Your body
speaks the words your mind dares not express and heart refuses to acknowledge,
for there is no surefire way to cease the inevitable flow of energy derived
from pure emotions. Those who look carefully can visually witness such energy
by interacting with other individuals, the array of colors that vary with each
mood and scenario. The pleasantness of such colors are marked not only by the
exuder, but also by the interpreter; in other words, a form of aural daltonism.
This put in
layman’s terms, what you think others intend by their reactions alone is more
often than not very dissimilar from your interpretation, and here’s where the
plot thickens: in order to successfully carry out social and productive
interaction this is a pre-requisite.
There’s an
upside to being overly analytical: self-awareness. However, the result of this
obviously biased auto diagnosis often leads to the same conclusion, or as
Einstein puts it: “…doing things over and over and expecting different results”.
But merely acknowledging an issue is only a part of it. The interesting part is
witnessing others’ reactions to such stimuli and, consequently, your own
reactions to theirs.
The fact of
the matter is, the unpredictability of our actions is what makes us exceptional
beings. Other species show behavioral patterns, survival measures, each being
serving a purpose, to self and to the whole. But what makes us different is
ultimately our salvation and demise: free will.
If human
nature dictates an individual would never self destruct or harm itself, or its
ego for that matter, then admitting your flaws are not only a sign of strength
other than weakness, but one step closer to enlightenment. And here’s where
pride comes in, creeping its narcissistic head over the inflated cloud of ego.
No one
really knows what to do more than half of the time, but decisions need to be
made, leaders need to step up, responsibility needs to be assumed… As long as
your judgment is not impaired by blind pride. To balance it out, a healthy dose
of humility needs to be applied and thus, the yang to its ying.
Personal
growth derives from our ability to assimilate other’s experiences as positive
stimulation, to look at things not only for what they are, but for what they
could be. If you manage to not trip over the same rock as your predecessor, you
will have succeeded. To accept one’s success as a reflection of one’s ego is
relative to the person’s intentions with such awareness.
“If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
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