Our view of the universe is largely determined by our experiences. It is when we are caught off guard by the spontaneity of existence that we are most apt to respond authentically, even when our feelings do not correspond with those of the multitude. Events that arouse strong emotions with us or are surprising in nature can be disquieting, for it often is in their aftermath that we discover how profoundly our histories have shaped us. The differences that divide us from our peers are highlighted in our reactions when these diverge from the mainstream, and this can be highly upsetting because it forces us to confront the uniqueness of our lives.
When our response to unexpected news or startling ideas is not the same as that of the people around us, we may feel driven by a desire to dismiss our feelings as irrational or incorrect. But reactions themselves are neither right, nor wrong. The forces that sculpted the patterns that to a large extent dictate our development are not the same forces that shaped the development of our relatives, friends, colleagues, or neighbors. There is no reason to believe that one person's reaction to a particular event is somehow more valid than another's. How we respond to the constant changes taking place in the world around us is a product of our history, a testament to our individuality, and a part of the healing process that allows us to address key elements of our past in a context we can grasp in the present.
Life's pivotal events can provide you with a way to define yourself as a unique and matchless being, but you must put aside the judgments that might otherwise prevent you from gaining insight into your distinct mode of interpreting the world. Try to internalize your feelings without categorizing or evaluating them. When you feel unsure of the legitimacy of your reactions, remember that cultural, sociological, spiritual, and familial differences can cause two people to interpret a single event in widely dissimilar ways. Examining your responses outside of the context provided by others can show you that your emotional complexity is something to be valued, for it has made you who you are today.
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"Never argue with an idiot... They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience..."
Just saying Hi...Chris...hope all is well in the big State of WA.
Speaking of experiences...How are you at moving furniture? An experience in itself...Should be all moved into apt here by Saturday night...Im not sure which is cheaper....buying a couple of cases of beer for the moving guys...or just paying cash...feeding them beer is like putting gas in a car....except the more they drink?...the slower the car goes..:)
When I was drinking it used to take about a month...just to move....2 hours of moving....2 days of drinking...maybe Ill just dangle a beer on the end of a fishing pole....and say "Follow This"
You have a good day....wayyyy out there in Gods Country...ehhhh
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"LOVE" devoid of self-gratification, is in essence, the will, to the greatest good...of another.
Hmmm... Promise them a case if they get you all moved in in a day... LOL woulda worked for me back when beer was my motivator. Just kidding of course. Today Id just offer the movers a cash incentive. Hope it goes well and not to much furniture falls off the truck. :)
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My warranty on tomorrow has run out. My guarantee on the past is void. Nothing is going my way... and I like it like that.
"When our response to unexpected news or startling ideas is not the same as that of the people around us, we may feel driven by a desire to dismiss our feelings as irrational or incorrect."
my late and great first sponsor had a way of saying that- "feelings are not facts" followed closely by "...so don't act on them" then he had a great analogy that went with it that I can't repeat
