Ambient

Consider this: 92% of the worlds population feel that their lives could be better. What about you?

If you could do anything, anything at all, what would you do? What are you doing now?

Imagine that you could live your life and it could not get better and never have the feeling that you'd rather be doing something else, be somewhere else, or be someone else. Now consider this: some people actually live that way, and so could you.

Contemplate this: what if 90% of the problems you encountered in your life were only mere illusions and only existed in your mind.

In your eyeday life, whenever something annoys you, stresses you, makes you mad, or makes you sad. Consider that that something really matters.

Will you even remember, how you felt, in one day, one week, one month, one year, or what about in ten years? So when the people you work for pressure you, and fail to understand you, does it really matter? And when they call you on the phone, screaming and yelling, does it really matter? And should you really allow that influence in your life?

It's all about choices.

Hope I've been enlightening and look forward to your feedback

Interesting insight.

I think so too, but I never really commented because I didn't have time...and I didn't really know what all to say, I didn't want to just say "cool" you know?

I decided, after being inspired by a transexual preacher I saw on the Wisdom Cable television program, that certain things in life are just not worth worrying over.

I also learned from a really good teacher in school, that yes we do have choices. We can choose to panic and be distracted by things, or we can choose to let it go.

I choose to let it go (although some people still annoy me, and only because they are mean to other people or are insecure and react on it with others, BOY do I hate that) but overall, I have become more.. ehemm.. BLISSFUL in my life by LETTING IT GO!!!!

Very insightful thought. Thanks for starting this thread.

O'nus, I just want to say I really appreciate that post.
I'd like to think that I'm intelligent enough to realize the "fickle-ness" of everything that can potentially bring you down...but the thing is I think too much, and thus, I also realize the "fickle-ness" of everything that can potentially bring you up. The way I see it, it doesn't matter how much power you give outside influence...what matters is how much you give to negativity and to positivity. Many people give too much power to negativity. But I'm not so sure it would be any healthier to give more power to positivity... I acknowledge both equally, and that seems to be a healthy-enough balance.
I also realize that a lot of things are all in your head. Everyone very much is their own worst critic. I think it's important to stay as much like you were as a little kid as you can - naive, curious, observant, open-minded, etc. I think I have a pretty good understanding of a lot of things (well for a complaining, piece-of-shit 17-year-old anyway :wink: ), but that just makes me realize how much I don't understand. But there certainly are things that aren't just in your head...I'd like to know how you're supposed to live with something like that when it's always on your mind, but there's little else to do besides not think about it.

To answer your question: If I could do anything at all, I think it would be to make my existence - my self. I know that sounds vague, but that's because I can't really name any specific disappointments that are much more significant than any others...nor can I name any that aren't relative to nearly every other disappointment. More specifically, I just wish I could make up and alter my surroundings and myself, as I see fit, just as easily as I draw and erase lines on paper. Being such an obsessive artist, I think of everything as or in terms of art. Unfortunately, not everything is subject to the same possibilities, it seems.
I try to do as much as I possibly can: I consciously act the way that makes me feel best, and try to do everything for the right reasons. Luckily I've not required a lot of conscious altering in order to be the best me I think I can be...I'm thankful that I at least am this close. Nature has been pretty good to me. :happygolucky:

So, conclusively, at least 'temporaryism' is always a consolation. It swings both ways though, the good as well as the bad, will not last forever. So imperfections and disappointments are good.. they remind you to stay at arm's length and they soften the blow of uncertainty, I think.

Ah, reconditioning one's self to be happy with what one has, and with who one is. I agree with that to some extent, and disagree as well. Regardless, it's in our nature to always seek more than we have--to always yearn for just a little bit more.

It's important to like one's self, of course, because our general attitude towards ourselves influences our behaviour and our disposition; if we are happy with who we are, people can see this through how we act. I, personally, see life as a journey of introspection and self-improvement; thus, I don't fully agree with conditioning one's self to be content with exactly who he or she is. I feel that if one becomes absolutely happy with who he or she is, then he or she loses the drive--or the desire--to become a better person. If we lose that desire, then we stop growing as individuals and the opportunity to become more than we started out as wanes.

As for considering whether things matter, well, everything does. Everything matters. You've titled your post "ambient," I believe hinting that much of the seemingly-extraneous events that occur need not affect our moods or our mental-health. Every single event, as you shrewdly alluded to, presents us with a choice. With each undesirable situation we are presented with the opportunity to grow as people. Thus, instead of dismissing an event as "not mattering," I would instead see it as an opportunity.

Certainly many of the events that occur during our lives we will forget, regardless of how significant they seem at the time. Everything takes a turn in shaping who we are, however. If we allow ourselves to succumb to perpetual worry or fear, then we greatly hinder our chances of self-improvement. Personally, I feel everything happens for a reason. Thus I think nothing should be disregarded; again, everything to me is an opportunity.

off i go now.

Yes, icedawg, I agree with what you said about self-improvement. I think it's important to have drive for improvement as well as contentment. The reason I just wish I could create everything myself is basically because it would be the easiest, most unlimited way to improvement.
It's also interesting, what was said about choices. Choices are very important. I think it's good to understand what choices are and that they're always being made whether it seems like it or not. Choices are more encompassing that they seem, I think. They aren't just decisions on this or that, choices are all happenings. In fact, it's a choice in and of itself just to realize/deny the fact that something is a choice - belief or disbelief.
I agree that it's good to see things as opportunities too; they're not something to be wasted. But they come and go more quickly than can be discerned, and that's difficult to deal with.
I believe thinking about what you have to offer is good as well. In any and every situation...think about what the potential is, of you and the situation/circumstance. Like you said, icedawg, some kind of meaning can be found in everything. And I guess it's good to strive for purpose....to not regret anything because, like you said icedawg, everything is an experience and helps make you who you are.

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Self improvement is masturbation[/b]

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Acceptance of who we are and the realisation that we are not important is very diffcullt to deal with, but this is a step forward. To believe that you can not better yourself is a very self-important view. Something people can do without........

All the time that we feel ourselves to be important, we are open to attack. If someone tells you that you're a complete tosser and you think highly of yourself, then it's going to get to you...if you lack self importance, how can these statements possible matter to you. On the other hand, you don't want to find yourself without confidence.... It's difficult to find the balance between confidence and self importance.

When we die, not a grain of sand on the earth/universe will change or notice us depart. We are so microscopic in realation to the vastness of what IS. How can we possibly run around feeling ourselves to be of the importance that many do.

The world is filled with folly that can not be escaped.... controlled folly is the only answer here. Being AWARE of what you are doing is essential. AWARENESS is essential.

The glass can either be half empty of half full.

As a child you are naive, curious etc, but as you grow these charactoristics are lost. They are lost in order to be recovered maybe, but with the accompanying awareness that wasn't there when younger?

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Originally posted by Maystar

The glass can either be half empty of half full.

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It's both at the same time.

I am not happy with who and what I am, and will probably never be. There are many parts of me that I don't like but I wouldn't want to just \"magically\" change those things because then the changes wouldn't mean anything to me.

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Originally posted by O'nus

Contemplate this: what if 90% of the problems you encountered in your life were only mere illusions and only existed in your mind.

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I actually think a lot about different problems and the solutions to them. However, as usual when I think about philosophical questions I never seem to come up with an answer.

i feel my life could be better. to make it better i would seek more schooling... and rather than just do it (like high school) i want to be interested in it. i want to be knowledgeable (yes i know that's a relative term). i would want to be carefree, i don't want to worry about money. not in the way that i have an ass load of money, more in the way that i don't need money to survive. i want my own island, a place i call home, no taxes, no pressures... no politics... no religion, i never want to hear another word about some god that cant be proven. i don't want to have to choose my political affiliation. i don't want to maintain relationships with people i don't like, just so i can go out with them every other weekend and get drunk. i want to be carefree. i want one girl that i can spend the rest of my life with and not have to worry about what might or might not happen -- right now im in a trivial school where everything is so "dramatic" relationships... teachers... everything. but i still go 5 days a week, i go and i waste my life at this place. i have commitments, i have responsibilities, i have friends, i have family, i have a job, and i have a car that i cant keep running to save my soul. i don't want all that, i want simplicity. -- i try not to let the little stuff annoy me. being misunderstood does really piss me off though. i probably wont remember it but i still don't want to be seen as someone i'm not.

then i step back and look at the big picture. i will never be carefree... ever. neither will you. if you want to be a functioning person you're going to have problems, you're not going to be 100% content with your surroundings, no matter how much wealth, friendship, love you have. if you value anything in life, your always going to be concerned about it. big or small. -- now all i can do is live within societies rules, do my best and support myself and my family. im by no means a drone set out to do someone else's work, but im not free either. im in the gray area... story of my life.

the thing with worrying is that it is absolutely pointless. it is waste of mental energy which can be directed into to trying to solve the problem positively. we are always going to have problems, but it is how we deal with them that counts. when we make a decision, then that is final and there should be no regrets. regrets waste time.

not enough people appreciated the fact that death is stalking us - use him to your advantage. enjoy just being here.

the days when i wake up and feel miserable or am wishing for more, i think about what i HAVE and not what I haven't. Of late, times when I have worried about things, it often seems to coincide with news reports of earthquakes and war that is going on around the world - this shakes me out of my 'oh my life is full of hardship' view.... because really, it isn't. It is all about perception, even your troubles and worries. Not many people realise this and as you get older many people still remain as 'dramatic'. Take pleasure from the fact that you are able to let it wash over you and keep your head whilst all others around you are loosing it..... Its a hard thing to learn, but one of great importance. You find less and less 'touching' you. But beware not to become self-important and rightous. There is no room for anything like that if you want to accept your life and be truly content with it.

This world will not allow us to become carefree, but then no world/reality would. You always need to care, just be selective of what you care for.

Never think that you are wasting your time.

hm, great posts.

It's difficult for me to discuss sometimes, in terms that the majority can understand. I find it much harder to express myself to someone else, than to just sit in my room, pen in hand, and just write and draw, for myself, what flows out of my limbs. But I enjoy trying to anyway.

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Originally posted by Maystar
As a child you are naive, curious etc, but as you grow these charactoristics are lost. They are lost in order to be recovered maybe, but with the accompanying awareness that wasn't there when younger?

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I know it seems like an oxymoron, but it is one of the main things I strive for. Looking back, I am proud of my unaffected self. That's when everyone truly is theirself...that's the main reason I try to learn as much as I can from my child self, and try my best to get back to the Me before anything got a hold on me. By doing this, I've actually become more proud of who I've become today...in me, I can see that little boy, alive and well.
So, another way of putting what I want, would be to say that I just wish everyone could stay little kids forever...at least retain that mentality.

There's much more to it than this child aspect. I can't collectively say everything I want to without branching out on tangents. I try to cut the ends loose where it makes sense to...but there's always more I want to say...

The bulk of the post is ment to give the message that self-improvement, these theories on developing a "perfect" character, and all of lifes other problems, are what makes our lives depressing if we give them that light.

As Shakespeare said:

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There is no good or bad
But thinking makes it so
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I'm a strong believe in relativism as it truly speaks the most logic and obvious (I think).

What if 90% of your lifes problems were mere illusions and existed only in your mind? All these thoughts of self-improvement and mistakes you've done, if you were able to easily overlook then, learn, and move on, instead of escalating and perpetuating your problems; you could be a happier person. Why try for self-improvement if you like yourself already? Sure there's hiccups every now and then, but no road is straight, and a straight road is boring.

Far too much to say about this, and I havn't much time.. I'll post more later (damn paperwork).

Hope I've been enlightening regardless

As Shakeaspeare also said:

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The first thing we do, let's kill all lawyers.[/b]

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just because you want more, want to be better, deosnt mean we arent happy now as is...i only wish to improve myself...if we lose all desire to improve, we also lose all desire to continue living

There's desiring to be a better person, and obsessing to become a better person, like a perfectionist or a depressive character. Both have come to the significant spectrum of desire for a better life and person.

If you are able to accept changes in life and move on, learn from them, and what not, then you are a happy individual. If you must beat yourself up over every change, mistake, or challenge, then you are creating and perpetuating your frustration.

I understand the concept that it is hard to look at the flowers and smell them after being lashed by the whips of society several times, but you still easily have the ability to do so.

Life's about living and experiencing what the world has to offer; not developing a "perfect" character, because that doesn't exist. Enjoying life and yet hating it are both what we must experience, but we can't let them consume our lives, for them we won't have one. We can't let our careers consume our lives in hopes of achieving a happier one, or school, or anything else. You can't live your life for the future and by goals in hopes of happiness, because then you yourself are perpetuating your sadness and feeling of devoid joy.

Hm.. I think that explains it a little.

Hope I've been enlightening