And yet it controls our lives.
Worse yet, there are others that use it to control YOUR life.
Let me give you two examples: Politicians and religions.
Before you start throwing things at me, let me offer a little disclaimer. I consider myself to be a spiritual being having a human experience. I consider you to be the same. Additionally, this is my blog so I get to write whatever I want.
So, let's start with religion. I believe that Hell does not exist anyplace other than your mind. It was put there to make you behave a certain way. Do this or go to hell etc. I have a friend who has a relative that once gave a fortune to the church. As a result, the church granted this person and her family a lifetime of "indulgences." The church basically said, "We went behind that curtain in the corner and spoke to God. He said thanks for the cash and all is forgiven - forever."
Really? People actually believe this?
Sure, I believe in God but I don't think he is anything like the one you learn about while sitting on a wooden pew. If it makes you angry to hear me say this, you may ask yourself why? Why does this make you angry?
Religions use fear to control YOU.
How about the politicians? I voted for George W. twice. Both times it was because I believed him when he said only he could protect me. About a week after he won his second term, I began to see that my fear had been used to control ME.
And I didn't like it. Won't happen again.
I just watched Obama's speech on financial reform. He basically said, "Here is the evidence of what the current system produced. Here is what I want to do which is basically make the others tell the truth and take away those toys the financial institutions have proven they cannot be trusted with."
To me, this is a straight forward and simple plan.
I can already hear the counter arguments. They will not be based on facts. They will say things like, "This will raise your taxes or create a financial Death Panel or run up the deficit" or anything else that makes you afraid. My advice is simple.
Don't be afraid.
Let the facts guide you not the rhetoric. If I hear a sound argument against the plan, I will change my option.
If I see evidence that God is hanging out behind the green curtain in the corner, I will start tithing immediately.But I will not be afraid simply because someone tells me to do what they want or bad things will happen.
It has been my experience that our natural inclination is to give an undo higher weight to a possibly negative outcome. If someone said, there is a 3% chance that letting the government control derivatives will have a bad result, we will panic, forgetting that this means there is a 97% chance that it will have a good result.
I have decided to let fear go.
I am going to take a vacation from those thoughts that are nothing but thoughts with a bad aftertaste. This does not mean things will be perfect in my life. But it does mean I am taking back some of the control I have given away. It means I will stop wasting time speculating about a negative outcome; instead, focusing on those positive things that are all around me.
Like my mustache has nearly grown back...sort of.
http://www.worldgratitudelist.com
Leave a list. Read a list. Be happy.
j
