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Sábado, 23 / 05 / 20

9 Signs You Have Mean World Syndrome and How to Fight It

9 Signs You Have Mean World Syndrome and How to Fight It

Janey Davies, B.A. (Hons)

https://www.learning-mind.com

May 23rd, 2020.

 
 
 
 
 
There’s an unwritten rule we all tend to assume. The rule is ‘the more violence a person views on TV, the more violent their tendencies are in real life’. But one person believed the reverse to be true. That in fact, the more violent the media, the more frightened we become. This is Mean World Syndrome.

What Is Mean World Syndrome?

Mean World Syndrome describes a psychological bias where a person believes the world is a more violent place because they watch a large amount of violence on TV.
Mean World Syndrome is based on the research of Hungarian Jewish journalist George Gerbner. Fascinated by the influence of violence on TV on our perceptions of society, Gerbner wondered why, if we are all now consuming larger amounts of violence on TV are the real-life crime figures dropping.

How to Spot the Signs of Mean World Syndrome?

You might think to yourself that there’s no way you would succumb to this way of thinking, but here are just some of the signs of Mean World Syndrome:
  • Do you believe that most people are just looking out for themselves?
  • Would you be afraid of walking through your neighbourhood at night?
  • Are you cautious when interacting with strangers?
  • Would you cross the road if you saw a man of ethnic minority approaching you?
  • Do you think people should go home to their native countries?
  • Are most people out to take advantage of you?
  • Would you be unhappy if a Latino or Hispanic family moved in next-door?
  • Do you avoid people of different ethnic backgrounds?
  • Do you always tend to watch the same types of programme i.e. horror, gore?

Violence and TV: What Leads Us to Develop Mean World Syndrome?

We tend to think of the TV as an innate and harmless form of entertainment. It sits in our living rooms, we turn it on to appease bored children, or it remains on in the background unnoticed. But TV has changed throughout the decades.
For instance, I’m 55 years old now, and I remember the very first time I watched The Exorcist. It frightened me for nights on end. I happened to show the film to a few friends who were twenty or so years younger than me, expecting them to have the same visceral reaction. But they just laughed.
It’s easy to see why. Films like Hostel show a woman’s eyes blowtorched in graphic detail. In contrast, Linda Blair’s turning head just looks comical.
I think we can agree that TV and films, in particular, portray violence in a much more graphic way these days. But the majority of us watch violence like this on TV and do not turn into serial killers. And this is what interested Gerbner.

See Violence, Commit Violence?

Historically, psychologists focused on whether those who had been exposed to media violence would be more likely to commit violence in real life. Gerbner believed exposure to media violence was far more complex. He suggested that consuming media violence is more likely to make us scared and fearful. But why?
Gerbner found that people with moderate to heavy TV and media viewing habits were more likely to believe they would be a victim of violence. They were also more worried about their personal security. They were less likely to go out in their own neighbourhood at night.
These responses differed greatly from people with light viewing habits. In this case, light viewers had a more rounded and generous view of society.
“Our studies have shown that growing up from infancy with this unprecedented diet of violence has three consequences, which, in combination, I call the “mean world syndrome.” What this means is that if you are growing up in a home where there is more than say three hours of television per day, for all practical purposes you live in a meaner world – and act accordingly – than your next-door neighbour who lives in the same world but watches less television.” Gerbner

So What Exactly Is Going On?

There’s a historical view of media and TV violence that we viewers are passive in our entertainment. We are like sponges, soaking up all the gratuitous violence. This old view suggests that TV and media fire information like a bullet into our minds. That TV and media can control us like automatons, feeding our minds with subliminal messages.
Gerbner saw things differently. He did believe that TV and media played a crucial role in the way we view society. But not one where we are encouraged to commit violent acts. One where we ourselves are scared and frightened by what we see.

How Mean World Syndrome Is Cultivated in Our Society

According to Gerbner, the problem lies in how this violence is portrayed on TV and in the media. It intersperses with banal content. For example, one minute, we are watching an advert for bleach or nappies, and the next, we see a news item that someone’s daughter has been abducted, raped, and dismembered.
We switch from one shocking news story to comedies, from a graphic horror film to a cute animal cartoon. And it is this constant switching between the two that normalises the violence we see. And when mass media normalises something as awful as a child abduction we don’t feel safe anymore.
We assume that this is the world we live in now. It’s that old news saying: “If it bleeds, it leads.” News channels focus on the most violent crimes, movies find new ways to shock us, even local news prefer gore and horror to cute stories about rescue puppies.

Violence Is Normal

Gerbner realised that it was the normalisation of violence, he called it ‘happy violence’ that cultivates a fearful society. In fact, there is a direct correlation between the amount of TV a person watches and their level of fear.
Mass media saturates us with graphic images, horrific stories, and frightening storylines. News channels remind us about the ‘War on Terror’, or the consequences of the coronavirus, all while glaring mugshots of offenders pierce through our collective consciousness.
It’s not surprising we are afraid to go outside our own homes. This cultivated fear shapes us into victimhood.

TV and Media Are the New Storytellers

Yet, you could say that we come across violence in fairy tales as children, or in Shakespeare’s play as teenagers. That we need to acknowledge violence as part of what’s good and bad about society. However, we are told fairy tales by a parent who provides context or comfort should we become upset. Shakespeare plays often have a moral story or ending which is discussed in class.
There is no parent or teacher advising us when we view violence portrayed in mass media. Moreover, this violence is often sensationalised, it’s delivered in a spectacular way. It’s often portrayed as humorous or sexy. As a result, we become indoctrinated with this constant flow saturation.

We Are Born into Viewing Violence

psychotic female killer
Gerbner stated that we are born into this saturation. There is no before or after viewing violence, we grow up with it, and from a very early age. In fact, children view around 8,000 murders by the age of 8 years old, and around 200,000 violent acts by the time they are 18.
All this violence adds up to a pervasive narrative we believe to be true. Each TV programme, every news story, all those films add up to a seamless and continuous dialogue. One that tells us the world is a scary, frightening, and violent place to live in.
The reality, however, is much different. According to the Justice Dept., murder rates are down 5% and violent crime is at an all-time low, having dropped 43%. Despite this, coverage of murders increased by 300%.
“Fearful people are more dependent, more easily manipulated and controlled, more susceptible to deceptively simple, strong, tough measures and hard-line measures…” Gerbner

How to Fight Mean World Syndrome?

There are lots of ways you can control how you feel about the society you inhabit.
  • Limit the amount of TV and media you view.
  • Alternate between different types of programmes, e.g. comedy and sport.
  • Remember, the majority version of violence presented by the media is a small minority of real life.
  • Use different kinds of media to access information, i.e. books, journals.
  • Get the facts from reliable sources so you don’t over-estimate the amount of violence in the world.
  • Ask yourself, who benefits from perpetuating the myth of mass fear?

Final Thoughts

It’s easy to see how we can become enveloped in Mean World Syndrome. Every day we are bombarded with the most gruesome facts and images. These present a distorted view of the world.
The problem is if we only see the world through fear-tinted glasses, solutions to our problems will be based solely around this fear. And we could end up imprisoning ourselves for no good reason.
References:
  1. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. www.theatlantic.com
  3. www.apa.org

 

 
Janey Davies
 

 
 
About the Author: Janey Davies.
Janey Davies has been published online for over 8 years. She is the head writer for Shoppersbase.com, she also writes for AvecAgnes.co.uk, Ewawigs.com and has contributed to inside3DP.com. She has an Honours Degree in Psychology and her passions include learning about the mind, popular science and politics. When she is relaxing she likes to walk her dog, read science fiction and listen to Muse.
 
 
COPYRIGHT © 2020 LEARNING MIND. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. FOR PERMISSION TO REPRINT, CONTACT US.
 
 
 




Compiled by http://violetflame.biz.ly from: 

 
All articles are of the respective authors or publishers responsibility. 
 


 
No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


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publicado por achama às 18:09
Sábado, 18 / 04 / 20

Elderly Loneliness and Its 4 Causes and Effects

Elderly Loneliness and Its 4 Causes and Effects

Lottie Miles, M.A.

learning-mind.com

Posted April 17th, 2020.

 
.elderly loneliness causes effects

 


Loneliness can affect people at any stage of their lives. However, as we get older, the fundamentals of life and death mean we become more vulnerable to loneliness. From retirement to bereavement, ill health, and physical distance from loved ones, common causes of loneliness can mount up as we age.
But what do we mean when we talk about loneliness and social isolation? How bad is loneliness for your health? And what can we do to combat loneliness as we get older? In this post, we will explore the answers to these questions by looking at 4 causes and effects of elderly loneliness.

What do we mean by social isolation and loneliness?

By 75 and above, over 50% of people live alone. Some people may live alone far from their family and friends making it harder to have regular contact with them. Indeed, millions of older people living alone can go 5 or 6 days every week without seeing anyone.
The combination of these factors can usefully describe someone being isolated. However, being alone or isolated doesn’t necessarily mean we feel lonely. So what do we mean when we talk about loneliness?
Whilst being alone can certainly contribute to loneliness, it is still possible to feel lonely when engaged with others. As such, loneliness relates specifically to an emotional response we feel when our need for positive social contact isn’t met. We may also feel lonely if the people around us don’t understand us.
Loneliness is a universal feeling everyone has likely experienced at some time. When it comes to fighting loneliness, the important thing is having quality social contact with people.

4 Causes and Effects of Elderly Loneliness

Numerous studies have shown how social isolation and loneliness can be damaging to your health. For example, Holt-Lundstad’s 2010 study found that the combination of living alone, loneliness, and poor quality social connections is as bad for an individual’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
In a later study, they found loneliness increased the risk of death by 29%. Vlatorta, et. al’s 2016 paper found loneliness heightened the risk of dementia, depression, and heart disease.
Here, we outline 4 common causes of loneliness for elderly people. We also consider the effects of each of these causes and some strategies to overcome them.

1. Adjusting to retirement

Whilst retirement should be something we look forward to, many people find adjusting to it hard. From the routine provided by work, daily contact with different people, and a clear sense of direction. Work provides a structure for so much of our lives. When we give this up, we can feel lost, experience a loss of identity, and often have to learn how to combine more time with less money.
The effect of these challenges can lead people to feel lonely. However, new structures and routines can be built into retired life. Extra time, can also offer you the freedom to learn something new.
Learning new things or taking up an exercise class is known to be beneficial for a healthy mind. Finding new ways to engage with others in a meaningful way makes it easier to build quality social contact into your life.

2. Bereavement and loss of companionship

As we get older, more of the people we know and love die. The loss of a partner can cause chronic loneliness. People may also experience this if their partner’s health deteriorates and they have to be moved into a care home.
As we get older, we may also find ourselves living further away from our friends and less able to visit. Lifetime friends may have passed away, adding to a sense of loneliness. Nevertheless, there is value in nostalgia and a longing for the past, it is important and can be beneficial and even overcome loneliness.
Making new connections is a great way to overcome this cause of loneliness. Indeed, finding new passions, or re-igniting old ones, can help combat this cause of loneliness likely to affect us all at some point in our lives. From volunteering to dance, art, or anything else that interests you, by engaging with new people in different ways, we can find ways to cope with elderly loneliness caused by loss.

3. Issues with health

As we get older, we are more likely to experience ill health and mobility decline. Ill health and loss of mobility can make it physically difficult to socialize with others in ways we used to. As such, ill-health can itself be both a cause and effect of loneliness.
This can make it a challenge to distinguish the effects of ill health and mobility issues on social isolation and vice versa. Befriending schemes and intergenerational projects are a great way to help overcome this cause of elderly loneliness and social isolation.

4. Lack of transport

As well as often becoming less physically mobile as age, our ability to drive our own car can sadly be another cause of loneliness. For those living in rural areas, this is particularly challenging as they may not live anywhere near a bus route either. Often, one of our main modes of social contact is through leaving the home.
Therefore, losing the ability to head out can reduce social contact for people and cause them to feel lonely and isolated. Joining an online community can be helpful. It can allow you to discuss issues with your peers. You may also find you feel more connected without having to leave the home.
Loneliness does not discriminate. However, as we get older, we face many more challenges that increase the risk of us feeling lonely. Finding new ways to meaningfully connect with others is the best way to help us defend against the causes and effects of elderly loneliness.


 

 

Lottie Miles

 




 
About the Author: Lottie Miles


 
Lottie Miles is a professional researcher and writer with a passion for human rights. She has 4 years of experience working within the NGO sector and has a Masters Degree in Social Policy. She has a keen interest in exploring ways in which happiness habits can help to improve mental health and wellbeing. In her spare time, she likes doing crossword puzzles, painting and traveling.
 
Copyright © 2012-2020 Learning Mind. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint, contact us.
 



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No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


Please respect all credits.

 
Discernment is recommended.
 

All articles are of the respective authors and/or publishers responsibility. 


 

 

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publicado por achama às 20:02
Sábado, 04 / 04 / 20

How Will Coronavirus End? Here Are 4 Possible Scenarios.

How Will Coronavirus End? 

Here Are 4 Possible Scenarios.

Janey Davies, B.A.

https://www.learning-mind.com

April 3rd, 2020.

 
 

 
It seems as if we’ve been dealing with coronavirus for years. However, three short months ago, no one had even heard of COVID-19. Now, terms such as self-isolate, flatten the curve and social distancing are all common parlance. But do we know how coronavirus will end?

The Beginning, the Middle and the End of Coronavirus?

The beginning of coronavirus

To date, worldwide, there have been over 1 million cases of coronavirus and over 54,000 deaths. The United Nations says this is the biggest global emergency since WWII.
It is claimed that coronavirus started in a ‘wet market’ (a market that sells dead and live animals together) in Wuhan, China. A disease spreads rapidly in these types of conditions as the dead and live animals are densely packed. This makes hygiene extremely difficult to maintain and pandemics more likely.
All coronaviruses are viruses that cause disease in animals. Experts believe a bat carrying the COVID-19 virus infected some of the animals being sold in this wet market. This particular strain then made the jump to humans. It spreads via droplets when someone coughs or sneezes. These droplets then land on surfaces and remain, in some cases like metal, for up to 9 days.
We all know the rest of this grim story. The coronavirus has travelled around the world, infecting nearly every country. It has caused complete lockdowns, roads are silent, pollution is reducing and people are stockpiling and panic-buying.
We are now in the middle stages of the virus and still nowhere to knowing how it will end.

The Middle of Coronavirus

There were different reactions from the general public when the coronavirus first broke out. Some didn’t take it seriously and kept to their normal schedules. Others battened down their hatches and went on shopping sprees to stock up.
Now, everyone is aware of the risk to human health and governments across the world are taking drastic action to stop the spread. Shops that were a few weeks ago displaying empty shelves are gradually getting back to normal. People are, in the most part, self-isolating and adjusting to a new way of life.
So while the majority of us are simply riding out the storm and sticking to health guidelines, what are the experts saying with regards to a possible end to coronavirus?

How will coronavirus end?

Experts believe there are a number of scenarios that could herald the end of the coronavirus.
  1. Herd Immunity

We have heard a lot about herd immunity in the past couple of weeks. Herd immunity is where a number of people contract the virus, recover and then become immune. This creates a mass of people with immunity to the virus. The virus then struggles to find hosts it can infect and it naturally dies out.
The problem is the sheer cost of human lives. COVID-19 is deadlier than flu and infects more people. Allowing the coronavirus to freely infect with no restrictions would leave millions dead and many with life-changing conditions.
In fact, the UK initially considered herd immunity but rejected the idea as the consequences became clear.
  1. Seasonality

We could hold out for summer. Most coronaviruses tend to surface in the winter months and die out in the summer. This is because droplets react differently under hot and cold conditions.
A protective shell ‘houses‘ the virus. It is this shell that reacts with the environment. With COVID-19, the virus is protected by a fatty exterior. This is why washing with soap is so important because soap naturally dissolves this fatty exterior and the virus dies.
There are other factors that affect this fatty outer – heat and humidity.
“Much of the world is waiting anxiously to see what — if anything — the summer does to transmission in the Northern Hemisphere,” says Maia Majumder of Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital.
  1. Vaccine

There are many that think the coronavirus will not end until we find a vaccine. Up until then, we will just have to manage the virus as best we can. Keeping schools and businesses closed for the time being. Restricting movement amongst the general public, and enforcing social distancing and self-isolation for the vulnerable.
However, it takes a long time to produce a vaccine. We are used to making flu vaccines, adjusting them to fit the latest outbreak, but we’ve never had a coronavirus outbreak before. So we are starting from the drawing board.
Moreover, even if we create a vaccine that works, we’d still have to manufacture millions of them. And that takes time.
  1. Intermittent shutdowns

What is more likely to happen is that we see an ebb and flow of the coronavirus. There’s been a lot of talk about ‘flattening the curve’ to stop the spread.
But it’s possible that once this curve is sufficiently flattened, life will go back to some semblance of normality. Restrictions will be lifted and then suddenly there’s another outbreak. Then, it is likely that social distancing will be enforced again, but just for the local area that is affected.
What many experts are saying is that this will be the new normal. Restrictions will be lifted once the spread is under control. But if the virus reappears, we go back to isolating.

How is coronavirus affecting the economy?

Shutdowns affect many types of businesses. Obviously, this has a major effect on the economy. So who will survive and will our economy change? Well, it all depends on how that particular country has dealt with the coronavirus. For instance:
If a country fails to halt the broad spread of the virus, then the healthcare system will collapse. The pandemic will continue to rise, leading to a prolonged downturn in the economy.
Prepared countries that show a rapid and strong response to the virus are going to control it within a few months. This means there will be some damage to the economy, but the trend will be for long-term growth.
Obviously, there are some industries that may never fully recover.

Worst hit industries

The coronavirus has hit the travel industry very hard.  In some cases, airlines may have to file for bankruptcy. Car manufacturers are also struggling. There has been a 10% drop in sales since the outbreak. Closed for the foreseeable future are hotels, restaurants and many small businesses.

Who will be most affected by the coronavirus?

Experts predict it is the poor and people on low incomes that will suffer the most. They are more likely to have chronic health conditions anyway and have to manage on smaller incomes. Then there’s the effect on a nation’s mental health. Vulnerable people are told to have no contact at a time they most need a visit or a cuddle to reassure them.
Elderly people will face more loneliness as social distancing becomes the new normal. Racial attacks increase thanks to the virus being known as the ‘Chinese Virus’.
Already incidences of domestic violence and child abuse are rising as people struggle to maintain civil relationships stuck in the house with one another.
And who knows whether those who have contracted the virus will be welcomed back into their communities when this is all over?

Can any good come out of the coronavirus?

For the first time in many people’s lives, we are seeing remarkable acts of kindness. But also a recognition of the vulnerable and the elderly.
No longer is it deemed a badge of honour to go to work if you are sick. Neither is it a stigma to have to go on benefits. Parents are spending quality time with their kids. Communities are pulling together. Businesses are repurposing their equipment to make safety gear for hospitals.
Day in and day out we applaud the NHS for its sterling work for tackling the virus. So yes, this virus has led to a reawakening of what’s important in life and what is not.

Final Thoughts

No one can really know how the coronavirus will end, but perhaps we can take this time to help people wherever we are able to.
References:
  1. medium.com
  2. www.livescience.com
  3. www.theguardian.com


Janey Davies



About the Author: Janey Davies.
Janey Davies has been published online for over 8 years. She is the head writer for Shoppersbase.com, she also writes for AvecAgnes.co.uk, Ewawigs.com and has contributed to inside3DP.com. She has an Honours Degree in Psychology and her passions include learning about the mind, popular science and politics. When she is relaxing she likes to walk her dog, read science fiction and listen to Muse.
 
 
COPYRIGHT © 2019 LEARNING MIND. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. FOR PERMISSION TO REPRINT, CONTACT US.
 
 
 



Compiled by http://violetflame.biz.ly from: 

Archives:



No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


Please respect all credits.

 
Discernment is recommended.
 

All articles are of the respective authors and/or publishers responsibility. 




 

Like this! please bookmark. It is updated daily

 


 
 
 
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publicado por achama às 03:54
Terça-feira, 31 / 03 / 20

A Powerful Lesson Coronavirus Pandemic Teaches Our Society

A Powerful Lesson Coronavirus Pandemic Teaches Our Society

By Anna LeMind, M.A.

March 30th, 2020

what coronavirus pandemic teaches us.

 

 

Coronavirus pandemic is spreading at a terrifyingly threatening pace. Every single day, it counts dozens of thousands of new cases and a growing number of deaths worldwide.
We still don’t have enough information about the novel virus COVID-19. But it seems that no one is safe. Coronavirus doesn’t make distinctions when it comes to a patient’s age, sex or socioeconomic status. Even young and healthy people can possibly develop severe symptoms and even die.
But every crisis teaches us important lessons, and the coronavirus crisis is no exception. And one of the most powerful lessons we should learn from the pandemic of COVID-19 is about what kind of people and lifestyles we are glorifying as a society.

The Culture of Consumerism and Showbiz

We all know very well that our society is based on consumerism. It means that to make this society and economy work, we as citizens need to constantly consume different goods and services.
The most important word here is constantly. Society uses a set of tools to make us believe that we need to buy more, newer and better stuff all the time.
“Wait, you have a two-year-old iPhone? What a shame, you need to immediately get yourself a new one because [list features here]!”
To keep the economic cycles running, we need to participate in the endless circle of consumption. But do we really need to buy all that stuff that gets advertised so persistently?
And this is where the second component of consumer society comes into play. The media and showbiz. Their function is to distract us from the truth and to destroy every seed of critical thought in our minds.
With such a huge choice of TV shows, series, movies and sports programs we have today, we keep ourselves constantly busy. More precisely, we keep our minds busy. We continuously consume useless information in the same way we consume unnecessary products. As a result, our minds stay occupied with insignificant, superficial stuff and safe from analysis and deep thought.
And this way, we remain unconscious enough to keep the never-ending cycle of consumption going. Because without critical thinking, it’s impossible to wake up and see the truth.

The Role Models of Today

To maintain this mindset, our society is glorifying all types of vanity and shallowness. Thus, the role models of today’s society are people like actors, pop singers, sports players and TV personalities.
Just think about it. How often do you see news about inventors, doctors or scientists on TV or web? And how much information is there about celebrities and media personalities? And I’m not even talking about the unthinkable gap between the incomes of famous people and regular salaries. I’m just talking about the attention each category gets.

What Is Coronavirus Pandemic Doing to Our Society?

Coronavirus pandemic has changed all this for now. With more and more countries taking social distancing measures, economic activity has gone dramatically down. Restaurants, malls and outlets are closing and thus, excessive consumerism decreases too. Concerts, movie production and sports events are canceled, and the whole showbiz industry is basically put on hold.
And guess what? Nothing has really changed now when soccer players and actors sit at home. But imagine what would happen if doctors or community workers suddenly stopped doing their job? No one would be there to save your life, deliver electric power to your home or collect your trash. This would be a real disaster for everyone.
Coronavirus pandemic shows us the real value of underestimated professions. The real power of ordinary people. Everyday deeds and self-sacrifice of those whose income is multiple times lower than that of showbiz personalities.
Doctors and nurses all over the world work unimaginable shifts, risking their own health and lives for the sake of saving other people. They are the real heroes who hold humanity’s future in their hands. The photos below show the exhausted faces of Chinese doctors and convey this message in a more powerful way than words ever could.
 
Salute! Photos of frontline doctors and nurses taking off their masks during short breaks in their fight against the novel #coronavirus moved millions of netizens across China.

View image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on Twitter

1,101 people are talking about this
 
 
 

Our Society Needs to Reconsider Its Values

Maybe coronavirus pandemic is here to teach human society a few lessons. We should finally stop glorifying shallow and narcissistic personalities. People who make unreal amounts of money on drama, show and stupidity. Those who care about nothing but drawing attention to themselves.
Instead, we should appreciate individuals who save lives and make society work without getting any recognition. These invisible heroes self-sacrifice so that we can continue our daily lives. And they are the only true heroes in our world who are worth glorifying.

In conclusion, I would like to thank everyone who is working in these uneasy times. You can’t imagine how important you are. Thank you and stay safe.

 

Anna LeMind
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author: Anna LeMind

Anna is the founder and lead editor of the website Learning-mind.com. She is passionate about learning new things and reflecting on thought-provoking ideas. She writes about science, psychology and other related topics. She is particularly interested in topics regarding introversion, consciousness and subconscious, perception, human mind's potential, as well as the nature of reality and the universe.
 

Copyright © 2012-2019 Learning Mind. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint, contact us.
 



Compiled by http://violetflame.biz.ly from: 

Archives:
 
 
 


 
 

 
No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


Please respect all credits.
 
 
Discernment is recommended.
 
 
All articles are of the respective authors and/or publishers responsibility. 



 

Like this! please bookmark. It is updated daily

 


 
 
 
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publicado por achama às 17:33
Sábado, 21 / 03 / 20

5 George Orwell’s 1984 Quotes That Ring a Bell in Society Today.

 

5 George Orwell’s 1984 Quotes That Ring a Bell in Society Today.

Sherrie Hurd

learning-mind.com

Posted March 21st, 2020.

 
 


 
 
 
The world hasn’t changed a great deal and yet, it has. George Orwell’s 1984 quotes can still apply to the political and social norms of today.
 
George Orwell, also known as Eric Author Blair, wrote his famous novel ‘1984‘ as a way of shedding light on totalitarianism, or total authoritarianism. He strove to oust the “hidden” political and social agendas of his time. Does this sound familiar? Well, it should. Quotes by George Orwell that can be found in 1984 still make sense in our society today.
 
Are we paying attention?
 
The truth is many situations that we’re going through now mirror the truths of Orwell’s lifetime. While 1984 was written in 1949, we can still relate to many of the truths and ideas now. And the truth is, we are never really alone and free from the eyes of “Big Brother”. Don’t believe me? Read on.
 
Most remarkable George Orwell quotes from 1984:
 
1. “Big Brother is watching you”
 
Speaking of truths, here’s a quote getting straight to the point that you never really have any freedom or privacy at all. This quote simply means that you are always under surveillance, and every move you make is controlled by the government. In Orwell’s book, 1984, this quote is a warning not to oppose the government. It reminded society that they were always seen, no matter how inconspicuous their actions.
 
Just the other day, a certain social site on the internet started taking down posts, flagging them as threatening or against the site’s policies. Many of these posts were about the Covid19 virus sweeping across the globe. After many complaints, the post bans stopped. Could it be? Was “Big Brother” watching us and becoming disappointed by our truths? Think about it.
 
2. “You’re only a rebel from the waist downwards”
 
In the novel, Orwell’s main character Winston is in love with a woman named Julia. They are rebelling against the state, the totalitarian structure of their world. While Winston is intellectual, striving to not only rebel but also to make changes and open the minds of others, Julia is simply rebellious for her own sake alone.
 
In simple terms, maybe Julia is happy to run from the state but not aware enough to go as far as Winston when it comes to free-thinking, which I might add is subjective. After all, even the thoughts of society are meant to be monitored through subtle manipulation.
 
Only being a rebel from the waist down takes no intellectual rebellion, and Julia laughs away Winston’s words which further prove their relationship will never work. These same situations and relationships exist today and affect little to no change.
 
3. “Until they become conscious, they will never rebel”
 
Here’s another example of Julia’s condition, and a great example of the “stuck” people in our world now. It seems Winston talks about people as if they are asleep, and in a way they are. Not being conscious of what’s really going on is like not being awake at all. Everything you see, hear, and experience is a dream. It’s not real, and yet you’ve been trained to see reality as it appears.
 
Until you wake from the dream and become conscious of the whole truth, you will never rebel against the lies you’re being sold. Your brainwashed condition will continue to be your blissful and ignorant reality. Can you see it, just a little glimmer of the truth?
 
I’m sorry to tell you, but Orwell knew all too well how we would be existing today. So many of us would be unconscious and thus, marching right along to the same comforting beat.
 
4. “For the first time he perceived that if you want to keep a secret, you must also keep it from yourself”
 
I think this rings true through all time. Although we think we can keep a secret, we can only successfully keep that secret if we also keep it from ourselves. In other words, we must believe the lies we tell ourselves and pretend we do not know the things that have been told to us in confidence.
 
This means separating one part of yourself from the other as if the part of you that functions through day to day life doesn’t know the secret. In a way, it’s like turning a blind eye to the truth.
 
5. “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength”
 
It seems that Orwell understood all too well the extent of our brainwashing. The state coaxed society, in the novel 1984, to believe the opposite of the truth. Even today, we see waging war as bringing about peace. We see freedom as this strange liberty of keeping others under oppression for our “safety”.
 
We also see the act of staying ignorant as a strength. When in truth, we are afraid to know what really happens when we believe the other way around. When we follow these three lies, we follow the majority and lose sight of the truth completely.
Are we reliving 1984?
 
1984 quotes by George Orwell remind us that we may indeed be basically the same drones that we were in his time. It’s depressing to think that instead of thinking for ourselves, we bow to strict authoritarian rule. The scariest part is that we’re not even aware that we’re doing so.
 
I’m not saying we should all run out and rebel, riot and cause mass disturbances. On the contrary, I think we should simply wake up and realize the truth of our situation. Little by little, as we awaken, maybe we can cause some small changes in our world today. At least we can have a bit more hope and strength knowing we’re not just insane and imagining these ideas.
 
Just two words I leave for you today. Stay awake!
 
 
References:
  1. https://www.goodreads.com
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org


 

Sherrie Hurd


 

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No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


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publicado por achama às 21:08
Domingo, 15 / 03 / 20

Known Unknowns vs Unknown Unknowns: Two Sides of Ignorance

Known Unknowns vs Unknown Unknowns:  

Two Sides of Ignorance.

Janey Davies.

https://www.learning-mind.com

March 15th, 2020.

 
known unknowns unknown unknowns.
 
 
 
If I asked you how a CD worked, how confident would you feel in explaining it to me? Let’s say from 1-10? A 7, 8 perhaps? Okay, go on then, explain it, but in so much detail that I completely understand. Not so confident now? We’re talking about a phenomenon called known unknowns and unknown unknowns.
What are known unknowns and unknown unknowns?
 
Don’t worry, it sounds complicated and a bit confusing, but it really isn’t. It’s all about ignorance and how we perceive our knowledge to be of something.
 
I want to give you some more examples of known unknowns vs unknown unknowns before I explain this further.
  1. Can you explain how a zipper works?
  2. How about a tape recorder?
  3. How does a toilet flush?
  4. Can you draw a bicycle?
  5. Could you explain space travel to me?
  6. How does a neurosurgeon work on the brain?
 
You probably feel quite confident in your ability to answer the first four but pass on the last two. In fact, studies show that we are actually quite ignorant when it comes to everyday things.
 
We like to think we know more than we do, but we don’t. And this is where known unknowns and unknown unknowns come into play.
 
We are quite happy to admit we are not rocket scientists or that we couldn’t perform brain surgery, but the simple things in life? We like to think we know everything we need to know.
What is the difference between known unknowns and unknown unknowns?
 
Known unknowns

Known unknowns are the things we know we don’t know about, if that makes sense. Like space travel, brain surgery, how self-driving cars work. We know we need to research these topics to learn more about them. But the important thing is we also know that we’re not really expected to know about things as complicated as rocket science.

Unknown unknowns

Now, unknown unknowns are the things we think we should know about, but we actually don’t. Like, how a bicycle works or what makes a toilet flush.
These are the simple, everyday things in life we take for granted and assume we know how they function. But we don’t. But we don’t know we don’t. The important thing with unknown unknowns is that we think we are expected to know about them.

Why do we sometimes wildly overestimate our intelligence?

It’s called the illusion of explanatory depth.
“Most people feel they understand the world with far greater detail, coherence, and depth than they really do.” Leonid Rozenblit and Frank Keil (2002)
Rozenblit and Keil conducted multi-phase studies to test the illusion of explanatory depth (IOED).
In the first phase, they asked participants to rate how well they understood the workings of objects such as sewing machines, mobile phones or bicycles.
In the second phase, they were asked to explain in a detailed report of how each object worked. They then re-rated their understanding of how each one worked. The results showed again and again that their confidence in understanding the workings of an object fell drastically from phase one to two.
In another study, Rebecca Lawson asked participants to draw a bicycle in her Science of Cycology report. Some of the results are featured below:
known unknowns unknown unknowns
In fact, it doesn’t matter whether we are talking about the workings of objects or scientific theories or the stock market. IOED is this pervasive feeling we know more than we do.

Why do we accept that some things are beyond our knowledge whilst others are not?

We don’t need to know how things work

The main reason for the ignorance of our own ignorance is that we don’t need to know how everyday things work. They just do. Generations that came before us invented them and they have been in our lives for decades.We are used to seeing them wherever we go. They are part and parcel of the fabric of life. Thanks to others, we haven’t had to invent them; we just use them. So there’s no need for us to know the ins and outs of the workings of a toaster or a bicycle.
I liken it a little to spellcheck. Sure, we could learn every difficult word there is in the world by heart, but why bother? Our computers have spellcheck, so we don’t need to make the effort to learn. But we wouldn’t call ourselves stupid because of this.
It’s the same with gadgets, theories or mechanics.
Now, more than ever, thanks to search engines and sharing information, we can find out a lot more than our predecessors. We can look things up on Google, share content but more importantly, build on what our previous generations have already made.
And we don’t need to know how things work to be able to do this.

Sharing knowledge makes us think we are smart

The other thing about our generation compared to previous ones is that by sharing information, we give ourselves the illusion of knowledge.
If I asked you why the planets are round, or what causes gravity, you wouldn’t throw your hands up in the air with despair. You’d look it up and tell me the answer.It’s this instant access to knowledge that gives us all expert status when we are not experts. But the lines are blurred. And we certainly don’t consider ourselves to be stupid when we can research the answer.
But it’s not just this kind of instant access to information that gives us IOED, it’s the way we consume this knowledge.
We skim the top of news items, we click on salacious headlines for the juicy parts of a story, and we allow tweets to inform us of global political moves. We tap into viral videos, we listen to soundbites and agree with memes.
This is a superficial way of ingesting knowledge. We never really deep dive into a topic. As a result, we know a lot of stuff, but not in that much detail. In other words, we know a little bit about a lot.

Why the Illusion of Explanatory Depth Is Dangerous

When we believe we know more than we actually do, it can lead us to prejudice without us even knowing.
One study tackled how understanding people and IOED could help reduce political extremism. In 2013, Philip Fernbach et al asked participants to rate how well they understood a range of policies such as:
  • A national flat-rate tax
  • A single-payer healthcare system
  • A cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions
Participants were then asked to explain in detail how each one worked. Afterwards, they had to re-rate their knowledge on the subjects. As expected, their confidence fell after they were asked to fully describe the policies.
But here’s the interesting part, as their confidence fell, so did their extreme views on the policies. Those that either strongly opposed or supported the policies became more moderate in their views. And as their views became more moderate, so did their reluctance to fund these policies also reduce.
This study is an example of how IOED could be used to encourage a more moderate approach to political extremism.
I always use this example to show how people always think they are right, if for no other reason than it makes you think about the other side. Amaryllis Fox was a former undercover officer for the CIA and has met a lot of opposing factions in her time.
“If I’ve learned one lesson from my time with the CIA, it is this: Everybody believes they are the good guy,” CIA Officer Fox

Final thoughts

We can’t possibly know everything and we can’t always be right. Understanding that we are all susceptible to IOED could lead to a more empathetic world for all of us.
 
References:




Janey Davies

 





About the Author: Janey Davies.
Janey Davies has been published online for over 8 years. She is the head writer for Shoppersbase.com, she also writes for AvecAgnes.co.uk, Ewawigs.com and has contributed to inside3DP.com. She has an Honours Degree in Psychology and her passions include learning about the mind, popular science and politics. When she is relaxing she likes to walk her dog, read science fiction and listen to Muse.
 
 
COPYRIGHT © 2019 LEARNING MIND. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. FOR PERMISSION TO REPRINT, CONTACT US.
 
 
 



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No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


Please respect all credits.

 
Discernment is recommended.
 

All articles are of the respective authors and/or publishers responsibility. 




 

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publicado por achama às 20:03
Segunda-feira, 09 / 03 / 20

What Is the Mind-Body Problem in the Philosophy of Mind?

What Is the Mind-Body Problem in the Philosophy of Mind?

Alexander Nyland

https://www.learning-mind.com/

March 7th, 2020.


 

 
The mind-body problem is one of the most famous issues within philosophical discussion. It has been a point of argument and deep interest for philosophers throughout history. The mind-body problem was addressed by Buddhism and the ancient Greeks, all the way through to Rene Descartes and beyond.
 
But why is this a matter of interest and why is it important? Here we will look at the answers to these questions, how it can make us think deeper about our existence, but also how this issue concerns us on a more personal level. However, firstly we must understand what the mind-body problem is.
 
What is the mind-body problem?
 
The fundamental premise of this problem is the idea of whether the mind and body are two separate entities, or whether they are the same and interconnected in some way. Should we treat them as the same thing or is one in charge of the other? More generally, it is the discussion between the relationship of the mind and the body, or the affiliation between mental attributes and physical attributes.
 
This, in turn, leads to many other questions that build on this issue. These questions are an integral part of philosophical discussion and concerns about our existence.
 
For example, what is the self and how is it related to the mind and the body? Are our bodies just housing our minds? What does it mean for a body to belong to a certain subject? Do mental states affect physical states and vice versa? Is our being composed of mental facets and physical facets, or are we just consciousness and nothing else?
 
As you can see, the mind-body problem isn’t a simple matter. No wonder philosophers have grappled with it throughout history. Many strands of thought and theories have tried to make sense of the relationship between the mind and the body. They each give their take on it.
 
Hence, there are many different ideas about what makes up our existence as a whole. Two approaches are the most common among those: Dualism and Monism.
 
Dualism and Monism
 
The main difference between these two theoretical approaches to the mind-body problem is that dualism holds a clear distinction between the two – between mental and the physical, between the immaterial and the material. At the same time, monism holds the idea that there is only one single reality to which everything can be explained – the two are indistinguishable, they are one entity.
 
But what does this mean? It will help to look at each idea in more detail:
 
Dualism
 
We can understand dualism when recognising humans being made up of two different parts: one nonphysical (the mind) and one physical (the body/brain). These two things exist separately. They are not one whole subject.
 
 
The theory posits that both the mental and physical realms exist. However, they cannot be integrated. They are two separate cogs in a machine. They can work together but nevertheless are two distinguishable, individual entities. Rene Descartes is among the most well-known to believe in such a position through what is called Cartesian dualism (but that’s for another time).
 
This is easy enough to understand. We can often recognise that our minds can act differently to our bodies.
 
This could be in an obvious sense where our bodies may be frail in old age, but our minds are still as sharp as they were many years ago. Our bodies may become ill, by no fault of our own, but our minds may be still healthy (and vice versa). Our body has its system that works on its own; it is involuntary, whereas our mind can initiate voluntary actions.
 
You get the idea. This hopefully demonstrates what the essence of dualism is. It is perhaps more concrete and black and white than its counterpart though, and it’s easy to see why.
 
Monism
 
Monism takes the opposite perspective. It tries to refute the existence and distinction of these two separate entities and treats them as one phenomenon. It is a concept of singleness. Mind and matter are not two different states; they are both part of one overriding form.
 
We can see this through two types of monism: materialism and idealism. Materialism expresses the belief that nothing exists except the physical world. This means nothing exists apart from physical matter (in this case the brain and the body). This also considers consciousness as simply something that the brain does (an action or a function).
 
Idealism says that nothing exists apart from the nonphysical world. Physical objects are derivable and are just a product of our mental capacities. Perhaps the most famous advocate of this is the philosopher George Berkley (or Bishop Berkley). He argued that everything we perceive in the physical world, including our bodies, is just a projection of our mind.
 
 
The distinction is clear enough. Either our minds and bodies are two separate things that act independently from one another, or they co-exist together in some capacity in one single entity(e.g. consciousness, if taking the monist stance). This demonstrates how varied philosophical thought is when arguing about the mind-body problem.
 
However, for those of us who aren’t philosophers, it perhaps isn’t the point to advocate a particular position or choose a certain side when considering this issue. Rather we should use it as a means to help us engage with philosophy and help us think about our existence on a deeper level.
 
Why is the mind-body problem important?
 
You might wonder what the importance of such an ambiguous concept might be, or what use it is to us to even ponder on a matter like this. It can do two things for us: help us generate discussion about our existence on a general level and can also affect how we judge ourselves on a personal level.
 
The mind-body problem can engage us with the most deeply held concerns within philosophy about what the nature of our existence is. Are we physical beings inhabiting a physical world? Or, do we exist on a mental level where our minds are the only true entities and everything else is just a projection of our consciousness?
 
This all may seem broad and convoluted. But at its root, it is a major pathway to trying to understand the reality and our place in it. Encouraging this endeavour can only be a positive thing for society and us.
 
Viewing this issue on a personal level can also put a different spin on the subject.
 
One of the major enigmas we face in life is the struggle to understand or handle the conflict between our minds and our bodies. Perhaps how people view us on the outside, by our appearance and our projected character, is starkly different from how we may feel inside our mind.
 
The way we look or how others perceive us may sadly and unwantedly become engrained in our identity. However, we are still unsettled in our psyche when we know this not to be true.
 
Should we view our minds and bodies as part of the same parcel? Or is it healthier to have the awareness that what is depicted in someone’s exterior may be false, with the true nature of our being lying in our minds and our thoughts?
 
These ideas are less of a theoretical approach to the issue and more of an emotional angle that concerns our well-being. Nevertheless, it just demonstrates further the different ways we can consider the mind-body problem. In whatever way or capacity we choose to do so, it can only be for the betterment and benefit of ourselves.
 
 

References:
  1. https://plato.stanford.edu
  2. https://www.iep.utm.edu
 

 

Alexander

 

 

 
COPYRIGHT © 2019 LEARNING MIND. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. FOR PERMISSION TO REPRINT, CONTACT US.




About the Author: Alexander Nyland

 
Alexander Nyland is an avid writer, blogger and traveller with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Philosophy, graduating in 2018 from the University of Sheffield. His particular focus and interests in his studies included Film and Ancient Greek philosophy. Alex has always been fascinated by art, culture and philosophy and believes they are an integral and important part of all of our lives. He has his own blog, thefilmpheed.com, which discusses these subjects and their role in our lives and society in-depth.
 
 
 


Compiled by http://violetflame.biz.ly from: 



No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


Please respect all credits.

 
Discernment is recommended.
 

All articles are of the respective authors and/or publishers responsibility. 
 
 
 
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publicado por achama às 01:45
Domingo, 23 / 02 / 20

The Last Words of Stephen Hawking Addressed to Humanity

 

The Last Words of Stephen Hawking Addressed to Humanity.

Sherrie Hurd.

learning-mind.com

Posted February 22nd, 2020.

 
 
 
 
For those who haven’t read Stephen Hawking’s latest and final book, I’m here to share his last words and a few of his ideas about humanity.
 
Words from one of the earth’s greatest minds still astound us. Stephen Hawking’s last book, Brief Answers to the Big Questions was published by The Sunday Times right before his death in March of 2018.
 
 
It brings us a collection of essays that tackle some of the deepest questions we may muse about every day. After Stephen Hawking’s death and the publication of his book, many people are still astounded by the words of this genius.
The big questions
 
Some of the biggest questions are discussed in his books – questions like whether we are really alone in this universe, including the existence of God, and many questions about artificial intelligence, and our future as we move forward in this area.
 
One of is main concerns is humanity itself and how long we shall survive on our planet. Hawking believes within 1000 years, either a nuclear or environmental disaster will affect the earth, but maybe humans will be able to leave the earth and survive. However, he believes we shall have many other obstacles to encounter long before the end of our planet.
 
Hawking sees the rise of artificial intelligence as a real possible threat, and definitely the threat of asteroids, which can also destroy many regions of the world.
Engineered DNA
 
One of the lesser talked about subjects is about “Superhumans” created by the CRISPR-cas9, a gene-editing tool. It seems we’ve skipped Darwinian evolution, and went straight to engineering ourselves, improving our own DNA. It stands to wonder what will happen to those who are not “superhumans”.
 
 
“There is no time to wait for Darwinian evolution to make us more intelligent and better natured. Humans are now entering a new phase of what might be called self-designed evolution, in which we will be able to change and improve our DNA,” Hawking writes.
 
Hawking figured that those who aren’t “gifted” with this superhuman DNA, will either die out or become unimportant. The intelligence altered humans will span out and populate other areas of the universe.
 
Stephen Hawking’s thoughts on God
 
Clearly, Hawking doesn’t believe in a God of the universe, unless, of course, if this God is considered science. Hawking is an atheist and also included in Westminster Abbey in Science Corner with the likes of Newton and Darwin.
 
Of course, Hawking had many ideas for climate change as well. He believed thatfusion power is the answer. It’s clean energy which can be used to power electric cars. This energy source could be used without causing global warming. It wouldn’t become a culprit of pollution either.
 
The future of humanity
 
While one of our greatest minds may be passed on, his beliefs and ideas about our future seem to be falling into place already. Who knows how close his predictions for humanity will be. Thanks to many great minds, like Stephen Hawking, we get a glimpse into the future and a look at what we may become.
 
Thank you, sir, for sharing your intelligence with the rest of us.
 
 

 

Sherrie Hurd



Image credit: Stephen Hawking is giving a lecture for NASA’s 50th anniversary/NASA

 

 

Copyright © 2012-2020 Learning Mind. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint, contact us. 

 

 

 



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No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


Please respect all credits.

 
Discernment is recommended.
 

All articles are of the respective authors and/or publishers responsibility. 


 

 

Like this! please bookmark. It is updated daily

 


 
 
 
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publicado por achama às 04:39
Terça-feira, 31 / 12 / 19

Vincent Van Gogh Biography: The Sad Story of His Life and His Amazing Art

Alexander Nyland

https://www.learning-mind.com/

December 30th, 2019.


 
This article will be a brief Vincent Van Gogh biography that will tell the story of his life and his art. You will most likely have heard of Van Gogh as he is one of the most well-known, popular and influential figures in post-impressionist and modern art.
 
Nevertheless, he remained unknown and unappreciated in his lifetime but achieved massive success after his death. This biography of Vincent Van Gogh will cover these aspects as well as much more. Van Gogh’s life and story is as famous as his art, so what will we specifically examine in this biography of this great painter?
 
What We Will Explore in This Vincent Van Gogh Biography
 
Here you can read about Van Gogh’s early life, his various occupations up until deciding to become an artist, his difficult career as an artist, his health and mental and physical decline up until his death and his legacy thereafter.
 
Therefore, we will explore two key components of his life: firstly, his unsuccessful and unappreciated life and career tragically plagued with bouts of mental illness and loneliness, and secondly, the incredible rise to fame after his death and the influence and legacy he left behind.
 
It is a deeply sad, mournful, yet astonishing story of a man whose life and work has reverberated so intensely through the generations, and it’s easy to see why.
 
Early Life
 
Vincent Van Gogh was born in Zundert, The Netherlands, in 1853. He was the oldest son of a pastor, Reverend Theodorus Van Gogh, and had three sisters and two brothers. One brother, Theo, would prove to be an integral part of his career as an artist and in his life – this will be re-visited later on.
 
At age 15, he left school to work at an art dealership firm in The Hague due to his family’s financial struggles. This job allowed him to travel and took him to London and Paris, where he especially fell in love with English culture. However, after some time, he lost interest in his work and left, which lead him to find another occupation.
 
 
Self-portrait, 1887
 
He then became a teacher at a Methodists boys school in England and also as a preacher at the congregation. Van Gogh had after all come from a devoutly religious family, but it wasn’t until now that he considered having this as a career and dedicating his life to God. However, his ambition and attempts to pursue such a life proved short-lived.
 
He trained to become a minister but was denied entry to the School of Theology in Amsterdam after refusing to take the Latin exams, scuppering his chances of becoming a minister.
 
Soon after, he chose to volunteer in the poor mining community in Borinage, southern Belgium.
 
This is where he immersed himself in the culture and integrated with the people of the community. He preached and ministered to the impoverished and also drew pictures of the people who lived there. Yet, the evangelical committees disapproved of his conduct in this role despite what would seem to be noble work. As a result, he had to leave and find another occupation.
 
Then Van Gogh believed he had found his calling in life – to become a painter.
 
Career as an Artist
 
At the age of 27, in the year of 1880, he decided to become an artist. Theo, his younger brother, would provide him with financial support throughout his endeavours to become successful and respected in his field.
 
 
Portrait of Theo van Gogh, 1887
 
He moved around various locations, teaching himself the craft. He lived briefly in Drenthe and Nuenen painting the landscapes of these places, still life and depicting the lives of the people within them.
 
In 1886, he moved in with his brother in Paris. It was here where he became exposed to the full inspiration of modern and impressionist art with the work of many prominent painters of the time, for example, Claude Monet. This would prove to be very important to Van Gogh’s development as an artist and matured his style.
 
He then moved to Arles in southern France with his new-found inspiration and confidence about his choice of career. Over the next year, he produced many paintings, including the well-known series of ‘Sunflowers’. The subjects that he painted during this time; views of the town, the landscape, self-portraits, portraits, nature, and of course sunflowers, helped produce many of the famous and iconic artwork from Van Gogh that hangs in galleries and museums around the world.
 
Van Gogh would paint with great ferocity and speed in an attempt to map the mood and feelings he had on the canvas whilst he was feeling it.
 
The expressive, energetic and intense contours and colours of the paintings of this period demonstrate this. And it is not hard to recognise this when standing in front of one of these works – many of which are considered to be his masterpieces.
 
He had dreams that other artists would join him in Arles where they would live and work together. Part of this vision may have become to materialise when Paul Gaunguin, a post-impressionist painter, came to join him in October 1888. However, the relationship between the two was tense and became toxic. Van Gogh and Gaunguin argued all the time, partly because they had different and opposing ideas. One night, Gaunguin eventually walked out.
 
Enraged, and slipping into a psychotic episode, Van Gogh took hold of a razor and cut off his ear. This was one of the first explicit signs of his deteriorating mental health, something that would only become worse.
 
 
Self-portrait with bandaged ear, 1889
 
Mental Health and Decline
 
He spent much of the remainder of his life hospitalised. After bouts of depression and hospitalisation, he was finally admitted to Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in 1889. He would uncontrollably alternate between crushing depression and times of intense artistic activity. When he felt well enough, he would go outside and paint the surroundings. Thus, he reflected the eclectic and powerful mix of colours that he could see.
 
In 1890, Van Gogh moved to Auvers, north of Paris, to rent a room and become a patient of Dr. Paul Gachet. Van Gogh had been hopelessly unlucky in his love life. He experienced next to no success as an artist. Finally, he was incredibly lonely up until this point. Tragically, he was unable to overcome his crippling depression.
 
One morning, Van Gogh went out to paint carrying a pistol with him. He shot himself in the chest, was taken to hospital and died two days later in his brother’s arms.
 
Legacy of Vincent Van Gogh and What We Can Learn from His Biography
 
Theo was suffering from ill health and was also further weakened by his brother’s death. He also died six months later.
 
This biography shows the painful and grievous life that Vincent Van Gogh had to endure. This is made all the more tragic when considering that he was unknown during his lifetime. But his legacy now remains and we know him as one of the greatest artists of all time. So how did this legacy come about?
Theo’s wife, Johanna, was an admirer and an ardent supporter of his work.
 
She collected as many of his paintings as she could. Johanna arranged for 71 of Van Gogh’s paintings to be displayed at a show in Paris on March 17, 1901. As a result, his fame grew enormously and was finally hailed as an artistic genius. His legacy was now ensured.
 
Johanna also published the letters that were sent between Vincent and his brother Theo after his worldwide fame was established. These letters give words to Van Gogh’s story and charter his struggles as an artist whilst Theo financially aided him. They strikingly give an insight into Van Gogh’s thoughts and feelings throughout this period. These letters give a deeply personal look at the artist’s own beliefs, desires and struggles. Finally, they allow us to gain a profound understanding of the man behind the art.
 
 
Wheatfield with Crows, Van Gogh’s last painting, 1890
 
Van Gogh is widely considered to be a genius and created many masterpieces.
 
Still, the story of his tragic life may have fueled his reputation and propelled him to the revered and honoured status he has today.
 
 
Nevertheless, his work has undoubtedly influenced the field of expressionism in modern art. And of course, it has massively influenced modern art as a whole. Van Gogh’s work has sold for record-breaking amounts of money across the world. His artworks are featured in many major art galleries in many countries.
 
His unrecognition and his struggles with mental health (documented in the correspondence between him and his brother) depict him as the classic tortured artist that has become dramatised and mythologised in modern times. But this should not distract us from his masterful work. Knowledge of his life only heightens the impact of his art and contributes the accolade of being one of the greatest painters to have ever lived.
 
 
References:
  1. https://www.biography.com
  2. https://www.britannica.com

 
 
Alexander
 
 
 

COPYRIGHT © 2019 LEARNING MIND. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. FOR PERMISSION TO REPRINT, CONTACT US.




About the Author: Alexander Nyland

 
Alexander Nyland is an avid writer, blogger and traveller with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Philosophy, graduating in 2018 from the University of Sheffield. His particular focus and interests in his studies included Film and Ancient Greek philosophy. Alex has always been fascinated by art, culture and philosophy and believes they are an integral and important part of all of our lives. He has his own blog, thefilmpheed.com, which discusses these subjects and their role in our lives and society in-depth.
 
 
 


Compiled by http://violetflame.biz.ly from: 



No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


Please respect all credits.

 
Discernment is recommended.
 

All articles are of the respective authors and/or publishers responsibility. 
 
 
 
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publicado por achama às 06:26
Sexta-feira, 29 / 11 / 19

What Is Perennial Philosophy and How It Can Open Your Mind

Alexander Nyland

https://www.learning-mind.com/

November 27th, 2019.

 
 


 
Perennial philosophy is a strand of philosophical thought prevalent in culture since the Renaissance. It became popularised in the 20th century where these ideas became widespread across academia and society.
 
Perennial philosophy is a viewpoint that provides an interesting outlook on the practice of many religious faiths. It is a source of valuable insight for some, whether this is understanding or grappling with the varying religious teachings that inhabit our communities.
 
However, before we explore how this philosophy can influence our attitude towards these matters, we must first be clear on what exactly Perennial Philosophy is. Once we have done this, we will be able to examine what the criticisms of this theory may look like. Only then can we see how it may broaden our perspective on Religion and belief systems in society for the better.
 
What is Perennial Philosophy?
 
You might think that the phrase Perennial Philosophy is complex. However, it is relatively simple to understand. Perennial Philosophy is an idea that recognises all of the world’s religious, spiritual and wisdom traditions as sharing one singular universal truth and ideal.
 
All of these traditions are, in the end, premised upon this same foundational truth. They are all trying to make sense of the same thing.
 
These ideas started to emerge in the Renaissance. However, they became widespread in the 20th century by the English writer and philosopher Aldous Huxley. Renaissance thinkers began the groundwork for these ideas after drawing upon Plato’s theory of forms. These minds used this Platonic theory to develop certain ideas:
  • There is an inherent, latent unity in the world.
  • This unity is found in many established practices.
  • It is not limited, nor is it unique to just one such tradition.
 
These Renaissance beliefs fully came to the fore in the 20th century through Aldous Huxley. Here the ideas became more developed, advanced and widespread within society. Huxley popularised the theory. In fact, he explains it in his book The Perennial Philosophy (1945):
 
“…the metaphysic that recognises a divine Reality substantial to the world of things and lives and minds; the psychology that finds in the soul something similar to, or even identical to, divine reality; the ethic that places man’s final end in the knowledge of the immanent and transcendent ground of all being; the thing is immemorial and universal” Aldous Huxley.
 
 
But what do Huxley’s words mean? Huxley goes into more depth about the subject in his book. He posits that all religious traditions centre towards one same ‘divine reality‘. It is how we understand it and our place within it that is important.
 
It is true that religions and spiritual traditions can contrast greatly in their teachings and form. Yet, they are all attempting to decipher the purpose of human life. They are providing guidance for the same thing – the search for meaning in life.
 
Criticisms of Perennial Philosophy
 
It is now worth taking a look at the criticisms of these ideas. Then we can examine how these ideas can open our minds and influence our perspective on these matters.
 
Religions are in conflict with each other
 
There are some criticisms of Perennial Philosophy that claim that it is an unrealistic and unworkable theory. A primary concern is an argument that many world religions are in conflict and have been throughout history. How can religions share a universal truth if they are so at odds with each other?
 
Religious beliefs vary so much
 
Furthermore, many religions differ so greatly in their ethics, beliefs, principles and teachings. As a result, it may become increasingly difficult to see how they can all share one ‘divine’, universal and shared ideal. Therefore, Perennial Philosophy runs the risk of not receiving merit. Particularly if they are not consistent with each other in these teachings.
 
But do these differences and dissimilarities matter? It is surely inevitable that such practices will have glaring differences and distinctions. Consider the very varied cultures that they were born from? The historical factors that they play into their belief system? Not to mention the different spiritual teachings that they espouse to their followers.
 
These criticisms and the issues they expose indeed hold the potential to threaten the dismantling of this theory. However, it does not mean that we should write it off altogether.
 
Perhaps the universal truth shared by all religions still prevails even in the face of these conflicts and contrasting philosophies. It’s certainly possible that each belief system is premised on this singular reality. It could be that they just express it in varying ways or point towards it in a different manner.
 
Nevertheless, regardless of whether you are fully convinced by it or not, Perennial Philosophy does have some useful ideas. These ideas can not only broaden our perspective but can also be hugely beneficial to us in these perspectives.
 
How Perennial Philosophy can open our minds
 
This is the singular idea that all religions are based on the same universal truth. Moreover, they have all grown from this same truth. This is something that we can all use positively.
 
Religious Beliefs
 
Religion is an entity that provides moral and spiritual guidance to its followers to help them live their lives. They are essentially providing purpose to people’s lives or at least trying to navigate us towards some sort of purpose.
 
Perennial Philosophy helps to push past conflicting beliefs and the disharmony of separate religious doctrines. Consequently, it exposes a fundamental yearning that we all innately share – the search for meaning and purpose.
 
We Are All the Same
 
This allows us to perceive the world’s religions beyond warring factions pitted against each other as separate institutions. It edifies our minds to push past the boundaries that can separate us.
 
In effect, it provides some sort of reassurance that we are all fundamentally the same. We are all beings trying to answer the questions of our existence. Even though we may be taking different paths to find these answers.
 
Spiritual Paths
 
You can push the theory of Perennial Philosophy beyond Religion. Some of us may not choose to follow Religion. It may not be the source we look to for fulfilment. You may be an atheist and turn to other means of guidance.
 
There perhaps are multitudes of sources and doctrines that one may draw from. All in an attempt to garner the purpose that we all seek. A universal truth of being, purpose and meaning is surely something that can bind us all together.
 
It can be comforting to know, whatever we follow, we are all, perhaps unknowingly, all searching for the same thing. We all experience times of loneliness, unhappiness and confusion in our lives. This philosophy is an antidote for such states. The idea that essentially, we are all beings struggling to find the answers to the same questions.
 
Final Thoughts
 
Perennial Philosophy can open our minds to our shared existence and the commonalities that we have within it. It helps us to form a more optimistic vision of the world. And this may prove critical and liberating during hard times.
 
References:
 
Alexander
 
 
 

COPYRIGHT © 2019 LEARNING MIND. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. FOR PERMISSION TO REPRINT, CONTACT US.




About the Author: Alexander Nyland

 
Alexander Nyland is an avid writer, blogger and traveller with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Philosophy, graduating in 2018 from the University of Sheffield. His particular focus and interests in his studies included Film and Ancient Greek philosophy. Alex has always been fascinated by art, culture and philosophy and believes they are an integral and important part of all of our lives. He has his own blog, thefilmpheed.com, which discusses these subjects and their role in our lives and society in-depth.
 
 
 


Compiled by http://violetflame.biz.ly from: 



No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


Please respect all credits.

 
Discernment is recommended.
 

All articles are of the respective authors and/or publishers responsibility. 
 
 
 
Free counters!

  geoglobe1
 
 
publicado por achama às 08:56
Quinta-feira, 28 / 11 / 19

The Unknown Origin of Thanksgiving: a Dark Story You Didn’t Learn in School

Jamie Logie.

November 26th, 2019. 

 

 
 
The holiday of Thanksgiving may seem straightforward with turkey and stuffing but has an uglier side that many are unaware of… The origin of Thanksgiving is more complicated than just the story of the pilgrims and Native Americans celebrating at Plymouth rock. It gets a bit darker, and peace ultimately didn’t win out.
 
This will be a look back at the Thanksgiving origin and the real story behind the story.
 
Setting The Stage For The Origin Of Thanksgiving
 
The story still starts with the pilgrims but more because of the tragic circumstances they were facing. The winter of 1620 was a notably brutal winter that ended up killing almost half of their people. The colonists decided it was time to create a relationship with their “neighbors.” These neighbors were the Wampanoag Tribe.
 
The Wampanoags taught the pilgrims everything about survival, including fishing, planting crops, and how to better hunt. By that autumn of 1621, the colonists – with their newly developed skills – had enough food and provisions to last them through the winter. They invited the Wampanoag to enjoy their haul and join them in a three-day feast.
 
This event didn’t feature the foods we would associate with Thanksgiving today such as stuffing and cranberry sauce but would feature things like goose, corn, and even lobster.
 
A Different Story
 
The above description is one that seems familiar, and it is true, but the way Thanksgiving evolved may not have been based on this event from 1621. For some later generations of colonists, the roots of their Thanksgiving had little to do with that 1621 event.
 
For some settlers in New England, Thanksgiving was a religious holiday that came from the Puritan days. They would observe periods of prayer, fasting, and giving thanks to God. Different colonies would observe various days of Thanksgiving determined by the leaders of each one.
 
But just one generation later after 1621, when we return to the relationship between the colonists and the Wampanoag, things start to break down. With thousands of new colonists arriving in the area, resources became more scarce. The authorities in Plymouth started to take up more land and dictate the way of life for the Wampanoag.
 
The origin of Thanksgiving as we know it is about to fade away.
 
 
The Spread Of Disease
 
It’s important to note that before those events of 1621, disease had already begun to decimate the Native American population. By 1619, nearly 90% of the Native American population in New England had been reduced. The spread of disease would still continue into the 1620s.
 
 
A new leader of the Wampanoag tribe emerged named Metacomet also known as “King Philip.” He had taken ownership after the passing of his father Massasoit. Relationships were starting to fray with the Wampanoag and the colonists, but things would fall apart when Metacomet would wage war after the murder of some of his men.
 
 
 
The Wampanoag would raid the New England colonies who eventually would declare war themselves in 1675. The war was brutal and ongoing. A large number of colonies would get involved with their members being taken hostage and held for ransom. The war pushed colonists into relocating and the Wampanoag to flee their villages.
 
Many towns – including Springfield, Massachusets – would be burned to the ground. The bloodshed and loss of lives were substantial. Not only was there the devastation of villages and land, but supplies, food, and provisions were being diminished.
 
Alliances and Attacks
 
The Colonists – knowing their backs were up against the wall – made alliances with other tribes such as the Mohegans and the Pequots. The Wampanoag looked to fellow tribes to form alliances and grow in power. When they approached the Mohawks in New York State, they were rejected and attacked.
 
Things then unraveled for “King Philip” who was shot and killed in a final battle. This man’s father was celebrating with the pilgrims just one generation earlier, and now he lay dead. It gets more gruesome as he would be beheaded and his head displayed on a stick in Plymouth for 25 years.
 
The other members of the Wampanoag would either be killed or sold into slavery in the West Indies. What had started as a celebration of thanksgiving ended up descending into war and death. It is thought that nearly 30% of the English population and half of the Native Americans were wiped out during the wars.
 
The controversial history behind Thanksgiving
 
 
The origin of Thanksgiving can make this a tough time of the year to look back on. On one hand, we have the traditional story with the idyllic setting and the coming together of different peoples. This is the image we have embraced, but it wasn’t the end of the story.
 
It’s hard to picture that this original peaceful situation would descend into a bloody war. The battles were vicious and have been overlooked over the course of time. Today, we tend to just embrace turkey and football while not being aware of what has transpired over the course of this “holiday”.
 
Even though the core of the original day of thanks has stayed with us, we would be remiss to not remember all the events that unfolded. The best thing is to not ignore the entire origins of this holiday, focus on the positive and uphold those original values of sharing, community, and giving thanks.
 
References:
 
 

About the Author: Jamie Logie

 
 
Jamie Logie is a personal trainer, nutritionist, and health and wellness specialist. Jamie also studied sociology and psychology at Western University and has a counseling diploma from Heritage Baptist College. He has run a blog and top-rated podcast on iTunes called "Regained Wellness". Jamie is also a contributing writer for places like the Huffington Post, Thrive Global, LifeHack and has an Amazon #1 book called "Taking Back Your Health".
 

 



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No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


Please respect all credits.

 
Discernment is recommended.
 

All articles are of the respective authors and/or publishers responsibility. 




 

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publicado por achama às 09:31
Sábado, 23 / 11 / 19

3 Ways Freedom of Thought Is Being Compromised Today and What to Do

Janey Davies.

https://www.learning-mind.com

November 22nd, 2019.

 
FREEDOM OF THOUGHT.
 
 

 
Luckily, the majority of us have free speech, but what about freedom of thought? Surely we own our thoughts? There is nothing that can influence them? I mean, we are not living in some dystopian future where we have to monitor what we think. And as far as I’m aware, no one can delve into our minds to know exactly what we are thinking.
 
But we are being influenced. So how is this happening and what can we do about it?
 
Why Freedom of Thought Ιs So Important
 
First of all, why is the freedom to have an uninfluenced thought process so important? Undoubtedly, the Theory of Mind (ToM) is what sets us apart from other animals. This is the ability to think and to process thoughts. It’s what makes us human. But what exactly is a thought?
 
Thinking allows us to make sense of the world around us. Therefore, a thought is a single product of this thinking. The way we ponder, process emotions, plan for the future, daydream about a loved one, construct a mental shopping list, or go over an argument in our minds. These are all examples of different thoughts.
 
Lots of things influence our thoughts. Our senses, past experiences, our environment, what we read, see and hear our family and friends, basically everything around us. Thoughts are important because they lead to decisions and actions. They affect us in our daily lives. We make choices based on our thoughts. Anything from what kind of sandwich to eat at lunch to who we’ll vote for at an election.
 
Therefore, freedom of thought is essential. We don’t want anyone or anything influencing our way of thinking. But research shows this is exactly what is happening.
The Way We Think Is Changing
 
We have made great strides in psychology over the past few decades. In the 19-century, a person with a mental illness would be labelled ‘feebleminded’. Fast forward to the 21-century and we now have 265 actual mental disorder diagnoses in the most recent DSM-5. We should know how freedom of thought can be compromised. Instead, the very advances in understanding the human mind are being used to restrict it.
 
Likewise, the way technology works now compared to even a decade ago is far-reaching. Was the term ‘fake news’ even a thing 10 years ago? Who had heard of Russian troll farms or bots a few years ago? However, these technological innovations are manipulating our thoughts, even though we still believe we have the freedom to think the way we do.
How Freedom of Thought Is Compromised
Psychological Understanding
 
Understanding the way we think is crucial if you want to manipulate it. Now experts in psychology know all about mental biases, how we make decisions and what influences our behaviour.
 
So, how does this work in the real world? Say you were a small company selling your products. You wanted to increase sales. You would use every psychological trick in the book to get your customers to buy, not only in the first place but repeatedly. This is a basic example of how thought and the freedom to think clearly are compromised.
 
 
Anyone with this knowledge can use it to their advantage. For example, politicians, social media sites, large brands. Politician play on their voter’s natural stereotypes or biases. Big brands exploit customer’s mental affiliation with their logos and symbols. Social media sites have a huge pool of data, ready to be captured, analysed and put to use.
Social Media Manipulation
 
Talking of social media, the founder of Facebook got into a lot of trouble in 2014. He admitted to a ‘mood experiment’ carried out on its users. In a vast experiment, the social media site found that by posting certain information on people’s pages it could make them feel more positive or negative.
 
Now, obviously this has far-reaching ramifications. We assume Facebook is not purposely manipulating the way we feel. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.
 
Facebook has recently acquired a ‘mind-reading’ company. The company makes a wristband that decodes electronic signals from the brain. The purpose? To control your computer with your mind. As one Facebook member said:
 
 
“Oh. Look at that. Facebook’s newest venture: harvesting thoughts,” Facebook member
 
But Facebook isn’t the only one who is using mindreading tech. Other major computer tech firms, such as Microsoft, are also in the game of gathering up our thoughts and restricting our freedom in the process.
Advanced Technology
 
We are certainly influenced by social media. Many of us, in fact, get our news from online sources, and not the paper versions. This is highly susceptible to manipulation. In fact, only yesterday, one political party was severely warned by Twitter for changing their Twitter name to FactCheckUK, during a contentious leader’s debate in the UK.
How to Ensure Your Thoughts Are Not Manipulated
 
We often react instinctively and quickly. This reflex action comes from the old reptilian part of our brain. This old ancient brain makes quick mental shortcuts. It has to, in order for us to survive. It helped our ancestors quickly make decisions that were life-saving.
 
 
But, in today’s world, we don’t need this rapid reflex-thinking so much. The problem with thinking instinctively and quickly is that we rely on past stereotypes. And this is where biases can occur.
 
We can stop these biases by taking a reasonable amount of time to think and then make our decision. In this way, we weigh up all the evidence, not just what is being presented to us, but what we research ourselves. Then we can make an informed choice.
 
Furthermore, if we have a clearer understanding of how our minds work, we can spot the manipulators a mile off. Don’t con a con I always say!
Tips to Protect the Freedom of Your Thoughts
Don’t make instant decisions
Allow yourself the space to walk away and come back to the issue
Think about why you are getting so emotional
Has what you have read/watched quickly reinforced your own beliefs?
Are you only getting the same views echoed back to you?
Take time to get other people’s views
Don’t be pressurised to make a choice
Participate in discussions where others share an opposing view
Final Thoughts
 
It’s hard not to feel instantly gratified when someone agrees with you. Or when you get your bias confirmed. It is much harder to step back and analyse your own way of thinking.
 
Are you really expressing your own thoughts? Or has your freedom been compromised? Ensuring that we have the freedom to think an authentic thought is essential. Otherwise, how will we ever know if the choices and decisions we make are from our true self?
 
References:
Janey Davies

 





About the Author: Janey Davies.
Janey Davies has been published online for over 8 years. She is the head writer for Shoppersbase.com, she also writes for AvecAgnes.co.uk, Ewawigs.com and has contributed to inside3DP.com. She has an Honours Degree in Psychology and her passions include learning about the mind, popular science and politics. When she is relaxing she likes to walk her dog, read science fiction and listen to Muse.
 
 
COPYRIGHT © 2019 LEARNING MIND. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. FOR PERMISSION TO REPRINT, CONTACT US.
 
 
 



Compiled by http://violetflame.biz.ly from: 

Archives:



No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


Please respect all credits.

 
Discernment is recommended.
 

All articles are of the respective authors and/or publishers responsibility. 




 

Like this! please bookmark. It is updated daily

 


 
 
 
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publicado por achama às 13:34
Quinta-feira, 21 / 11 / 19

What Is Fear Appeal and How the Mass Media and Businesses Are Using It

Lottie Miles.

learning-mind.com

Posted November 20th, 2019.

 
fear appeal.

 

 
 
You may not have noticed it, but you are likely to have come across fear appeal tactics used by mass media and businesses that want your custom.
 
So what is fear appeal and how does it affect our attitudes and behaviors?
 
Fear appeal is a carefully constructed message that aims to arouse fear in an individual so that they follow the recommendations of that message. Fear appeals are frequently used in marketing communications but have also been used for health drives, political campaigns, driving safety initiatives, and even within schools to spur students on to get better grades.
 
Fear appeal is said to trigger something called ‘fear arousal’ which is the effect of fear on the brain. This is an evolutionary trait that triggers an unpleasant emotional state when fear is detected so that we respond in a way that helps us to reduce or remove the fear or threat.
 
How is fear appeal used?
 
When it comes to fear appeal, the mass media and businesses are experts. More often than not, what we have come to refer to as the ‘mass media’ is actually owned by a few large corporations that largely have political interests at their heart. This can lead to news stories being inflated or particular groups targeted in an attempt to use fear appeal to push forward certain political agendas.
 
Similarly, when looking at a political manifesto you will often find that politicians frequently draw on the fear factor to push through a desired course of action. In highlighting the terrible things that will happen if a particular policy is not enforced, they are using fear appeal.
 
When it comes to advertising the use of fear appeal is perhaps more obvious. Businesses use it to draw on the potential fears of consumers in order to persuade them to purchase a certain product. Often such advertising campaigns draw on people’s insecurities in order to draw out the need to buy the product in question.
 
For instance, adverts about deodorant tell you that if you don’t use their product, you will have sweat stains and a strong unappealing body odor. Skin cream companies will aim to show you how wrinkled your face will look in twenty years’ time if you don’t use their face cream. The list goes on.
 
However, fear appeal doesn’t necessarily have to be seen in a negative light for it is also used for positive causes. Non-profit organizations will often use fear appeal to generate support for their cause, such as showing the effects of climate change on the planet to encourage a donation or action. Smoking packets now generally have photos of the effects of smoking on them to discourage smokers as a health initiative.
 
Is using fear effective?
 
There is a large body of research on the effectiveness of fear appeal with a difference in opinion as to whether it really works. For instance, Goldenbeld et al (2007) found that fear appeal had a counterproductive effect on the participants of their study where it was used in anti-speeding interventions.
 
It is also the case that some fear appeals go too far in their explicit content. When the imagery or messaging is too graphic then the target audience may actually ignore the information instead of it having the desired effect.
 
However, a recent study by Tannenbaum et al (2015), which consolidated 127 experiments on fear appeal through a meta-analysis, found that it did have a positive effect on attitudes, intentions, and behaviors.
 
Interestingly, the analysis found that fear appeal had a greater effect on female message recipients and that the effectiveness of fear appeal increased when the message included efficacy statements, depicted high susceptibility and severity, and recommended one-time-only (vs. repeated) behaviors.
 
The ethics of using fear
 
Fear can have a powerful effect on our response and is, therefore, an effective motivator. This raises an important question about the ethics of fear appeal.
 
There are some that view fear appeal as exploitative and creating a culture in which we are made to fear more than we need to and that contributes to increased anxiety. It can also exploit those who are vulnerable such as the young, ill or those suffering from addiction and demonize target groups of whom the fear factor is based.
 
There are calls, therefore, for greater controls to be put on advertising campaigns to consider the ethical ramifications of their content. These include better research into the target audience and the short-term and long-term effects using fear appeal will have on them, decide whether a fear appeal is appropriate in that scenario and to consider using alternatives to fear appeals.
 
Fear appeal is a strong weapon in the hands of mass media, politicians, and advertisers as well as being a powerful force for non-profit campaigns and initiatives to prevent dangerous or unhealthy habits.
 
Using fear appeal draws on our evolutionary response to fear known as ‘fear arousal’, an unpleasant state which motivates us to do something to alleviate that fear. When it comes to responding to fear appeal, this can lead to us purchasing a specific product, donating to a specific cause, changing an unhealthy habit or voting for a particular political party.
 
 
References
 
 

Lottie Miles

 






 
About the Author: Lottie Miles


 
Lottie Miles is a professional researcher and writer with a passion for human rights. She has 4 years of experience working within the NGO sector and has a Masters Degree in Social Policy. She has a keen interest in exploring ways in which happiness habits can help to improve mental health and wellbeing. In her spare time, she likes doing crossword puzzles, painting and traveling.
 
Copyright © 2012-2019 Learning Mind. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint, contact us.
 



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No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


Please respect all credits.

 
Discernment is recommended.
 

All articles are of the respective authors and/or publishers responsibility. 


 

 

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publicado por achama às 16:17
Domingo, 10 / 11 / 19

7 Famous Fairy Tales That Are Based on Gruesome True Life Stories

Janey Davies.

https://www.learning-mind.com

November 7th, 2019.

 
famous fairy tales real stories.
 
 

 

What is it about fairy tales that captivate the imaginations of children? Could it be that underneath the thin veneer of fiction lies a much darker truth to the tales? Did you know that the most famous fairy tales are based on gruesome real-life stories? Here are just a few:
 
Famous Fairy Tales and the Creepy Real Stories Behind Them
Bluebeard
 
I loved this fairy tale as a child. So much so that I would beg my sister to read it to me every night before bed. I knew it off by heart and sometimes she would try and skip a line or two. Whenever she did, I would tell her off.
 
The story is pretty awful as a famous fairy tale in its own right. A king named Bluebeard marries a beautiful young princess and takes her to his magnificent castle. He gives her the keys to all the rooms in the castle but tells her not to open the last door in an underground chamber.
 
He then goes off hunting and of course, naturally inquisitive, the young queen goes down to the room and opens the door. Here she finds blood everywhere and the king’s previous wives, murdered and hanging on hooks.
 
Horrified she drops the key in the blood and tries to wash it off. But the blood won’t come off. Will she face the same fate? Luckily, her brother races to her rescue in time to kill Bluebeard.
 
This famous fairy tale is based on two real-life characters. Conomor the Cursed is a savage 6th-century ruler in Breton. This Breton chief had been warned that one of his sons would end up killing him. As a result, he pre-empts this by killing all of his pregnant wives.
 
However, his last wife, Tryphine, is also warned by the ghosts of the murdered wives. She flees but he finds her and beheads her. Miraculously, a sacred monk brings her back to life and when they return to Conomor’s castle the walls collapse around him.
 
The second character is the 15th-century nobleman and notorious serial killer Gilles de Rais. This man earned a formidable reputation fighting alongside Joan of Arc. Yet, in his private life, he murdered children.
 
He was given the nickname of Bluebeard because of the peculiar way his horse’s mane looked blue in the daytime. Gilles de Rais is one of the world’s most evil psychopaths.
 
Hansel and Gretel
 
 
 
 
This is one of those fairy tales that is famous because the story resonates with children today. It tells of a poor woodcutter and his second wife. She is the stepmother to his children – Hansel and Gretel.
 
As food becomes scarce, the stepmother decides there is not enough food for the children. So she persuades the woodcutter to take the children deep into the forest where they won’t be able to find their way home.
 
They come across a witches’ house made of gingerbread. Eventually, they get the better of the witch and return home with the spoils of her house.
 
The story is set during the Great Famine of 1315. Many people starved to death during this time. Acts of extreme cruelty, such as infanticide and cannibalism, took place as people became more desperate. The situation for some families became so wretched that they left their children to fend for themselves.
 
The gingerbread house part of the story comes from a highly profitable baker called Katharina Schraderin. She became legendary in the 1600s thanks to her gingerbread cookies, which everyone wanted. One male baker was so determined to get her recipe he accused her of being a witch.
 
As a result, she was hounded and driven out of the town. But, then in an awful twist, her neighbours brought her back and burned her to death in one of her baking ovens.
 
 
 
Cinderella
 
Cinderella is every young girl’s dream, right? Well, perhaps not mine, as you’ve already heard, I was getting a taste for psychopaths and sociopaths.
 
Everyone knows in this famous fairy tale that Cinders has a tough life. She has to do all the chores, look after her evil stepsisters, and might miss out on the Ball. But, it all comes good in the end. She gets the gorgeous frock, she arrives in a splendid carriage and meets Prince Charming. Furthermore, the story has a happy ending.
 
However, the real-life tale is not so pretty and there’s no happy ever after for Cinders. The story is based around a slave girl in ancient Greece, around 500BC. Rhodopis was a beautiful young Greek woman. At a young age, she was taken from her home in Greece and forced into slavery.
 
Rhodopis was exquisitely beautiful and men lusted after her. As such, she became a prized possession and men showered her with expensive gifts. One of these gifts was a pair of golden shoes.
 
Pharaoh Ahmose II saw the shoes and Rhodopis and wanted her for himself. Although strictly she was not of royal blood, he married her. Her life was to be a ready and willing sex slave to the pharaoh.
 
Beauty and the Beast
 
This is one of those famous fairy tales that you wouldn’t expect to have a real story behind it. But it does.
 
In 1537, a young boy aged 10 called Gonsalvus, was taken from his home in Spain to the Royal French court. Here he was ordered to entertain the King of France. Why? Because he suffered from a condition called hypertrichosis. This causes someone to grow hair all over their body. It is called ‘werewolf syndrome’.
 
The king was enamoured with his little ‘beast’. He educated him and he became a nobleman. When the king died, his wife found the beast a wife. Despite his looks, the pair did fall in love. They had seven children (all of whom also suffered from hypertrichosis) and were married for 40 years.
 
Rapunzel
 
‘Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your golden hair!’ I remember this story from my childhood. I kept thinking, why is she waiting for someone to come and rescue her? But the real-life story behind this fairy tale might explain it.
 
As unusual, we have the beautiful protagonist, this time it is an auburn-haired girl living in the 3rd century. Her overbearing father was a wealthy merchant who travelled abroad all the time. No man was good enough for his daughter so when he went off on his travels he locked her up in a tower.
 
It was during these times in the tower that she turned to Christianity to help her through the loneliness. Her praying was so loud the whole town could hear her. The rich merchant was a pagan. Her Christian prayers so angered him that he forced her to stand trial before a Roman consul to give up her religion.
 
The consul demanded the merchant give up his wealth or behead his daughter, should she refuse her Christianity. As she refused, and the merchant would not forfeit the fortune he amassed, he did behead her.
 
However, he was killed by a random lightning bolt shortly afterwards. The daughter was martyred and became Saint Barbara.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
 
This famous fairy tale has a happy ending. Snow White is hunted by an evil queen who wants to kill her. Seven dwarfs rescue and befriend her. However, the reality is much different and far more gruesome.
 
The story starts in the 16th century in Bavaria. It centres on a young noblewoman called Margarete von Waldeck. Margarete’s brother employs small children to labour in his copper mine. But because of the crippling conditions, the children become dreadfully deformed. The locals begin calling them dwarves to mock them.
 
Now, if this wasn’t bad enough, Margarete was exceptionally beautiful. As such, her stepmother resented her and wanted her out of the picture. She packed her off to Brussels to get rid of her.
 
Here, Margarete began a lustful affair with Prince Philip II of Spain. However, his father, the King of Spain vehemently disagreed with the romance. He organised a plot to kill Margarete. She was poisoned shortly afterwards.
 
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
 
 
 
A pied piper in Hamelin was known for his ability to play hypnotic music and charm certain animals. So, in 1264, the villagers asked him to play his pipe and get rid of all the rats plaguing the area. They promised him a hefty fee for his troubles. Of course, the piper agreed and played his pipe. Soon all the rats followed him to their death.
 
He went back to the villagers who reneged on the deal. Angry and bitter at them, he went out once again to play his pipe. But, this time, it was the children that fell entranced to his hypnotic tune. They followed the piper and were never seen again.
 
The Dark Truth Behind Famous Fairy Tales
 
Most famous fairy tales have a happy ending. The real-life stories behind some of these show that the truth is far from happy ever after.
 
References:
 
Janey Davies
 


About the Author: Janey Davies.
Janey Davies has been published online for over 8 years. She is the head writer for Shoppersbase.com, she also writes for AvecAgnes.co.uk, Ewawigs.com and has contributed to inside3DP.com. She has an Honours Degree in Psychology and her passions include learning about the mind, popular science and politics. When she is relaxing she likes to walk her dog, read science fiction and listen to Muse.
 
 
COPYRIGHT © 2019 LEARNING MIND. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. FOR PERMISSION TO REPRINT, CONTACT US.
 
 
 



Compiled by http://violetflame.biz.ly from: 

Archives:



No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


Please respect all credits.

 
Discernment is recommended.
 

All articles are of the respective authors and/or publishers responsibility. 




 

Like this! please bookmark. It is updated daily

 


 
 
 
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publicado por achama às 22:44
Quarta-feira, 06 / 11 / 19

How Myers-Briggs Compatibility Can Help You Find Your Perfect Match

By Valerie Soleil.

learning-mind.com.

Posted November 6th, 2019. 

 

 

 
 
 
 
Envision a system that explains your entire personality and the way you live your life in extreme detail. That would be pretty amazing, right? Well, a few different beliefs do exist. However, none as powerful as the Human Design System.
 
The Origins of the Human Design System
 
Ra Uru Hu was born Alan Krakower in Canada in 1948. He was travelling in 1987 and ended up on the island of Ibiza. Here he experienced an intense 8-day vision. During these 8 days, Ra heard a mysterious voice. This voice explained a complex mechanical system for him.
 
The Human Design System could predict someone’s personality, career, relationships and so on. All by using your exact time of birth.
 
Now, you might well think that this is a crazy idea. However, many people are convinced of the validity of this design. Particularly once they have generated their own charts and mastered the art of reading them.
 
So, is this system the real deal? We can’t help but question; are we coded before birth? Or does the placebo effect work better than we know?
 
What Is the Human Design System?
 
“Human design gives us information about ourselves that we can’t access anywhere else…It’s about how we are each uniquely wired,” Erin Claire – Human Design Guide
 
Essentially, the human design system is a mathematical system. It borrows ideologies of The I Ching, Kabbalah, Chakras, Astrology and a small dose of Quantum Physics.
 
You use your exact time, date and place of birth to calculate your chart. The time is very important in determining your chart. If you don’t know your time of birth, you can enter 12:00. You will not get an accurate result, but you will still get helpful information.
 
The body chart consists of 9 Centers, 64 Gates, and 36 Channels. This predetermined genetic chart can tell you how to live as your most authentic self. It will help you to tap into your consciousness and give some wonderful insight into your future. Basically, it can help you find your true purpose in the world.
 
How Human Design Works
 
This system combines ancient and modern sciences to chart your personality. The scientific evidence is based on the Neutrino particle.
 
A neutrino is different from an atom. The neutrino is a subatomic particle that has no electrical charge and an undetermined mass. Some believe the mass is extremely small, while others believe it’s zero.
 
Neutrinos are everywhere. In fact, they are the most common and plentiful particles in the universe. However, as they are tremendously small they can be very problematic to detect. Despite their size, experts believe that neutrinos leave behind minuscule amounts of information whenever they pass through our bodies. These neutrinos are important, especially at the moment we are born.
 
The main premise behind Human Design Theory is that the neutrinos that pass through our bodies at the moment of birth are imprinted in us. As a result, it is this imprint that determines your personality for the rest of your life.
 
Now, there is a lot of information that is broken down into many different categories. As such, it is difficult to understand your own chart. Therefore, a professional in this field may be useful in helping you decipher your chart.
 
Human Design clarifies the influence of the planets on our personality. This is because neutrinos carry the information from the planets to us at our time of birth. The constant movement of the planets means that the information from neutrinos passing through at the moment of birth will always be one of a kind.
 
Therefore, it is impossible for another person to have the same genetic imprint.
 
How to use it
 
Sometimes we make decisions without understanding why. Your chart can help with this, studying your pre-conditioning can be so beneficial. It can tell you a huge range of information from how you make decisions, your emotions, relationships, physical ailments and so on.
 
The human design system believes knowing this information is the key to living an authentic life.
 
“A system that sheds light on your emotional, psychological and energetic makeup, giving you the self-awareness and tools to align with your nature and step into your highest potential in every area of your life.” Erin Claire
 
Four Strategies in Human Design System
 
Humanity is divided into four strategy types:
  • Generators
  • Projectors
  • Manifestors
  • Reflectors
 
Generators
 
Generators or Manifesting Generators are the most common strategy type. They represent about 70% of everyone on Earth. They are integral to the lifeforce of the planet and are responsible for creating the future.
 
They are essentially builders, responding and receiving information and building on that. Their life force is strong, and they attract energy from others. These people require situations to happen so they can respond accordingly, typically with sounds and movement.
 
Projectors
 
Projectors are the second most common type. They embody around 20% of the population. They will wait for a situation to occur and to be invited before they react. This is because when they are invited by others, their efforts feel recognized and whole.
 
These people are usually more introverted with a clear view of the energy of others. Projectors feel that it is their responsibility to help others. However, this leaves them feeling vulnerable and exhausted at times. They are vital to society and need to master their charts in order to help others sufficiently.
 
Manifestors
 
Manifestors as less common, they compose only 9% of society. These are people of action. They have a natural ability to excel in life with very little effort. They inspire others to manifest events wherever they go. They have a knack for helping others with decision-making as natural-born initiators.
 
When they are not able to manage and guide others properly, they find themselves angry at signs of resistance. They are their best selves when sharing their gift of manifesting with others.
 
 
Reflectors
 
Reflectors are a very small group; they represent only 1% of the population. These types are interesting since they don’t really have a fixed chart. Therefore, it can be hard to decode their authentic selves.
 
They are essentially walking mirrors, reflecting back everyone else’s reflection. Usually, reflectors are very empathetic, picking up on the emotions and thoughts of everyone around them. This can be a unique gift. They see the world from a different point of view that is not afforded to most.
 
When reflectors are able to mirror the passion of others, they are the most content. However, if they don’t fully understand this ability, it can end up draining them.
Your Authority
 
Another important aspect of the human design system is understanding your authority. When combined with your strategy type, you can really begin to understand your chart. Think of your authority as a tool for interpreting if a decision is right for you or not.
 
There are two main types of authority. Moreover, these two types can be broken down further into even more categories.
Inner Authority
 
This is your inner consciousness, the little voice in our heads that influences the way we make decisions. An intelligent inner compass that leads you in a certain direction. This is purely cognitive. It needs to be aligned with your physical body in order for you to live as your authentic self.
 
Outer Authority
 
Outer Authority in Human Design provides your authentic perspective on life. This can be more physical at times; it comes from a place of expression and individuality. For example, our outer authority can determine how you react to certain situations. It is what makes you unique.
 
This is just a very small glimpse into the Human Design System. As we stated earlier, it is extremely complex and can take a long time to fully understand.
Final Thoughts
 
So, does astrology determine your destiny? Can numerology predict your personality? Does the human design system really influence your fate? It’s possible. At the very least, these create a sense of self-discovery that is crucial for growing as a human being.
 
We should never stop exploring or questioning. Perhaps simply believing in something can very well make it true.
 
References:
 
 
 
Valerie Soleil
 



 
About the Author: Valerie Soleil


Valerie Soleil is a writer with over 5 years of experience and holds a bachelor degree in law and a B.A. in Psychology. She is a physical & mental health enthusiast who constantly expands her knowledge about the mysteries of the human body and mind. Some of the activities Valerie is particularly passionate about are traveling and reading because they help her broaden her horizons.
 
 
Copyright © 2012-2019 Learning Mind. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint, contact us.
 
 



Compiled by http://violetflame.biz.ly from: 
 
Archives:



No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


Please respect all credits.

 
Discernment is recommended.
 

All articles are of the respective authors and/or publishers responsibility. 

 



 

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publicado por achama às 22:00
Domingo, 03 / 11 / 19

The Difference between Objective and Subjective Truth and the Illusion We All Believe

Francesca Forsythe.

https://www.learning-mind.com

October 30th, 2019.




 
How do we know whether our truths are the real truths, or is the truth simply an illusion?
 
What Is the Difference Between Objective and Subjective Truth?
 
Truth is a continuous concept in all places, all situations and at all times. However, what one person believes to be the truth may not be agreed on by someone else. On the other hand, there are other truths, which everyone believes to be true.
 
For example, I doubt you would disagree with me that the year has 365 days, or that the internet exists. How else would you be reading this article? This gives us two different species of truth: objective and subjective truth.
 
However, there is a famous saying that in any situation, there are three truths: your truth, my truth, and the real truth. This saying exemplifies what we are talking about when we ask the question of what the difference between objective and subjective truth is.
 
So, let us explore these different kinds of truth and the illusions they can lead us to believe.
 
What Is the Objective Truth?
 
Objective truth is something that is true for all people, no matter what their culture or religious beliefs. These truths are fundamental truths. I don’t need to tell you the exact temperature of fire to tell you that fire is hot. In the same way, I don’t need to tell you that you need food to survive.
 
Objective truths are, therefore, recognized by all people, whether or not they realize they are recognizing it.
What Is the Subjective Truth?
 
Subjective truth is similarly based on a person’s beliefs but not all people may agree with it. This kind of truth is present in things like religion. One person may believe that the existence of God is the truth, where another person may not.
 
People also form their own judgments of the truth of a situation based on the information they have. However, this judgment may change should this person receive some new information.
 
For example, I may believe that my friend has not invited me to their party and be mad at them. Yet, when I find out that they simply forgot to send the invitation, I am no longer mad at them as it was a simple mistake.
 
Subjective truth is, therefore, my truth.
 
How Do Objective and Subjective Truths Interact?
 
  • Situations such as this exemplify the saying that there are three versions of the truth. When having a conversation with a friend, they may take something I say the wrong way.
  • My version of the truth containing the meaning of what I said (subjective truth).
  • My friend’s version of the truth that I meant it differently (subjective truth).
  • The third version of the truth is inclusive of what I said, how it was meant, but also the way in which I said it which led to my friend’s misinterpretation. This third version of the truth is the objective truth.
 
The more information I have about a situation or the facts relevant to it bring me closer to the objective truth. Until I know everything there is to know about a situation, I cannot say I know the objective truth about it.
 
Therefore, the only objective truths we really have are those fundamental truths on which everyone can agree at all times, which do not require further inquiry.
 
The Illusion of Truth
 
The truth is important to us because we never want to be wrong about something. However, the downside of this is that we are constantly looking for truth. This can lead us to a truth fallacy, where we believe something to be true which really isn’t.
 
Repetition Is Truth
 
Our brains are susceptible to believing something to be true if we hear it several times. Many people believe that the Great Wall of China is visible from space because they’ve heard it so many times. However, this is not true.
 
Other examples of this are that bulls hate the color red, or that we only have five senses. Neither of these is true, but we have heard them so many times that we believe them to be.
 
 
Scientists have regularly found that subjects are much more likely to believe something to be true if they hear it repeatedly. This repetition gives us cognitive ease which plays an important role in daily life. It allows us to feel more secure in what we know and in our interactions with the world.
 
It is important to understand how the illusion of truth works. By understanding this phenomenon, it allows us to be more critical of the ‘facts’ we hear constantly. With this critical thinking comes the power to seek out actual truths and get closer to the objective truths of the world.
 
The world is a complex, sometimes confusing place to live. The constant changing manner of science and nature makes it almost impossible to know the objective truth of our circumstances. Subjective truth allows us to maintain a level of security, but it is not infallible.
 
Final Thoughts
 
The only truth which can be really trusted is objective truths, but these take a lot of work to find. We are constantly learning, and the pursuit of knowledge is vital to understand the line between what we believe to be true and what is fundamentally true.
 
References:
 
 
 



 

About the Author: Francesca Forsythe

Francesca is a freelance writer currently studying a degree in Law and Philosophy. She has written for several blogs in a range of subjects across Lifestyle, Relationships and Health and Fitness. Her main pursuits are learning new innovative ways of keeping fit and healthy, as well as broadening her knowledge in as many areas as possible in order to achieve success.
 
 
 
COPYRIGHT © 2019 LEARNING MIND. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. FOR PERMISSION TO REPRINT, CONTACT US.
 

 
Compiled by http://violetflame.biz.ly from: 

 
No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


Please respect all credits.

 
Discernment is recommended.
 


All articles are of the respective authors and/or publishers responsibility. 
 
 
 

 
 
Like this! please bookmark. It is updated daily
 
 
 
 
 
 
Free counters!

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publicado por achama às 01:47
Sábado, 13 / 07 / 19

7 Must-Read Fiction Books That Will Leave a Mark on Your Soul ~ Sherrie.

7 Must-Read Fiction Books That Will Leave a Mark on Your Soul.

By Sherrie.

July 13th, 2019

 
Reading is an important part of life, truly. There are many fiction books which are a must-read and are sure to impress you.
Despite the uprising of technology and ever-changing modifications of modern times, reading is still a timeless treasured activity.
I remember a time when reading books, you know, the ones you can actually hold in your hand, was the only way to read. So many of us can look back at a simpler time as this.
From then until now, I’ve encountered many must-read fiction books that remained with me throughout the years…touched my soul even. But there are others too.

The power of the right words that makes some fiction books a must-read

Thousands of words could leave no impression at all, just as one sentence could leave a deep indention upon one’s soul.
There are books to read for fun, non-fiction books to learn facts, then there is must-read fiction which proves to be some of the best books in existence.

Here’s where we take a close look at a few of them. Maybe you’ve read some of these yourself.

1. Hope for the Flowers, Trina Paulus, (1972)

To some, this story may seem like a children’s book, but at a closer look, you will notice the allegorical and rather mature meaning of the story.
Hope for the Flowers relays a tale of two caterpillars, as they ponder their destinies. One caterpillar assumes you must crawl and step on everyone else to get to the top and realize the best of life. The other caterpillar does what comes instinctual and builds a life which is rewarding.
Stripe, the caterpillar who has climbed a mountain of other caterpillars, finally reaches the top of the mound and only finds hundreds of other mounds of caterpillars, in the distance, doing the same thing. Yellow, the caterpillar who followed her instincts has built a cocoon and emerged as a beautiful butterfly.
The best part of this story is that yellow is willing to help Stripe remember his instincts. I think you will love this story and it will leave a warm feeling in your soul.

2. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho, (1988)

First written in Portuguese, this must-read inspirational fiction book, became a bestseller worldwide. There’s a reason for such adoration.
The story is about a shepherd boy who decides to follow his destiny because of a dream he had while in an old church. A fortune teller suggests he follow his dream and travel to Egypt in search of treasure within the pyramids. As the boy travels, he encounters many obstacles and learns many lessons.
After meeting an alchemist, who teaches him how to know his true self, he is changed. When he is robbed, one of the thieves accidentally reveals a great revelation.
We learn from this story that sometimes what we need and desire the most is right where we are. Fruitless searching will take us right back to the beginning.

3. Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk, (1996)

You may have seen the movie, but you should read the book as well.
In this must-read fiction novel, an unnamed protagonist struggles with insomnia. He seeks help only to be told that insomnia isn’t really suffering. He seeks help in support groups instead.
Finally, he meets a man who would change his life by introducing him to underground fighting arenas. This environment, you might say, becomes his therapy.
This novel became so popular that a movie was adapted from the story, as I mentioned. It even has a following of young men who see the story as inspiration.

4. The Road, Cormac Maccarthy, (2005)

This story touched my soul in that it showed me the depths of human nature alongside the love and beauty of it as well. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic landscape where every living human being is out to survive at any cost. This means killing other humans and even more depraved acts.
The main protagonist and his son travel in hopes of finding long term sanctuary. The novel will rip your heart out at times but does end with a glimmer of hope.
Although the story may be hard to stomach at times, it will certainly leave you thinking about human nature for quite a while after reading.

5. The Story of Keesh, Jack London (1904)

We, as humans have trouble understanding things beyond our learned abilities. We may understand the strength and we may understand a certain level of magic, or say, “witchcraft”, as The Story of Keesh reminds us.
One thing that sometimes makes human beings struggle is the act of strategy. While some strategies are easy to understand, some are so simple, they go over our heads.
In the story of Keesh, the young 13-year-old Keesh teaches his tribe about using strategy to hunt, even to hunt animals which seem impossible to capture and kill. Keesh’s father before him was killed by a large bear, and yet, Keesh managed to kill many of them for his village.
Did he use strength? No! Did he use witchcraft, as the elders suggested? No, he did not. He simply created a trap which would kill the animal from the inside out.
This story leaves an impression on our souls and reminds us that there is so much power in the human mind and in determination. We don’t forget stories of this kind.

6. Sophie’s World, Jostein Gaarder, (1991)

Some people never really ask the important questions about life until they are older.
As for Sophie, she gets the opportunity to learn about philosophy as a teenager. After meeting Alberto Knox, her life changes forever. During the novel, she experiences an ability to utilize her imagination like never before.
After reading this book, you may learn a few new things yourself. And I promise, your soul will be left with an impression like no other.
The must-read fiction book became so popular that it was translated from its native Norwegian to 59 other languages. The book was also adapted into a film and video game too.

7. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (1960)

It’s amazing just what we miss when we’re not paying attention. In this novel, Scout and her brother Jem are lost in the wiles of childhood. Meanwhile, their lawyer father, Atticus, is busy trying to win his most important case. A black man has been accused of raping a white woman, and Atticus must prove his innocence.
This novel will touch your soul as you read about the truth of Southern Alabama in the 60s. You will realize just how much we take for granted about human rights and freedom. While some of the historical language usages may be jarring, it’s a must-read.

Sometimes Fiction Can Change You

There are many self-help books and non-fiction journals that change the way we see the world and ourselves. There is also outstanding must-read fiction that changes us as much as other types of books.
I encourage you to explore fiction titles in your area. You never know when you might find a gem worth sharing with others.
Until we read from different lives, perspectives and even imaginative stories, we never really understand the full scope of the life we live. Our souls can only be touched by allowing the fullness of life to enter. So, go forth, read, read, read….and get to know yourself and the world like never before.
 
About the Author: Sherrie

Sherrie is a freelance writer and artist with over 10 years of experience. She spends most of her time giving life to the renegade thoughts. As the words erupt and form new life, she knows that she is yet again free from the nagging persistence of her muse. She is a mother of three and a lifetime fan of the thought-provoking and questionable aspects of the universe.
 
COPYRIGHT © 2019 LEARNING MIND. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. FOR PERMISSION TO REPRINT, CONTACT US.
 

 
 

 
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No religious or political creed is advocated here.

Organised religion is unnecessary to spirituality.

Excellent teachings of the masters have been contaminated by the dogmatic control of these religions.

Discernment yes; judgement does not.
If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 

With discernment it is possible to reach the spirit of the letter of any writing and it is also much easier to listen to the voice of the soul that comes from the heart.
Individually you can be helped to find your Truth that is different of everyone. 


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publicado por achama às 22:49
Quinta-feira, 20 / 06 / 19

7 Weird Movies with Deep Meanings That Will Mess with Your Mind ~ Sofia, Learning Mind

 

7 Weird Movies with Deep Meanings That Will Mess with Your Mind

By Sofia, Learning Mind

 

 

 

 




What’s so great about weird movies?

Some movies can be mind-bending. Others might make us question things we thought were set in stone. And others still might bring us face to face with things that are part of us but better left undisturbed. And there are weird movies.
No matter the theme, films and the stories in them are part of our collective consciousness. One way or another, they are reflections of us and of the way we tell each other stories. Most of them follow traditional schemes, narratives and tropes. Even in those imagined spaces, order prevails.
But what about the films that are not concerned with order? What of the stories whose defining trait is their disorder, their… well, weirdness? Weird movies might be even more valuable to us than we ever imagined.

Let’s take a look at some:

  1. Mandy (Panos Cosmatos, 2018)

Panos Cosmatos is no stranger to weird movies.
In 2010, he gave us the indie wonder “Beyond the Black Rainbow”, with its enigmatic imagery, loopy soundtrack and cryptic storyline. This year, he created a sensation with “Mandy”.
There are a lot of factors for Mandy’s success, and the selection of Nic Cage for the role of the deranged protagonist slowly spiraling into a drug-fueled revenge-quest whilst brandishing a humongous medieval looking axe is only one of them.
The soundtrack is heavy and filled with drone sounds, the color palettes are like someone dropped an acid tab onto the film reel, and the story… Well, the story, centered around Andrea Riseborough’s character, is a trip in and of itself.
  1. The Devils (Ken Russel, 1971)

“The Exorcist” who? This is one of THE seminal weird movies on demonic possession. The film is a dramatized historical account of the rise and fall of Urbain Grandier, a 17th-century Roman Catholic priest executed for witchcraft following the supposed possessions in Loudun, France.
Reed plays Grandier in the film and Vanessa Redgrave plays a hunchbacked sexually repressed nun who finds herself inadvertently responsible for the accusations. The summary doesn’t do this disturbing film an ounce of justice.
The weirdness of the film derives from its visuals as well as its story. Derek Jarman, who worked as Russel’s production designer, created a filmic world in a film about religion, lush with the most sacrilegious colors, aesthetic and imagery.
Redgrave probably rose to new heights owing to her magnificent obsessive contortions, and the antithesis of the clash between piousness and grotesquery is something that will mess with your head for a long, long while.
  1. The Cook The Thief His Wife and Her Lover (Peter Greenaway, 1989)

Speaking of weird, grotesque imagery, how do you like this gem by Peter Greenaway? This is one of those weird movies that don’t really scare you, but you can’t forget them for a minute.
It contains only three or so sets, a deranged mob leader, a guy who always reads, one very white bathroom, and the odd bit of cannibalism. Oh, and food. Lots and lots of food scenes.
Also, an albino ten-year-old tenor. Saying any more than this would really spoil the experience. Nonetheless, his is one weird movie you do not want to neglect seeing.
  1. A Field in England (Ben Wheatley, 2013)

A new strain of weird movies has arisen in the past decade, harking back to the 70’s. It’s called “folk horror revival”, based on the folk horror films of British Cinema in the 70’s, such as “The Wicker Man”.
Ben Wheatley, director of “A field in England”, has contributed to the trend with the majority of his filmography. All his films are a little cooky, but “Field” takes the cake. The film, shot in black-and-white, is set during the mid-17th century English Civil War.
Basically, a bunch of soldiers, an alchemist’s assistant and the alchemist eat a bunch of trippy field mushrooms and thing get really weird after that. The director utilized the use of black and white to create exposure effects, and other montaging tricks.
“A field in England” isn’t just weird; like “Mandy”, it’s a trip that one has to see to truly understand.
  1.  Love Exposure (Sion Sono, 2008)

If Panos Cosmatos is “no stranger to weird movies”, then Sion Sono, the madman who made this epic on love as a religion of collective madness, is the master of weird movies.
“Love Exposure” is nearly four hours long. It all revolves around a teenage Japanese boy trying to win the heart of his man-hating beloved. He believes she is the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary, thus completing his mother’s dying wish.
If this isn’t weird enough, he tries to achieve that via rigorous panty-shots training, excessive deception and becoming involved in a religious cult led by a stalker who also traffics cocaine on the side.This is a weird movie because it really commits to its depiction of love as a religious craze. Not only that, but its length, love-stricken characters, guerilla-style filming and overall offbeat humor contribute to a real cinematic experience.
  1.  Millennium Actress (Satoshi Kon, 2001)

This is one of my favorite films. As far as weird movies go, this might seem a little tame. Upon closer inspection, however, one can tell that this rightly deserves its title as a weird movie.
“Millennium Actress” deals with director Satoshi Kon’s most persisting question: what are the limits of our perception? What is the nature of memory, individual and collective? How is our reality “real”, based on these perceptions and memories?
The movie tells the story of two documentary filmmakers investigating the life of a retired acting legend. As she tells them the story of her life, the difference between reality and cinema becomes blurred.
In “Millennium Actress”, the weirdness lies in the execution. Anyone familiar with Kon’s work knows that he reveled in manipulating filmic space and time via the medium of animation. From one moment to the next, frames collapse onto one another.
We are transported, through the two journalists acting as audience surrogates, from the real world to movie sets and scenes. The scenes are anachronistic, all over the place.  They constitute fragments of the collective memory of Japanese cinema’s landmark moments.
The weirdness of the film lies in the lack of distinction between real life and cinematic life. If there is any difference at all, that is. The film seems to say that all that matters regarding our grasp of “real” is one thing, our memories.
  1.  Skins (Pieles, Eduardo Casanova, 2017)

Hey, it’s on Netflix! Skins (Spanish: Pieles) is a 2017 Spanish drama film directed by Eduardo Casanova. Weird movies-wise, its pastel color palette is only the tip of the iceberg.
Skins gets a spot in this list not because its weirdness is some sort of breakthrough. Instead, it was its anchoring into the most human and profound feelings: the desire to be loved and accepted.
All of the characters in Skins suffer from some form of physical deformity. One woman has only half a “normal” face. A man has modified himself to look like a mermaid. A woman has her anus and her mouth positions reversed and another man suffers from a facial burn.
Yet, despite the physical weirdness, through bittersweet humor and while condemning the fetishization of disabilities, the film has a heart.

Do you know any other movies that would be a good fit for this list? Please share them with us in the comment section below!
 

 

About the Author: Sofia
 
Sofia has a bachelor degree in law. She is moonlighting as a writer and aspiring to one day gather enough experiences and turn them into ink and paper. The intricacies of the human mind and its peculiar ways have always fascinated her and urged her to explore more, not only humans but humanity as a whole, hopefully leading her to interesting findings. She is a literature, music and movie geek to boot.
 
Copyright © 2012-2019 Learning Mind. 
All rights reserved. 
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publicado por achama às 03:06
Quinta-feira, 13 / 06 / 19

7 Profound Lessons Eastern Philosophy Teaches Us about Life ~ Alexander

7 Profound Lessons Eastern Philosophy Teaches Us about Life.

By Alexander

https://www.learning-mind.com/

June 12th, 2019.

 
 

 

Eastern philosophy does not differ from other philosophic teachings in its overall objective. This is to teach us to be wiser individuals and to ultimately provide guidance as to how to live well.
Therefore, Eastern philosophy is no different from Western philosophy is this sense. The distinction lies in how it suggests we can achieve these goals.
You may study the likes of PlatoAristotle, Descartes, Hume or Nietzsche to name a few across various academic disciplines. The teachings of such abide by the central doctrine of western philosophy. It’s about using reason and logic as a means to analyse, understand and think more deeply about our lives. But it can be useful to gain a different perspective to find the answers and guidance in life that we quietly yearn for.
Eastern philosophy places focus on the individual or the self and the individual’s role in society. It explores how to reach inner peace and our relationship with nature and the wider cosmos.
There are many branches of eastern philosophy. But as a whole, it asserts and presents general and useful ideas to us about how to live a good life on the basis of these themes.
These simple ideas have the potential to enlighten and enrich us when we grapple with some of the biggest questions in life that so often seem so elusive.

Here are 7 life lessons learned from eastern philosophy that are still relevant and useful to us today:

Life is full of pain and suffering

This Buddhist sentiment can seem incredibly bleak and dismal and you would only be sane if you were to have this reaction on first being told this. Yet, after a time, such a thought can begin to seem strangely paradoxically comforting to us.
Our lives are full of constant and reoccurring pain, worry and anxiety whether we wish to admit it or not. We may attempt to push away or forget about this fact by seeking happiness in material things. This is especially common in a modern, commercialised media-driven age.
However, not recognising and failing to face up to this fact can inadvertently heighten our sufferings. As a result, we become increasingly unequipped to deal with them.
The sooner we begin to realise this fact, the sooner we will be more prepared to deal with and understand the reality we have. Begin to comprehend the suffering that you are facing currently and the suffering you will inevitably face and you will become more content with your life.
This will allow you to truly appreciate the periods and moments of joy. It will also bring you important comfort in an all too difficult and arduous life. Finally, you will feel the contentment we all deeply ache to achieve.

Be humane

Confucianism teaches the importance to be humane to one another. We are all enduring the same existence. Everyone else has probably had their heart broken, been grief-stricken or been betrayed at some point down the line. We should be conscious of this fact.
Showing compassion to one another will enable us to partially alleviate the pain of our fellow human beings. This can also help us to maintain a moral character. Often, this doesn’t have to be more than a passing comment to both those we love and those we feel inclined to despise.
Confucius ultimately believed that being humane to one another is crucial for individual morality but also for an ethical society. The thought is that if individuals are ethical to one another, then this will provide a foundation for a moral society.

Let things happen

spiritual beliefs science
When things don’t go our way in life, we can frustratingly try to make things happen. We may also try to stop things from happening. Our attempts to try and force this could prove futile and create unnecessary harm in the process. Rather than trying to change or prevent inevitabilities, sometimes it is better to just ride the wave.
These ideas are prominent in Taoism and places emphasis on essentially letting nature run its course. The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu believed in the importance of being in harmony with nature and the universe. This is an important trope of eastern philosophy.
We should accept our place in the cosmos and stop resisting the inevitable forces that come our way. Only then can we hope to reach a state of calm.
True fulfilment comes with accepting what is natural and inevitable. So just let things happen.

Life is a state of continuous change

Our lives are always changing in many different ways. We become older, we lose friends and family, we may be offered a job, we may lose a job, our relationships will end and new ones will begin.
Knowing that the past is unalterable and being aware that our lives will head off into differing directions can cause us distress.  We may regret our past actions or lament opportunities that we didn’t capitalise on.
Rather than despairing on these matters, we should perhaps gain a different perspective on them. Yes, our lives will scarily and quickly change and moments will pass. But this means our suffering and pain is also impermanent.
Just as the trees around us grow, the plants die and landscapes change, our lives are also constantly altering. We will still bemoan the good that is now in the past. But this change can mark the passing of dark times in our lives allowing us the space to rebuild and prepare for a more prosperous future.

The self is a state of continuous change

It is useful to realise that ‘the self’ is always altering just like life always is. We are often pressured to believe that we must ‘discover who we are’ or have other similar idioms inflicted on us in modern society. But facets of our individual selves can constantly change.
Our dream job can be something of continual development and discovery. The vision of our ideal partner can be subject to frequent amendments. Finally, our political convictions may change over time.
Sticking rigidly to self-imposed or socially imposed constraints can cause us frustration and distress. This happens when we know they will not ultimately provide us with the fulfilment we crave.
Don’t be afraid to embrace your changing ideas, convictions or beliefs. It is a sign that your individual self is constantly developing. It should be exciting to explore such changes and should provide you with the freedom to find true fulfilment in what you choose to do.

Always move forward

Signs You Have Found Your Path in Life
Confucius reminds us of the importance of ensuring that we are always moving forward. If you are dealing with a setback in your life or if you are struggling to achieve a goal, it is important to keep on moving in the right direction, however small the steps may be.
Perhaps you have been rejected for several jobs, feel unsatisfied with your personal life or feel stagnated as a result of a job that you are in. It is important not to feel as if you are retreating away from what you think will ultimately fulfil you.
If you appear to reach an impasse then actively change something about your life, however minimal or drastic. Sometimes making a change is what is necessary for your own well being; to ensure you are moving in the right direction towards fulfilment – whatever this may entail.

Gain strength from your suffering

As the Buddha said, and as we have already discussed about eastern philosophy, life is full of pain and suffering. There may be several moments in our existence when we may feel as if we are coming apart at the seams.
It is one of the most important facts about our lives that we should be aware of. But being aware of this fact is only part of the way we should deal with it.
We should not try to forget, disguise or quell our sufferings or failings. Instead, we should recognise, accept and learn from them. As a result, we will be better prepared in the future to rebuild our lives if we need to when they become inexplicably broken or damaged.
We are all deeply lonely and fractured beings. We are all struggling in some way or another, but we can all be healed and repaired. It is important not to fall into bitterness or angerabout what has happened to us or neglect the reality of our difficulties. This will only leave our wounds open and intensify the suffering we feel.
If you are resentful over a painful event or a betrayal then you will, of course, for a time, be in despair. Yet, despite our anger as a result of these events, or our deeply held convictions to those who have wronged us, we should accept, learn from the experience and learn to forgivehowever hard it may be.
Perhaps then we will be able to stitch our lives back up with stronger seams than before.

Why is eastern philosophy relevant to us?

buddha eastern philosophy
Eastern philosophy is relevant to us because it speaks of the fundamental truths in our lives that we would perhaps struggle to conceive of or even want to avoid. Yet, it can gently remind us and teach us of these facets of our existence in a reassuring and comforting way.
The issues that troubled eastern philosophers and the people of their time were very much the same issues that we are grappling with now. We are all suffering the same, facing the same frustrations and are all faced with difficult decisions.
Eastern philosophy helps to calmly and serenely ease our anxieties to help us get through these things through soothing imagery, poetic words and encouraging us to simply let ourselves run our course with nature.
It is an attractive alternative to western philosophy if we ever pine for a little bit of calm amongst the chaos of our lives.
References:
  1. https://plato.stanford.edu
  2. https://www.ancient.eu

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 


 
 
 
COPYRIGHT © 2019 LEARNING MIND. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. FOR PERMISSION TO REPRINT, CONTACT US.
 

About the Author: Alexander



I am an English and Philosophy graduate and freelance writer and blogger. I have always been fascinated by art, culture and philosophy, and believe they are an integral and important part of all of our lives. My particular interests and passions include Film and ancient Greek philosophy.
 
 



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If you use discernment you are free to research with an open mind. 


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publicado por achama às 02:49
A Luz está a revelar a Verdade, e esta libertar-nos-á! -Só é real o AMOR Incondicional. -Quando o Amor superar o amor pelo poder, o mundo conhecerá a Paz; Jimi Hendrix. -Somos almas a ter uma experiência humana!

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