Into the win
I once wrote about Steem being a golden ticket to a potential future that most could only dream about. I still believe that and perhaps even more so at these prices as it gives opportunities people didn't have before. But off Steem, I wonder what people get into into, are they working toward something or living a life of subsistence?
While we are animals which have the inbuilt survival instinct, we are likely much more complex a creature than the average monkey as we have an acute awareness of our experience and can knowingly affect the environment well beyond the reach of our arms to satisfy our demands.
While subsistence is one thing, none of us probably dream of a life of instinctual survival as the be all goal of life experience. We all want improvement of some kind, whether in resource or relationship, external or internal. Something more than what we feel we have.
How many are actively working toward an improved position, how many are in life to win? I am not talking about beating others here, more the process of self-improvement that moves us along the path. Be the change is more than a token catchphrase, for any of us to really satisfy ourselves, movement has to take place, change of some sort is necessary, even if that is just a shift in psychology, in understanding.
Often though, it requires activity of some sort too, action that introduces experience and opportunity to practice our change, an out of mind experience. When we spend so much time thinking, the action is often left to the wayside forgotten and buried under theory. I like theories but is a life lived, lived through theory alone?
If we are designed to improve in life but aren't in the thick of it, are we selling ourselves short, limiting or potential? Is it our beliefs or physical capabilities that hold us back from getting into the win?
Out of curiosity, do you think it possible to lose at life? What would that look like?
For me, perhaps a life devoid of love completely would be considered failing to live a life well. But then, love as I see it is unbounded and eternal so, maybe it is not that it is not present at all, it would be the lack of understanding that it is always available.
To build understanding is an action too.
A movement into the win.
Taraz
[ a Steem original ]
(posted from phone)
Self-improvement is good and satisfying. For some it is a no brainer. However many are dumbed down by poor diet, fluoride or so enslaved to work and debt that they cannot find self improvement. These are the sheeple that are imprisoned to the system and are not awake. They are drugged. One must eat well in diet mind and soul , before one can be well enough to appreciate the value of self improvement. Thanks @tarazkp
Surround yourself with the best possible and when it comes to information, the amount of money one has doesn't matter much on the internet.
Interesting question... it's just dawned on me now that I'm finally settled again all I really want is a simple life.... now I've got enough to subsist off it's time for me to get back to the meditation I've decided.
For me once I've got my basic needs it's a matter of refining the quality of conciousness... thankfully I don't nedd much for that. In fact everything I need is pretty much right here!
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quality of consciousness is probably the largest move one can make, even though it is one of the simplest.
"Out of curiosity, do you think it possible to lose at life? What would that look like?"
I would say that not having dreams/goals would be a failure of life. But I suppose it could also mean that life to that point was very rich in experiences and people already have wonderful memories. In that case I probably can't call it a failure...
Currently I would say that me not being in steemfest 3 was a huge failure. But it strengthens my resolve to reach steemfest 4.If I will manage to turn the tables and use that failure as a foundation for my future success it will no longer be a failure.
Failure could also be the lack of attempt to adapt to change. Working toward what one considers is a better quality of existence can never really be seen a failure.
I'm not so sure. I think the only thing that separates humans from animals is the ability to communicate. Imagine a world where people can't communicate.
No one knows how to do basic math. People don't even know what numbers are. Every idea and invention dies with the inventor. It's impossible to form a group with a common goal. Without communication, we are nothing.
Language was the first construct that elevated us above other animals. Then we invented writing. The first discovered piece of papyrus was a ledger. Then we invented the printing press. Then we started printing money on the printing press. Then we invented the Internet. Now we are printing money on the Internet.
Andreas Antonopoulos explains how Bitcoin is not a currency. It is more of a platform extending our social constructs. Crypto is a form of language.
In this context, it becomes obvious that Steem is already too big to fail. Our community and ability to communicate is already large enough to keep the ball rolling, even if the value of Steem to USD falls 100 fold more.
Life is not a win/lose zero-sum game. Goals and priorities are different for everyone. Language and money allow us to express those priorities and goals.
Well, enhanced language skills right? Animals communicate. Maybe the evolution of our superior language is driven by our heightened awareness of our environment and our ability to influence it. Communication is just another tool in our kit.
With awareness we can use that communication tool to collaborate and solve problems much larger than any one person could or, destroy ourselves completely.
Yeah, the communication has to be advanced enough to create an emergent synergized network effect of unanticipated benefits.
This kind of synergy can be seen in ant colonies. Each type of ant has a tiny job, but when you add up all the jobs crazy things start happening. Leaf-cutter ants use the leaves they cut to farm aphids and then consume the aphids.
When one considers how basic ants are it's hard to imagine how they could have possibly evolved to do such a thing, yet the evidence is right in front of our faces.
The ants just need enough evolutionary time to develop. I think we just got randomized lucky before them.
I think one can fail at life by utterly wasting it. I have a sad example of my son. College degree in criminal justice, veteran who served a tour of duty in Iraq, father to two beautiful children - now sitting behind bars after getting involved with drugs and losing everything except his life. Now failure doesn't have remain his lot forever. He's back in his right mind after the drug addiction and he is determined to come out the end of this nightmare and make a better life. We'll see in another 3 years how determined that will can remain. He's a very intelligent guy who made some very bad choices, he has the ability and the desire to succeed in the aftermath.
Perhaps the experience can bring him back stronger and empowered in ways he wouldn't have been otherwise. Some people need the stability of rock bottom to provide the foundation to spring from.
Yes, that's what I'm hoping. It was like watching a train wreck you just couldn't stop. He has to do it for himself. And I really feel that I could just as easily have ended up visiting the cemetery instead of the prison. No mother wants to be here, but I believe he can do it. Thanks for your comment!
No parent wants to watch their child suffer but at some point, our lives become our own and we must take responsibility for it. I hope your son works it out and makes his life one he values.
Unfortunately, I don’t think many of us think this way as they are impacted early in their life by society and those that surround them follow the herd which leads towards a concept of life that may not fit ones ideals. I experience it very often with successful professionals that are not happy with the exception of the brief time they have to spend their wealth on material things that are quickly forgotten and not fulfilling. It’s unfortunate as so much talent is wasted this way instead of seeking betterment for all, being stuck in the individualist side...
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Many think they can be long-lasting contentment as long as they have enough resources. It is part of the trap set that makes us want to work ever harder for a higher step on the endless ladder.