Mentatul

Category: Principles

Articles that discuss various principles.

  • I Was Wrong All Along

    I Was Wrong All Along

    Blog Entry: Unlike most articles on Mentatul, this post details a personal experience, hence, it is posted underneath the Blog^ category.

     

    “There may be said to be two classes of people in the world; those who constantly divide the people of the world into two classes, and those who do not.”

    The game of life has countless species, tribes and actors, mixing and dancing through an infinity of stages(*). Given this complexity, truth is a multi-dimensional riddle that changes its definition and solution from one perspective to another, and from one target to the other.

    Technology advances, ethical standards change, cultures collapse, civilizations emerge, species die out and new ones appear. History is written by the winners. A heretic yesterday, a hero today, a villain tomorrow.

    And this game of life can be so intoxicating, one can get (almost) hopelessly lost chasing reflections in Indra’s net^. But along the way, things happen, and the illusion breaks apart. It is during one such moment when I truly understood and integrated how wrong I was. It was as if living “I know that I know nothing”^.

    Up until not long ago, I had negative thoughts about many politicians. I disliked many corporations. I despised advertisement and cultural programming through mass-media and the mainstream entertainment industry. Now, after many Mentatul articles, I feel I’m finally able to admit how wrong I was to let myself clouded by negative emotions when, in fact, it was all part of the diversity of life. Everything and everybody has a right to exist, and we may thank their existence for they give shape to the values that we hold dear.

    From this day forward, I shall write from a state of accepting the complexity of the game of life. I’ve made just enough mistakes to realize politicians make mistakes. I was deluded often enough to now understand that businessmen sometimes are deluded.

    The worst politician was once an innocent baby. The vilest corporation was once a hopeful startup. Things get blown out of proportion mostly because the game of life this civilization is apparently engaged in playing^ seems to thrive on brutal separation. Don’t get me wrong (even if I am wrong :D), it’s good to have sides in any game. Unfortunately, picking the “wrong” side in the current civilization can be a very miserable affair.

    This may be due to the survival instinct, but if so, I feel that it is time to overcome it. We’re fine, damn it! We’ve survived. Time to invest energy in something else. For example, evolving our civilization towards a more interesting game of life.

    And when I say “evolving”, I don’t mean it in the very direct way trans-humanists^ see it. It’s more like a more vague and gradual process which is more akin to Wu-wei than a focused, concentrated effort (which I feel will only lead to more destruction, pretty much in the lines of our past centuries of “beating nature into submission”, a task we’ve been “good” at but are starting to feel the backlash from).

    Read about Wu-wei^ or listen to this:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtGtqmC5wU4^

    So does this mean one is supposed to sit idly while greedy corporations destroy ecosystems? Of course not. But the way we go about enacting the next change in our civilization’s DNA will determine if we revert back to the bloodshed of revolution of if we are ready for the ecstasy of evolution.

    There are many ways indeed of enacting peaceful change. If you have a job, start by reading Brave New Work^. It will awake you to the potential locked within our outdated way of working. If you want to contribute to evolution, start with “peace” and “empathy”. Realize that corporations are only as greedy as the stock market forces them to be^.

    Most importantly, peaceful change is enacted by renouncing the obsession to control things. As the saying goes, “relax, nothing is under control”. And yet…

    “Realizing that our inability to control life is not the same as having no way to navigate it, leads to freedom and liberation. Just because I can’t control the sea doesn’t mean I can’t learn how to swim in it.”
    – Rami Shapiro

    With less desire for control, I salute you. With more awareness of how wrong I was (and will perhaps continue to be, but hopefully less and less), I salute you. I salute you traveler, and thank you for your presence. Now, shall we proceed towards a beautiful Universe?

    Fractal Wrongness
    Fractal Wrongness

    And despite the fact that I’ve been wrong all along, that doesn’t mean I’ll stop writing and being wrong :). It’s great to find new ways of being wrong every day! That’s how we learn.

    Some additional notes about this post

    When I wanted to find who is the author of the quote I started this post with, the first link I found was an article trying to locate the source^, which shows just how hard it is to sometimes pinpoint a wise saying. So, I guess that quote can already be considered a proverb.

    I started the article by saying that “The game of life features countless species, tribes and actors, mixing and dancing through an infinity of stages.”

    I’m particularly happy with this phrase, because of the word “stages”. The word “stage” has two main definitions^. The word matches what I wanted to say in a beautiful way. I originally meant to say “theatrical stages”, but the fact is that in the game of life, the species, tribes and actors all go through an infinity of evolutive stages as well. Even the stages go through stages :). Here’s to the hidden gems of the English language.

    [ax_meta fbimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/04185-IWasWrongAllAlong-Share.jpg’ lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/04185-IWasWrongAllAlong-Thumb.jpg’ fbimgw=’1170′ fbimgh=’350′ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’I Was Wrong All Along’ desc=’The worst politician was once an innocent baby. The vilest corporation was once a hopeful startup.’]

  • Corporations, Corrupt Governments, Militaries and Lots of Empathy

    Corporations, Corrupt Governments, Militaries and Lots of Empathy

    Given all that’s happening in the world (wars, social injustice, brainwashing via mass-media and entertainment) it’s tempting to say we need a revolution. The heritage of this word is a bloody one. It is clear we need change. But let us embrace the concept of evolution.

    The very idea of revolution implies a return to a previous state. It is circular and repetitive in nature, just like our violent history. Evolution means breaking this vicious circle. Due to the upcoming technological advances, which will make nuclear weapons look like wet firecrackers, we are forced to evolve rather than revolve. I believe one of the keys of the next evolutionary step (if not the key) is generalized empathy.

    Social entities are people too

    Humans are social creatures. We’re organized in various groups that, naturally, tend to behave just like humans do. Humans compete. At least partially, the urge to compete is powered by the survival instinct.

    A corporation, for example, is a social entity that competes economically within the market ecosystem. It has a survival instinct that expresses itself through the decisions of the people leading it. And the people leading it must act in the interest of the organization, otherwise it will perish. Due to the high stakes involved, these individuals often end up disconnecting from their humanity in order to become the brain of this abstract creature – the often-ruthless corporation.

    This is only one of the empathic explanations for the reckless and sometimes outright criminal behavior of corporate leaders. Not only does this explanation make sense (if you are empathic), but is also one that relieves us from the debilitating pressure that builds up while being in a state of permanent anger and dissatisfaction. Blame is how we hide from solving problems within our society and relationships.

    The survival instinct factor can’t be stressed enough. In all people – some less than others – there is a very deeply rooted instinct to gather more of everything (thus ensuring one’s future). Even though we know right from wrong (depending on education), maintaining an ethically-correct behavior – while having this biological need to accumulate always throbbing in the back of one’s mind – requires a great deal of free will discipline.

    An empathic case can also be made for corrupt governments. Lord Acton once said that “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. The greater the power, the greater the disconnect from one’s roots as an innocent human being. And isn’t corruption really just a symptom of this unfortunate disconnection? Just like corporate leaders, corrupt government officials separate themselves from the people they should have in their care. So, it is not surprising to see many of them fall prey to the “gather more of everything” impulse.

    Crime as flexible concept

    As ethics often shows, whether an act is a crime or not can be highly debatable. Law establishes certain boundaries, but law is almost always one step behind social change. If we apply what I’d call future-law (as opposed to the current judicial system which will probably be deemed as barbaric in some time from now), the greatest criminals often go unpunished. This is part due to human cunning, and part due to a judicial branch that doesn’t yet factor in some of the most serious crimes such as social irresponsibility.

    For example, those that knowingly set up and contribute to an educational system that produces broken individuals will eventually be seen just as bad (if not worse) as the individuals who were advertising tobacco and other poisonous substances in the past. Allowing the existence of an educational system that is damaging minds is a serious mistake. I can agree that most of the participants to this are victims of the same perpetuating system, but this educational cycle needs to be broken as well.

    By building an improper foundation for society, it is not surprising that we often end up voting in tyrants and sociopaths. Easily manipulatable citizens become facilitators for human disasters.

    Of course, some would argue that the entire point of this lack of education is to allow crooked governments to stay in power. But that was never a good long-term solution. The history book shows how many times this way of abusing citizens blew up in the face of the oppressors. Democracy without healthy education leads to dangerous, unpredictable situations.

    Often, that’s when armies come in. Finding justifications for the existence of the military is ethically challenging. The unfortunate soldiers become murderers while those that escape killing their own kind are facilitators and accomplices. Sure, the murder becomes “following orders” and even the orders have all sorts of geo-political motivations.

    It is exactly these motivations which make crime a highly relative term. More often than not, it’s not even naturally relative but rather a human-manipulated relativity. “History is written by the winners” and so are the rules that later decide what was crime and what was not.

    In this jungle of complexity, there is one behavior that can simplify and clarify the way forward towards a healthier, happier society.

    Generalized empathy and the science of empathy

    Humans are capable of great empathy. Through conscious action, empathy can be extended to complex human social structures (cultures, ethnic groups, social entities), to different species, towards the planet itself and the list goes on. This is generalized empathy, a wise and constructive conscious behavior. When (not if) this will predominate in our society, we will enter an age of amazing social transformation.

    This breakthrough can be accelerated through guidance. An education in empathy is necessary not only from the immediate family, but also throughout one’s journey as a student. Empathy should be a mandatory subject, a must-know science. An empathic population does not find it acceptable to commit crimes and will almost certainly not tolerate primitive manifestations of tribalism such as war.

    The upcoming educational paradigm shift will have to dispose of the disastrous mentality of “an eye for an eye”. Generalized empathy will lead to generalized forgiveness, which in turn will ease the psychological burden of our bloody history. I believe there is only a matter of time before this happens because I believe in the evolution of our collective intelligence. Given the weapons we wield and the upcoming technological advances, generalized empathy is our insurance policy for the future.

     

    This article bridges The “Art of Peace” Trilogy^ with The “Science of Peace” Trilogy (currently only Part 1 was published: The Survival Instinct and the Rules of the Human Game^).

     

    “An eye for an eye will only make this world go blind
    Another lie for a lie, we’ll be wiping out mankind”

    [ax_meta fbimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/02506-CorporationsGovernmentsMilitariesEmpathy-Share.jpg’ lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/02506-CorporationsGovernmentsMilitariesEmpathy-Thumb.jpg’ fbimgw=’1170′ fbimgh=’350′ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Corporations, Corrupt Governments, Militaries and Lots of Empathy’ desc=’One of the keys of the next evolutionary step is generalized empathy.’]

  • The “Art of Peace” Trilogy

    The “Art of Peace” Trilogy

    Peace is something most people yearn for. Yet sometimes it seems like it’s slipping away rather than becoming wide-spread. There probably is a parallel between a lack of peace in people’s private life and the lack of peace between many countries, societies or cultures.

    We live in a day and age when individualism has become a new religion and when the survival instinct hasn’t yet caught up with the comforts of modern life. Science has given us so much that many people have fallen into it, making it the sole focus of their life, often forgetting about other equally important aspects of existence. They seek in science the solution to any problem. But looking at our evolution, I would say that our science is still primitive. It’s definitely not something we should have blind faith in, yet this is exactly the ego trap that some people fall for.

    Emotion ended up being seen as the behavioral manifestation of a biological machine. Perhaps it is, but this approach lacks imagination; its artistic dimension is missing. As the union between emotion and free will, art is a pillar of life.

    Let’s go beyond the simple textbook definition of peace and above the few sentences we could think of in a rush. Peace as a life-permeating and world-changing emotion is something that we need to dig at. It is something that requires introspection, research and application.

    Throughout the following three articles, I have silenced my inner scientist and tuned in to my emotions. I explored gratefulness, love and empathy in order to grasp at the foundations of peace.

    Part 1 – Because You Are Here^, exposes gratefulness as a key ingredient of a happier life. This emotion is a catalyst for the cultivation of inner peace and its outward manifestation as social peace.

    Part 2 – Interaction and the Spectrum of Love^, deals with relationships and how they generate love and grow from love. The emotion of love is not only a primordial force of life but also the strongest motivator for peace.

    Part 3 – Be and Let Be^, focuses on empathy and how this can release one’s life from the pressure of destructive competition (in opposition to natural, instinct-driven competition). Empathy is an instinctual means of connection and a transmitter of peace.

    Interlude – Corporations, Corrupt Governments, Militaries and Lots of Empathy^, bridges this trilogy with the upcoming “Science of Peace” trilogy.

     

    I wish you peace.

    [ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/02192-TheArtOfPeace-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’The "Art of Peace" Trilogy’ desc=’Exploring gratefulness, love and empathy in order to grasp at the foundations of peace.’]

  • Be and Let Be

    Be and Let Be

    Blog Entry: Unlike most articles on Mentatul, this post details an entirely subjective perspective, hence, it is posted underneath the Blog^ category.

     

    We’ve accumulated millennia of philosophy and principles, of dogmas and history. We’ve seen science clash with religion and gained an enormous amount of self-reflection through sometimes painful confrontation. We’ve been given commandments, laws, rules, methodologies and all manner of tools for self-improvement. And yet sometimes all is needed for peace is just four words.

    After years of philosophizing and ethical debates, the beautiful simplicity of these simple words hit me out of the blue one day. Hundreds of hours spent “debating life” crystalized into what I consider to be an easy to remember (and perhaps harder to follow) principle.

    These four simple words represent the very essence of peace. When this tolerant and empathic principle is applied, the result is a reduction in negative feelings and a strong movement towards friendship and understanding. My life became more positive since I started repeating these words in my head before getting upset on somebody, or when I realize I harbor any negative feelings towards somebody.

    Instinct and free will

    There will always be friction in society. This is a healthy, constructive process. But friction can also lead to excessive heat. Would it not be wonderful if, before it hurts, we can call upon a peaceful mantra? We can relish in the understanding that nobody is perfect so… just be and let be. It is this behavior that I strive to offer to those around me, and it is the same that I wish to receive.

    Does this mean that we should allow people who do not live by this mantra just step over us? Of course not, because that would not be something we’d do instinctually. The verb “be” is very much related to instinct. To be means exactly that. It goes beyond thought and down to the very core of our being. Life will defend itself if threatened. That is precisely why we are alive.

    But does this mean that we should live according to instinct only? Assuming we actually have free will (that’s a debate for another time), its gift is a certain freedom from instinct. To “be and let be” is a way to guide this freedom towards a peaceful and harmonious life. Humanity has made it this far because sometimes people have put their self aside and acted for the greater good. And assuming we don’t have free will (just self-awareness that makes us think we do), then this mantra of peace is even more meaningful. If we’re just creatures of instinct, then it’s important to understand that others are too. This realization will lead to a calmer life, without having to sacrifice our own well-being.

    The One

    Several schools of thought and traditions indicate that we all come from the same source. The current consensus in the science world is that this Universe has been born of a singularity of everything. Subsequently, the death of a star made our existence possible. Religions also speak of single sources of life and common destinations where life returns.

    Given the repeated motif of common ancestry, it is easy to see ourselves as parts of the same whole. In other words: we are one. We may play our individual roles for now, but at a certain level, we are one. Let’s take another leap of faith: if we are all one, then you are me and I am you. And then, however I act towards you, I in fact act towards myself. If at one point, we will all be one again then I want to act towards you in a way that is respectful and loving. And so we should act towards ourselves, because love starts in our insides and because we need to always keep into consideration our needs as well.

    The hall of mirrors

    The paradox of existence lies in duality. Existence can be incredibly simple: just be. Yet, within life lies infinite complexity, forever unfolding for as long as we adventure inside the hall of mirrors. And that’s as it should be. Otherwise we’d be bored to death. But sometimes it’s good to go back to the core, to center ourselves and find peace.

    Perhaps even the question of having free will is a paradox of duality. Is there any free will? Perhaps it’s a matter of our own free will to decide if we have free will or not. But maybe the discussion about free will should simply be left well enough alone. Just be and let be. Less philosophical struggle and more enjoying of what is.

    Back to simplicity

    “Be and just be” is a savior of time and energy. There are fewer rules required, there’s less thinking and less keeping track of personal score boards. It’s not surprising at all: being is simple. But it’s even simpler to let others be as well.

    We are born with an endless supply of tolerance and love. What our society needs in order to progress to a whole new level is a style of education based on empathy and understanding. This should integrate and reinforce our natural-born constructive tendencies. The light-motif should be: try to see things from the other’s perspective and if things don’t make sense: dig deeper.

    Especially in this fast-moving world where we scavenge every second and ounce of energy, being more efficient is a life savior. Help and ask for help, relish in the support society gives. Combine this with the ability to let negative feelings pass over and disappear back into nothingness. Even better, as we analyze negative feelings and the effect they had on us, we gain the ability to extract understanding from these feelings and turn this into a source of energy for progress.

    I am grateful that you were here.

    I love the minutes you’ve given me.

    I will strive to be and let be.

     

    This article is the third part of The “Art of Peace” Trilogy^.

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  • Interaction and the Spectrum of Love

    Interaction and the Spectrum of Love

    Existence is enriched through interaction. Any interaction, no matter how insignificant, gives birth to a relationship. A consciousness that exists by itself, in an empty Universe, cannot interact with anything, cannot experience any relationship. Such a situation may perhaps be worse than non-existence (*).

    Interaction is richer between species that have more in common, peaking when it involves members of the same species. There can be little argument that the most constructive (beneficial, pleasant) type of interaction is love. The nature, meaning and purpose of love has been debated by scientists, philosophers, mystics and all in between. Its overriding power has remained difficult to explain, even though many disciplines seem to think they have the right answer.

    Legalizing love

    Most healthy humans yearn for love. In spite of this, in a large part of the world, few people venture to have a conversation about love or use “I love you” outside relationships with family or intimate partners. This is a widespread social problem. The results of this schism can be seen everywhere.

    Many people today face isolation, unhappiness and depression. Without the emotional nourishment of love, it is very easy for entire social groups to become ideological prey to intellectual viruses such as consumerism, racism and nationalism.

    But the culture of “I love you” is returning. Families are starting to realize that saying this to their children results in a happier family life and more emotionally secure offspring. Friends are rediscovering the value of sharing this honest feeling towards each other. It is important for people to raise their awareness of how love makes them feel, so that they more actively share and spread this emotion.

    The spectrum of love

    Throughout life we encounter countless avatars of love. There is the love for family, for friends and even the love of one’s so-called enemies, which stop being enemies when empathy and love work as they should. Every interaction becomes a relationship and any relationship can be one of love. What is life if not an exploration of all the ways love can be felt?

    It is certainly true of us humans that we are all of the same family. Even though the formation of our society has its roots in the necessary creation of survival-related advantages, we have outgrown these necessities. Especially during this age of post-scarcity, there are very few reasons why we should keep falling prey to our survival instinct and give into fear and hate. Our society is transforming from a stage of mere mutual interest towards one of brotherhood and sisterhood.

    As our consciousness refines, we will continue to expand the borders of what we perceive as “family”. One day, we will reach a stage when we will perceive every single thing in this Universe, regardless of our current definition of life, as part of the same family simply by virtue of existing. Stars, humans, atoms and blades of grass, we are all children of existence.

    The great attractor

    Some people see love as a sort of force. It is. Any relationship that is predominantly loving is a relationship where the two sides will grow closer together. There probably are scientific reasons for this behavior in life forms. We know that complex intelligence can live and express love more fully. It is interesting that the Universe has given birth to such a constructive outcome. Even when rationalized as “an instinct for procreation”, love maintains its quality of being able to build towards more love.

    The more interactions one has, the more of the spectrum of love one experiences. The Universe can thus be seen as a sort of museum of love, a collection of nearly infinite ways of experiencing and enriching the feeling. Through evolution, there is little doubt that this process will soar to unfathomable heights of conscious emotion.

    There is an interesting parallel between love and another primordial process. It’s the same process that has given birth to every atom in our bodies: nuclear fusion. The light that allows us to live is the result of hydrogen atoms joining together to form helium atoms inside the Sun. Earth exists because another star, long before the Sun, has spread the atoms it created inside across this region of the Universe. Fusion, like love, is a constructive process.

    Interactions nourished by love are of a healing nature. Friendship for example is a relationship of love that can endure many hardships and provides a solid life pillar to those involved. Let us also consider the love towards one self, for it is extremely powerful. This reflected interaction can be so powerful that it can become a drug. The addiction to self-love can lead to serious psychological problems such as narcissism or megalomania.

    It is important that we, as a society, offer enough love to each other so that we do not fall into the trap of self-love. Instead, it is best to see self-love as just another facet of the emotion, therefore not allowing self-love to suffocate the love of everything else around us. This is especially important as everything around us is also part of the same family. Losing sight of this deprives one of the opportunities to fully explore love.

    Look around you, see who looks like they need some love. Don’t limit yourself to your family or friends. Work outwards. Get that loving vibe flowing to your coworkers, dare to reach out to the newest person in your life, somebody you just met.

    Look around you, see who radiates love. Embrace it, absorb it, learn from it. Love can be a skill and like any skill it can be perfected through practice and observation. So get into the business of radiating love because love breeds love. And to also be a bit pragmatic, it’s important to mention that this emotion opens doors that no amount of money or power can open.

    In closing, I’ll share something I wrote about love on the 1st of January 2014:

    I shall build my life for the sole purpose of expressing Love NOW; not tomorrow, not next month, but NOW. My mind will become the antenna that picks up the Love that surrounds me, and my soul will be the sun that shines it through my body. I shall not keep this Love hostage in myself. I will beam it across the Universe and bestow it on family, teachers, friends, those who like me AND those who don’t. I shall love Man, Animal, Plant, Stone and Star, for Love is the almighty, transcending force that brings meaning to our existence. And when the NOW becomes an eternal monument to Love, I WILL BE HAPPY, for my life now truly lives.

     

    This article is the second part of The “Art of Peace” Trilogy^.

     

    (*)^ Perhaps this is why in several spiritual traditions, the godhead is said to create companions for itself or forget itself and split into myriad other beings in order to rediscover itself (hopefully having some fun in the process).

    [ax_meta fbimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/01958-InteractionAndTheSpectrumOfLove-Share.jpg’ lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/01958-InteractionAndTheSpectrumOfLove-Thumb.jpg’ fbimgw=’1170′ fbimgh=’350′ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Interaction and the Spectrum of Love’ desc=’There can be little argument that the most constructive (beneficial, pleasant) type of interaction is love.’]

  • Because You Are Here

    Because You Are Here

    For years I searched ways in which to thank you for reading these words. To thank you for having been here, for learning the art of communication, for bringing the light of your consciousness into this world and for contributing to the diversity of this existence. Echoes of your choices spread across the Everything, gifting experience back to this Universe that gave us birth.

    These sentences will now become the conduit through which I will channel my gratefulness for your being. You may wonder how is it that I can write all this to somebody that I perhaps don’t even know. I will explain by showing you my image of gratefulness, for it is this feeling that guides and inspires me.

    Reflecting the gift

    Gratefulness is an expression of respect. Life doesn’t develop without effort. It’s thanks to an amazing coming together of astronomic odds that we are here as sentient individuals. According to some philosophies, our separation is only temporary, so isn’t the respect we grant to each other really the respect we grant to ourselves? By extension, everything that surrounds us is worthy of solemn respect.

    Gratefulness is a bringer of peace. It stimulates empathy and patience towards each other. Knowing how to appreciate the gift of somebody’s presence is a transformative skill that leads to constructive outcomes.

    Gracefulness is a species of humility. We have the means to accomplish what people centuries ago would consider miracles. Being able to share these words among us means we have so much more than our predecessors. I consider it humbling to even be read, so these words better deliver something worthy of being read.

    Gratefulness is a propagator of wisdom. It is like an emotional key for opening doors of the mind. Discoveries or actions that conjure this feeling may lead to realizations that are conductive towards building up wisdom. Being grateful will keep opening new paths. Knowledge will come as a river, fed by a rain of curiosity.

    Gratefulness is a compass for love. Few feelings are as magnetic towards love as this one. A gift is being given to us in the form of each unfolding moment of life. We experience each other and learn from the interplay of thoughts. Everything that touches our consciousness – a word, a mote of dust or the fiery sphere up in the sky – becomes a gift. A gift is an expression of love, a means of conveying it. If everything we experience is a gift, then we could say that these infinite gifts make up a sort of universal magnetic field.

    To you

    Everything that has the possibility of exercising free will is also a force of creation. It matters not what you create. Whatever it is you’re doing, you’re building experience, for yourself and for those around you. So thank you for creating. Life is the process of crafting experience. I am grateful to you because I’ve been shaped by the same process – in this respect, we’re siblings.

    I sometimes wonder if I should be yet more thankful to those that have influenced me directly. If we’ve met even for one second, if I’ve heard something you said or read something you’ve written, then I have been touched. But gratefulness is a primordial emotion – it is or it is not. It’s unquantifiable.

    This means it is fair to be equally grateful to everything that exists. It’s a misconception that this would devaluate the emotion. The universalization of a feeling does not make it disappear. Instead, the complete integration of a nourishing emotion leads to the enrichment of life.

    To humanity, my brothers and sisters

    We’ve had plenty of conflicts throughout history. We’ve made mistakes. But what I’d like to focus on is all the fascinating art that we’re creating, the progress towards understanding ourselves and our ecosystem and, perhaps more important than anything, the way we love and the way we dream. I believe that this is a bountiful source of gratefulness for having been shaped by this society.

    It is thanks to everybody I’ve ever met – all the human teachers and their works – that I’ve come to welcome gratefulness in my life in this way. I may not know you, but knowing you is not a requirement for being grateful for your being here, reading these words.

    This contact between two imaginations, two Universes of language, is both timeless and ephemeral. It is so beautiful in its instant simplicity that the only constructive outcome is to be entertained by the experience and perhaps draw a positive thought out of it.

    Because you are here

    Having the opportunity to share these thoughts with another consciousness – and all that this entails – is reason enough for having lived. It doesn’t even matter if you belong to the same species I do. Indeed, I do believe that the traces of our creations are not limited to this civilization.

    Thanks for stopping by, for sharing some of your time, perhaps a tiny but undoubtedly important slice of your existence. Thank you for inspiring art, for creating it and for being who you are.

     

    This article is the first part of The “Art of Peace” Trilogy^.

    [ax_meta fbimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/01762-AndromedaBecauseYouAreHere-Share.jpg’ lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/01762-AndromedaBecauseYouAreHere-Thumb.jpg’ fbimgw=’1170′ fbimgh=’350′ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Because You Are Here’ desc=’For years I searched ways in which to thank you for reading these words. Here is an image of gratefulness that I reflect to you.’]

  • Dealing With Criticism

    Dealing With Criticism

    Unsurprisingly, a web search for “dealing with criticism” will yield a lot of results. Advice and solutions have been explored and discussed already by people with a lot of experience in psychology and social dynamics. By going through some of the top results the reader is sure to find a wealth of useful information.

    Rather than remixing bullet point lists and coming up with stale advice, what I’m going to do is to go back to the basics. This entry is concerned with the only thing which is really, truly important in the matter. And that is…

    To change or not to change

    By far, the most important decision a person must make after receiving criticism is whether the changes it implies are necessary or even welcomed. If the answer is “no”, then the next step is to be thankful for receiving the time and attention of the critic and then to move on as fast as possible. We should waste no time or feelings when we decide that a change is not necessary.

    If the answer is “yes”, then half of the work is already done because this internal acknowledgement is a powerful motivator. What follows is a mixture of integration and communication with the critic, a mental process which should generate decisions.

    It takes humbleness and courage to accept and start integrating criticism, but the rewards can be great indeed. By virtue of having a different life experience, the perspective shared by other persons can become a priceless asset. This is not always apparent, so it sometimes can be quite a hurdle to open the door to change.

    Once this fundamental decision is made though, the really fun part can finally begin, which is to find how to integrate the external feedback with one’s own work and thought processes. Finding the best of both worlds is challenging but rewarding.

    Tune in to usefulness

    Not to waste time, let’s not even bother with destructive or unskilled criticism. More often than not, a person will eventually realize when feedback is being given in an aggressive, spiteful way, when it is incorrect or when it is simply not applicable. We’ve all been in such situations. There are many ways through which one can unmask useless criticism. That web search I mentioned earlier is a good starting place for finding such information. I liked these two^ lists^.

    Understanding the importance of the other members of society is vital. The criticized person must single out those that can offer valuable feedback. Good, true, useful criticism can come from anywhere. Being personally involved, friends and family usually offer a passionate flavor of advice, which can be delivered in all sorts of ways, from diplomatic to downright depressing. On the other hand, people who don’t have a close personal connection with the person being criticized are less biased.

    It is beneficial to gather opinion from both these camps. The critics can be seen as translators – they receive intellectual information and interpret it based on their own life experience. In this way, we can perceive our work or decisions from different vantage points.

    Criticism can quickly become overwhelming not only in intensity but also in numbers. Prioritizing the trusted and respected sources of feedback is essential. And never forget that change is not always for the best and it is equally important to not be led astray as it is to improve. The goal is to reach a more desirable state.

    Science, art, lifestyle

    When receiving criticism, there are significant differences in the way its worthiness can be judged. Sometimes feedback is given against a set of known rules, whereas other times the frame of reference is abstract.

    In exact sciences, the worthiness of a piece of advice can be determined with ease. For example if I write bad software, a fellow programmer will have no trouble to support his opinion with undefeatable arguments.

    In art, however, things are much more difficult. Art is a deeply personal experience, so we should try to focus on feedback that pertains to skill rather than the overall artistic direction. This is not to say that we can’t take valuable decisions derived from opinion-based criticism, but it is more difficult to balance one’s art with somebody else’s opinion of how it should look or feel. Yet, many artists have done so successfully and have perfected themselves, increasing their popularity.

    Our lifestyle is probably the toughest area when dealing with criticism. It’s not that it’s difficult to realize when the advice is correct, but lifestyle is one of the hardest things to change. It can take tremendous effort to modify entrenched habits and conceptions. But in this case, that intense effort can lead to fantastic strides forward, since all that we do, in all other areas, is influenced by the way we live.

    In being able to communicate precise concepts to each other, we humans have an enormous advantage. Receiving, accepting and handling feedback is a blessing of the society we are part of. I believe that this life is one long learning experience, and the most efficient way of learning is from a teacher. Good critics are our own private teachers. Be mindful of this opportunity.

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  • Perfectionism: Curse or Blessing?

    Perfectionism: Curse or Blessing?

    Professionally, perfectionism can be a source of great achievements. But the satisfaction of observing good results when applying this principle can quietly lead to a dangerous imbalance. There is a darker side to perfectionism, a way of thinking that worms its way into one’s mind, suffocating the creative process. Perfectionism can easily become too much of a good thing.

    Balance is probably the most important mental aptitude when dealing with this issue. By knowing when to give up the endless quest for perfection, one can deliver impressive results in a timely fashion. But finding that balance can be an elusive task.

    The knife

    Imagine somebody sharpening a knife. At one point, the knife becomes sharp enough to be of good use. But then the person decides to sharpen it even more. The knife becomes extremely sharp. Even though that fine blade will deteriorate soon, it definitely provides a better experience for a while. Still not satisfied, our perfectionist decides to sharpen the knife further.

    What happens afterwards, as you can probably imagine, is that the knife’s blade loses from its material without becoming sharper. Even worse, the blade might start to exhibit other problems that arise from excessive sharpening. Obviously, the tool used to refine the blade will also lose material. And last but not least, it’s wasted time.

    This analogy helped me a lot. I managed to realize how redacting my work excessively can quickly become wasteful. I usually went through at least five revisions before publishing anything, sometimes more. From a certain point onwards, I was simply changing words and then changing them back. I discovered that it’s infinitely more useful and pleasant to ask for a second opinion rather than hammering at the text ad infinitum.

    Pride

    Perfectionism makes good friends with pride. The positive results obtained through this intensely self-scrutinizing creative process can be very encouraging. Therefore, it is not surprising when one starts to take pride in this way of working. However, it’s an unfortunate symbiosis and can easily lead to abusing the method. And we’ve already seen what that can cause.

    Pride becomes both a trap and an excuse to stubbornly cling to a wasteful process. It can be very hard for a perfectionist to own up to this. I speak from experience. Ideals can spawn the most convincing of illusions. Feelings of superiority provide the perfect fuel for pride to burn, intoxicating the mind.

    The blessing

    Despite these dangers, perfectionism can be a positive trait and a very important one at that. When wielded with care and balance, it acts like a distiller of quality. There are many factors involved in any creative activity – imagination, talent, experience, knowledge, ambition, consistency and the list goes on. Producing a satisfying end result requires these varied factors to play together harmoniously.

    But the perfectionists don’t stop at “satisfying”. They don’t stop at “good” either. This extra ingredient, the additional amount of effort spent, is usually the difference between “good” and “great”.

    I’m far from saying that only perfectionists can produce great things. Perfectionism is just another thought process among dozens of others that we have labeled using various words. However, when applied in good measure, it is a strong ingredient. And yet, it is never a guarantee.

    Conclusion

    While preparing to publish this, I had a rather amusing experience revising an entry which deals with how one should handle their inner critic. Through this short exploration, I realized that it is better to accept the possibility of another reviewer finding mistakes later – and learn from them – rather than sacrificing precious time in order to avoid the unavoidable. As a rule on Mentatul, I never revise a text more than four times before publishing it. I hope it was enough to allow these words to deliver their meaning in an efficient and pleasant way.

    There are several ways through which we can set ourselves free from the shackles of our inner critics. A good first step is to involve our close ones into our work, especially those that already hold us in high regard. Humans excel at team work and can provide much-needed encouragement.  Even more importantly is that we understand that it is ultimately in our own power – and best interest – to move forward, despite our insecurity or dissatisfaction. Starting with less important activities, we can learn to say “I’ve done my best. It’s time to move on.”

    The extremes in which perfectionism finds itself are due to its “absolute value”. It is a rather intense character trait to have. When one falls into the many temptations and traps along the way, the consequences can be tragic, take depression for example. But when used wisely, perfectionism can lead to beautiful results.

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  • Opinion or Analysis

    Opinion or Analysis

    Most of my writing on this website consists of reviews and analysis. These are two vastly different areas which demand an equally different approach from the writer. I believe that it is very important for any author to use the appropriate thought process when publishing any material that can be referred to by others. It is a matter of responsibility, especially when it comes to analysis.

    The word “analysis” has many meanings. One popular understanding is linked to the field of science. Analysis can be experimental or statistical. In both cases, abstractions are used in order to bring infinitely-complex processes down to our level of understanding.

    I don’t think that we currently have the knowledge or technology to fully understand or make clear predictions regarding the actions of millions of people and their complex interactions. We can, however, put forward various hypotheses and assumptions, backing these up with as many facts as possible.

    Misusing opinion

    One of my assumptions is that emitting an opinion is not proper when dealing with matters which concern the life of more beings than the individual holding the opinion. Opinion is best suited for discussions about art or subjects that pertain to one’s personal life; although in this latter case it can be argued that it is risky or perhaps even dangerous to base life-altering choices upon something as fickle and unfounded as opinion.

    This assumption is quite easy to back using facts. Sadly, throughout our history, there have been many people in positions of power which mixed their personal opinions with politics, ultimately ruining countless lives. They sometimes even used science to justify their choices, but time eventually proved that there was little more than opinion behind their twisted analysis.

    The right tool for the job

    In my writing, I try to keep a strict delimitation between opinion and analysis. I have the right to an opinion when it comes to a work of art, perhaps a product. But when my words concern anything else than me, opinion is relegated to a far-away second place, that is, if it is even present at all.

    The reverse is also true, although to a lesser extent. Art can seldom be analyzed. It is here when opinion is best suited, since the perception of art is of a deeply personal nature. However, art also involves skill, and this is something that can be measured, to a certain degree. Therefore I would say that there is more room for analysis in art than for opinion in analysis.

    This separation of concerns is by no means absolute. The beautiful challenge of writing about a certain topic lies in finding a harmonious balance between the personal perspective and the social context.

    Middle ground

    In some cases, opinion and analysis can share the spotlight. When writing a product review, there is a fair amount of opinion involved, for example regarding the build quality or usefulness of the product. These judgments are influenced by personal taste and habit. In the same time, such a review must also present a meaningful analysis that can be useful to the reader, mindful of the fact that every reader is different.

    Through this project, I will strive for a middle ground between these two styles of writing. For every opinion I put out there, I will offer another, more analytical work (on a different topic). And from time to time, some product review will show up as well.

    What about these words? Was this an opinion or an analysis? I’d say it was a bit of both. It’s my opinion and analysis on the topic of opinion or analysis. For sure, it has helped me visualize how to pursue my craft onwards.

    I’ll close with an amusing but important warning. A friend of mine once said: “Opinions are like assholes. Everybody has one and they’re all smelly”. This can labeled as “vulgar” but such categorization will never stop me from recognizing the validity of a claim or its entertainment value – the statement above has both. I will be careful with my opinions and try to keep Mentatul as least smelly as possible.

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