If someone irritates you, it’s because you are attached to a particular way you want them to behave, and when you don’t get that way, you are unhappy. If your mind didn’t cling to what you wanted, you would be fine with how they were acting. In fact, you might have compassion for them, as you could see they are suffering.
Tag: compassion
The Absence of Free Will: 7 Distasteful Implications
The irony in the free will debate is the seeming choice that its participants make to be included. And therein lies the first distasteful implication of the possibility that humans do not have free will: the choice we witness is a lie.
Communism vs. Compassion
Many millions of well-intentioned yet muddle-headed people (along with a much smaller number of opportunistic megalomaniacs) have put forth a “philosophy” that has ended up getting tens of millions of people murdered. How could that possibly happen?
A Guide to Moving Courageously Into a New Uncertain Space
I remember walking into my boss’ office at my day job to turn in my resignation, almost exactly 10 years ago today. I was quitting the life of a regular paycheck, to become a full-time blogger and writer. I was filled with an overwhelming sensation of fear, and an overwhelming sensation of joy.
Get Better at Dealing with Anger
Yesterday a loved one asked me about dealing with anger — he lashed out at someone he loves in a way that hurt her and filled him with shame and regret. I think we can all related to this — most of us have lashed out in anger and regretted it later.
Holding Parents Responsible
Here’s a philosophical brain teaser for you: Should parents be held responsible for their children’s actions? My culturally programmed answer to this question is, “Yes, because children can’t be held responsible for their actions, they’re too young to really know what they’re doing, and since somebody should, why not the ones who are raising them?”
Forgiveness Requires Philosophy
When we forget an important birthday or anniversary, we’re only human. When others forget, it’s scientific evidence that they don’t care. When we think about the people in our lives from ten years ago, we imagine them with all the same annoying qualities they had when we last saw them.
Against the Maternal State
In short, contemporary maternalistic government in the USA treats the entire population as children. Small wonder that so many adults resent such treatment and bridle against it.
Developing Extraordinary Resilience
We’re all beset with difficulties, obstacles, pain, tiredness, and a thousand other setbacks, small and large. What determines whether we take these setbacks in stride, or let them bring us down, is something that psychologists call “resilience.” It’s an ability to come back from setbacks, adapt, learn, but not be dragged down by these setbacks.
Three Ways to Become Your Best Self
Although there is no exact definition as to what being your best self means, it can be agreed upon that it means being able to tap into your potentials and use them to a maximum to make a difference to the world around you.