If we are just going to read blog posts then like and comment on them and do *nothing* to change our personal situation and the situation of our families and friends, things will never change.
This is so easy to state but so hard to put into practice. Since just yelling at people doesn’t usually work, I spend a lot of time musing about ways to develop initiative and will-power. I think it has to start with physical training. The mind follows the body. If we can get people physically strong and capable, then it is relatively simple to extend this discipline to other areas. If we start our day with squats and deadlifts, then everything else seems easy.
Excellent Fat Rabbit Iron! It is definitely hard. I think sometimes we worry too much about "how much we are doing" thinking we just have to get involved in some kind of movement to affect change, but I know from my own life experience this is not necessary in all cases. So often if we just find that one thing that we know we can do it really makes a difference. I used to be a wino. Yep, I drank up to 2 liters of wine a day. And a guy at work told me one day that he quit drinking. I respected this guy and said, "you know what, I'm going to do the same thing!" And, I did. 12 years later without a drop of booze, it's one of the best decisions I ever made and I made that decision because of what someone else was doing. I wouldn't be sitting here writing if I hadn't made that decision to change my world (my thinking was whack and hazy all the time) We *can* make a difference. We can overcome evil and all of the madness in our world, but we have to act. The longer we wait for someone else to take up the mantle, the further we go into darkness, hopelessness and that hole may end up being so deep we truly will get to a point where there is no return. Sorry for the mini rant. Thanks for sharing what you are doing to change *your* world.
The theosophists knew this long ago, that you can’t change the future, you cannot change other people. You can only change yourself. “Be the change you want to see in the world.” - that skinny guy in a bed sheet.
I try. I won’t work for a corporation that damages the earth. I won’t eat animals products because of the cruel and destructive practices of this industry. I won’t drive a car because they pollute. What do you do?
It's good to see that you totally get it Dollyboy. That's definitely the attitude I would like to see more of. Like I said in reply to another comment, it's frustrating when people think that the things they do, no matter how small, don't make a difference. But they do. Even if that difference is only in our own life. What do I do? Oh man... just read most of my posts. I do as much as I can, living what I believe and doing my best to practice what I "preach" in my posts. I don't ever mention things for others to do that I haven't either done or tried to do in my own life. Thanks for visiting. :)
That is a tough one Brian, but an admirable goal. I think we all struggle with that one to a certain extent. I have to work on that pretty much every time I read something. Haha. But I have to remember that not everyone agrees with me either and might think I'm a loon. Personally, I don't care too much. If it's just opinion, I'll take it with a grain of salt. If what they are writing about is backed up factually, I will absolutely consider what they have to say. Thanks for checking out my post. :)
Thank you for sharing what you have done to change your world Just Me. We *do* make a difference when we change things or practice things that to others may seem out of the "norm". I just get frustrated when I see so many people feeling like they can't do anything to change things (And they're right in some ways... we can't magically change the evil politics of the world right now, but we may be able to later). We may never know the lives or opinions we change by taking stands at times. It gets depressing when we feel like we aren't making a difference. I totally get all of that. But we have to find that confidence in ourselves that no matter what we might assume others think of our choices, our focus must be on our world. Our bubble. The people that matter. And sometimes we may never change them either. But I believe we must continue to press on regardless. Thanks again for being so kind to share your comments. :)
If we are just going to read blog posts then like and comment on them and do *nothing* to change our personal situation and the situation of our families and friends, things will never change.
This is so easy to state but so hard to put into practice. Since just yelling at people doesn’t usually work, I spend a lot of time musing about ways to develop initiative and will-power. I think it has to start with physical training. The mind follows the body. If we can get people physically strong and capable, then it is relatively simple to extend this discipline to other areas. If we start our day with squats and deadlifts, then everything else seems easy.
I disagree slightly in that I think the mind controls the body, but I get your point and appreciate the do something attitude.
Excellent Fat Rabbit Iron! It is definitely hard. I think sometimes we worry too much about "how much we are doing" thinking we just have to get involved in some kind of movement to affect change, but I know from my own life experience this is not necessary in all cases. So often if we just find that one thing that we know we can do it really makes a difference. I used to be a wino. Yep, I drank up to 2 liters of wine a day. And a guy at work told me one day that he quit drinking. I respected this guy and said, "you know what, I'm going to do the same thing!" And, I did. 12 years later without a drop of booze, it's one of the best decisions I ever made and I made that decision because of what someone else was doing. I wouldn't be sitting here writing if I hadn't made that decision to change my world (my thinking was whack and hazy all the time) We *can* make a difference. We can overcome evil and all of the madness in our world, but we have to act. The longer we wait for someone else to take up the mantle, the further we go into darkness, hopelessness and that hole may end up being so deep we truly will get to a point where there is no return. Sorry for the mini rant. Thanks for sharing what you are doing to change *your* world.
The theosophists knew this long ago, that you can’t change the future, you cannot change other people. You can only change yourself. “Be the change you want to see in the world.” - that skinny guy in a bed sheet.
I try. I won’t work for a corporation that damages the earth. I won’t eat animals products because of the cruel and destructive practices of this industry. I won’t drive a car because they pollute. What do you do?
It's good to see that you totally get it Dollyboy. That's definitely the attitude I would like to see more of. Like I said in reply to another comment, it's frustrating when people think that the things they do, no matter how small, don't make a difference. But they do. Even if that difference is only in our own life. What do I do? Oh man... just read most of my posts. I do as much as I can, living what I believe and doing my best to practice what I "preach" in my posts. I don't ever mention things for others to do that I haven't either done or tried to do in my own life. Thanks for visiting. :)
I am trying to not be super critical of other people's writing/thoughts/actions. It is proving to be very difficult for me but am having some success.
That is a tough one Brian, but an admirable goal. I think we all struggle with that one to a certain extent. I have to work on that pretty much every time I read something. Haha. But I have to remember that not everyone agrees with me either and might think I'm a loon. Personally, I don't care too much. If it's just opinion, I'll take it with a grain of salt. If what they are writing about is backed up factually, I will absolutely consider what they have to say. Thanks for checking out my post. :)
That's a hard task. Well done you.
You remind me of me. Have you thought about an exit bag?
Thank you for sharing what you have done to change your world Just Me. We *do* make a difference when we change things or practice things that to others may seem out of the "norm". I just get frustrated when I see so many people feeling like they can't do anything to change things (And they're right in some ways... we can't magically change the evil politics of the world right now, but we may be able to later). We may never know the lives or opinions we change by taking stands at times. It gets depressing when we feel like we aren't making a difference. I totally get all of that. But we have to find that confidence in ourselves that no matter what we might assume others think of our choices, our focus must be on our world. Our bubble. The people that matter. And sometimes we may never change them either. But I believe we must continue to press on regardless. Thanks again for being so kind to share your comments. :)