. And you could too.
Friday, October 30, 2009
The hole in the hart of man
Humans are addicts. We are addicted to our own greed, lust for power and possessions. It’s like we have a hole in our harts, that we try to fill in a materialistic and capitalistic way. But filling the hole this way it’s like nursing an addiction: we feel miserable when we don’t have what we want, but feel great when we get it. Only this feeling doesn’t last long and when we want to feel this great again we need more. This way of trying to feel happiness makes us selfish and self-centred, with all its consequences.
Why is it so hard for us to be happy with what we got? Can’t we just be happy with looking at this beautiful world around us, giving and receiving love, friendships and the feeling of a healthy body that make everything possible?
I enjoy life and I’m almost constantly happy; not because I have everything I want, enjoy a lot of respect or posses a powerful position. The reason of my happiness is that I take pleasure in every part of life; like looking around and seeing the beauty of every part of the world, I feel joy when a stranger helps me or when I’m thanked for helping someone. The small things in life make it so special, but it’s your awareness to them and not taking them for granted that makes you enjoy them, enjoy life and fill the hole in your hart.
Why is it so hard for us to be happy with what we got? Can’t we just be happy with looking at this beautiful world around us, giving and receiving love, friendships and the feeling of a healthy body that make everything possible?
I enjoy life and I’m almost constantly happy; not because I have everything I want, enjoy a lot of respect or posses a powerful position. The reason of my happiness is that I take pleasure in every part of life; like looking around and seeing the beauty of every part of the world, I feel joy when a stranger helps me or when I’m thanked for helping someone. The small things in life make it so special, but it’s your awareness to them and not taking them for granted that makes you enjoy them, enjoy life and fill the hole in your hart.
desperate for entertainment
Why am I so desperate for entertainment? Why can’t I just work on my drawings or paintings without listening to music? Or when I don’t know anything to do I turn on the TV, instead of going outside for inspiration or reading a book to expand my knowledge? Even worse I rather watch a movie than paint or draw. Why is it that I am addicted to this kind of entertainment? Why is it so hard to try not to waste my time this way?
It feels like my body wants to do as little as possible but also wants to be entertained. It’s lazy, it doesn’t want do the work that needs to be done to get the same amount of excitement that it get’s from just sitting and watching TV, even if that way the excitement feels more real and is more satisfying. Do I lack the mental strength to resist my physical urges? Or is it that I wasn’t thought the necessary discipline and encouraged enough to work hard?
This generation has become lazy, because little or no effort is required to live and be entertained. Working hard is not a must anymore to get somewhere in live, neither is discipline a part of our education. So we are not encouraged to work hard and feel its satisfaction, nor are we taught the discipline that’s needed to discover how much more satisfying the reward of hard work is than watching TV.
It feels like my body wants to do as little as possible but also wants to be entertained. It’s lazy, it doesn’t want do the work that needs to be done to get the same amount of excitement that it get’s from just sitting and watching TV, even if that way the excitement feels more real and is more satisfying. Do I lack the mental strength to resist my physical urges? Or is it that I wasn’t thought the necessary discipline and encouraged enough to work hard?
This generation has become lazy, because little or no effort is required to live and be entertained. Working hard is not a must anymore to get somewhere in live, neither is discipline a part of our education. So we are not encouraged to work hard and feel its satisfaction, nor are we taught the discipline that’s needed to discover how much more satisfying the reward of hard work is than watching TV.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Hypocrisy of man
How come we, the people who live on this planet, are such hypocrites? Why are we so naïve? Why are we so blind?
Why does a person cry when a close relative dies of old age after a beautiful live? Why does he put flowers around the tree a drunken kid from next door died when he crashed his scooter in it? Why does he participate in a silent march when some one gets killed in a bar fight?
But why doesn’t he cry when he reeds in the news paper how kids die needless deaths every minute, that only a few percentage of the hundred thousand trialled rapist (so there are many more) get convicted? Why doesn’t he try do something to stop brutality of his own species?
We are hypocrites, self-centred en naïve; we care about our self the most, then about the people closest to us. If something horrible happens in your vicinity it shakes you up and you are prepared to do something about it, but not as much as when it were someone close to you. But the most terrible and unthinkable things can all around the world without us really caring because it’s to distend, we can pretend that it isn’t real, we feel detached of the realty a few thousand kilometres away. We rather live our lives in denial, then deal with the reality of the world we created.
How can we be such hypocrites, to help and care so much about the people around us, but close our eyes to people to people who are desperate for our help and are dying because of the lack of it?
Why does a person cry when a close relative dies of old age after a beautiful live? Why does he put flowers around the tree a drunken kid from next door died when he crashed his scooter in it? Why does he participate in a silent march when some one gets killed in a bar fight?
But why doesn’t he cry when he reeds in the news paper how kids die needless deaths every minute, that only a few percentage of the hundred thousand trialled rapist (so there are many more) get convicted? Why doesn’t he try do something to stop brutality of his own species?
We are hypocrites, self-centred en naïve; we care about our self the most, then about the people closest to us. If something horrible happens in your vicinity it shakes you up and you are prepared to do something about it, but not as much as when it were someone close to you. But the most terrible and unthinkable things can all around the world without us really caring because it’s to distend, we can pretend that it isn’t real, we feel detached of the realty a few thousand kilometres away. We rather live our lives in denial, then deal with the reality of the world we created.
How can we be such hypocrites, to help and care so much about the people around us, but close our eyes to people to people who are desperate for our help and are dying because of the lack of it?
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