Thinking Biologically

"Monte: Back in the day you use to write a lot of essays dealing with politics. What gives? How come you aren’t posting on this subject anymore? Certainly there are loads of issues to comment on! Get in the fight, man!"

I have refrained from writing about politics all that much for a number of reasons. 1) That’s not what this blog is focused upon; 2) there are plenty of people writing about that stuff…people far more well-versed on the subject than I; 3) I only have the energy for so much stress in my life and the subject of politics doesn’t exactly cause me to feel as if blue Smurfs were walking down the yellow brick road with rainbows overhead; and 4) I am so blasted angry and grieved over what I perceive as the conscious and willful destruction of all that made this nation EXCEPTIONAL that I doubt I could produce an essay in keeping with St James’ admonition to be peaceable, gentle, easily entreated, etc.

Anyway, my focus here is on the human psyche … but not on what is called “abnormal psyche,” which would include many of our politicians and their proclivity toward enacting criminally insane policies.

Seriously, my passion is helping men and women to become more fully functioning human beings. My belief is that if we can get our heads and hearts healthy, it will transform how we live—which will include, of course, how we live as citizens.

Yes, Back in the Day, I did write a lot about social and political issues. What I gradually discovered, however, was that most people (including myself) are addicted to their beliefs. If you go after their favorite drug/belief, they instinctively begin fighting you, thinking and arguing biologically, rather than logically. Subse- quently, I decided to begin chunking-up—to engage people in conversations regarding their philosophical beliefs: the Bigger Picture, if you will. For example, if someone wants to argue about Universal Health Care, I want to talk about her beliefs regarding Constitutional Rights v privileges, or maybe discuss his ideas regarding private property.

The challenge here, however, is that many of our beliefs were created on a psychological basis. In other words, we arrived at a conclusion based upon certain experiences that brought about pain or pleasure. We then begin throwing together a patchwork (we call it a “system”) of “beliefs” that justify our feelings and accompanying behaviors.

Knowing this is quite often the case, I want to guide the conversation towards the person’s experiences and feelings, so that, at the very least, he has the possibility of increased self-awareness: “I behave/choose as I do, not because of a firm conviction regarding a specific belief or ideal, but simply because I feel like it.” This—to my way of thinking, anyway—is far healthier than blathering on and on about a “belief” that is actually only a defense mechanism for justifying a behavior. Be honest with yourself and others: rather than citing all your “reasons” for doing what you are doing, simply say, “I am doing such-and-such because I feel like it.”

By the way, this is why many discussions become heated and acrimonious. Or why so many people won’t even discuss the issue at hand but prefer blowing you off, or calling you names, or making fun of you. (You, of course, never engage in such behavior!) It’s not about a specific social policy or business practice or whatever, it’s about my feeeeeelings and experiences, which I am highly motivated to defend and protect--like an addict with his drug of choice. There are no logical defenses, no reasonable arguments here, only emotional upsets and breakdowns. So, why even go there? What’s the point? That is, unless you see the possibility of breaking through the breakdown and bringing some light.

Hope this answers your question. Expect to see this posted in the near future!

Stay Thirsty My Friend
Monte

Copyright, Monte E Wilson, 2010