Perhaps Change is Possible

 

            So it seems that in present day America and perhaps elsewhere, there seems to exist a phenomenon of tunnel vision.  I see how this can be, but I still have trouble fully understanding it.  Most of the people I’ve met, in my 21 years on this Earth, have a sort of close-mindedness about them.  This may be because I am unable to see things as they do, but I believe that open-mindedness is something everyone is born with, and nurture (not nature) is to blame for close-mindedness.  Some people are able to hold on to this, or find it again later on, but most I’ve met become greedy, selfish, and opinionated at an early age.  Also it only becomes more prevalent the older they get.  Yes, it all started because you didn’t share your crayons with that other kid in Kindergarten.  Somewhere along the line, it seems, you feel you have to start doing things for yourself, and forming your own opinions.  This could be because you were extremely belittled somehow, or others forced their opinions on you heavily, and you knew you had to have your own to keep up with them.   I’m sure there are many other reasons I’m not even considering, but I think you get the point. 

            I say all this because I feel that this world is being brought down by those who fail to see the bigger picture.  Another reason for this is a theory I have called “Centrafutility”   basically defined: the drive to follow those ahead of you, and pursue things that matter far less than they are commonly perceived to.  For more on this theory see my column named, “Perceptions of a One-Track Mind.” 

But back to my point, there are far too many people that don’t see the big picture, for whatever reason.  And this leads to making horrible decisions, some more disastrous than others, but all equally sad. 

The gift to see things from other angles is priceless.  To be able to take a humbled outside opinion on something (especially if you feel strongly about it, one way or another), and try to understand where an opposing argument is coming from are the keys to truly “Mature” decisions. 

Before I go any further I feel that Humankind, as far as this is concerned, is utterly doomed.  Although I do not believe that change is impossible for the individual; since (like I said earlier) this is the fault of nurture not nature, meaning that it is in your original design to be open-minded and logical in a very emotional way, rather than being close-minded and illogical in a very emotional way.  Often I’ve seen people use these passionately close-minded, and irrational patterns of thought as a cooping method.  For when things get too difficult and complex to handle rationally, and/or it has hit so close to home that you find it almost impossible to see any other viewpoint other than your own.  This is understandable, and very healthy, but only in cases of extreme polar disorder and confusion.  What’s wrong about these types of reactions are that they are all too commonly fused into everyday life.  Every time you find yourself in a situation that opposes your chosen path or opinion, you resort to irrationally and close-mindedly resolving the situation to your advantage.  Another thing to consider is that the “whatever” attitude is just another form of this phenomenon.  A lot of the time you cannot handle a situation, and trying to resolve the situation to your advantage simply seems impossible or too stressful to even consider doing, you resort to complacence.  You say, “Whatever!”  Then walk away. 

Both forms come from the same place, and equally have the same resolution.  But I will not pretend to know what the resolutions are; I will just say that perhaps understanding my point of view on this subject might help you begin to right yourself.  Even if you strongly believe nothing is wrong with you.

 

 

HERE ARE SOME HINTS:

 

1. If you are convinced that nothing is wrong, something probably is.
2. The stronger your opinion on something, most likely, the more wrong it is.
3. Always be honest with yourself, but being honest with everyone else doesn’t hurt either.
4. Lying to people only makes it harder to be honest with yourself.
5. Don’t do anything to hurt people in anyway, even if you feel they deserve it.
6. If you are forced to make decisions that hurt people, hurt the least amount of people, not those least important.
7. Always keep in mind that there is always more than one option.  And that your option might not be the best option.
8. Change is inevitable.
9. War and physical force is never the only option.  Nor is it ever the best option.
10. And finally, as a whole, Humanity has to mature and change its ways or it will simply die out, or destroy itself.

 

                                                                                                          Entropedic