Introduction and Disclaimer

In this blog, I have a desire to capture some of the philosophical, metaphysical and personal truths that I've spent my life searching to uncover. I will post about once per week. I don't claim, in any way, to have the answers or any indisputable truths to share. But, it is my belief that we are not meant to be alone, to walk alone... I don't believe that we can make it that way. In fact, I don't believe that it is possible to truly learn from oneself. I think we require others to gain truly new information, insights and thoughts. It is only when we connect together that we actually grow outside of our own boundaries and become more. No man nor woman is an island. I think this is a fundamental truth that it feels like the world has forgotten. So, to this end, I wish to open up a dialog. I will share my ideas with you here, and perhaps someday, someway, my reader will share their thoughts with me. And in this way, we will both become more. 

self-ac·tu·al·i·za·tion

noun

the realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potentialities, especially considered as a drive or need present in everyone.

In humanistic psychology, there was a famous theorist named Abraham Maslow, who studied and posterized on self-actualization. He built upon Kurt Goldstein's premise that it is the master motive, the only real motive. Which led him to develop his well-known Hierarchy of Needs pyramid. Self-actualization being the pinnacle of said pyramid, only attainable after all basic and mental needs are essentially fulfilled (such as food, shelter, safety, being loved, etc.)

Assuming our basic needs and desires are mostly fulfilled, we can each pursue the journey of personal self-actualization. And that is where I wish to begin. There is a wide area of thought I wish to explore, so I will briefly lay out a rough outline of underlying principles which I believe in to set the stage before I begin in earnest. 

First, I believe that we each have an indisputable, universal value which is inherent and does not fluctuate or diminish, regardless of any experiences we go through. I once saw an illustration of this idea by a professor who asked his students if they wanted a particular shiny, new $20 bill. After they said yes, he proceeded to crumple the bill and grind it under his foot in the dirt, rendering it perceptibly dirtier and less pristine than originally. He then asked the class if anyone still wanted the bill, which, of course, they did. The lesson was clear. Nothing short of complete destruction had any effect on the intrinsic monetary value of the bill. I believe the same principle extends to human souls, though we speak of personal worth and value rather than monetary value. 

Second, beyond this universal value, I also believe that we each have a unique and irreplaceable personal value. And I believe true self-actualization requires that we discover and ponder this very thing. It takes all kinds to make the world go round. So, what is it that makes you, you? Why can’t anyone else be you or add to the world what you do? We all have a need to feel useful and important. But it can be difficult to A) see yourself clearly and B) hold onto your sense of value and identity. I think there are many ways to seek this kind of insight, but I will offer mine. For me, I see myself as a collection of talents both developed and potential, and personality traits some shared in degrees and some unique, and attributes or “virtues” both light and dark, as well as a presence of conscious awareness and will, with the power of choice and soul-deep desires. I contain the divine powers of creation, love, and choice. I can be whatever I can envision and desire. I am powerful. I believe that we all are. I have an infinite and beautiful potential self and a limited and weak shadow self. I am everything and nothing. And it is my choice as to what I will manifest for my own destiny; what I will become. Just as it is your choice who you will be. 

I believe in the infinite value of every soul and I personally choose to seek the ability to love each one I discover and uncover. I love to see the truth of a person. And I choose to withhold judgements, to the best of my limited mortal ability. But that does not mean that I allow destructive elements into my trust zone. It can be very hard to trust, especially when you’ve been hurt. And I think being hurt is another universal experience. Yet, I don’t think we should allow pain to deny us the experience of being connected and feeling love. So this is my personal philosophy. In my experience, there is a milieu of aspects to reality and truth to be explored. It serves little purpose in my journey of self-actualization to close my mind to unfamiliar perspectives or limit possibilities by creating boundaries based on what is “known” or on what I know. If you wish to journey with me, then I expect you to resist those limiting conclusions or judgements. After all, evolution is about growing outside of the “box”.

val·ues

noun

1. 1. the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.

2. 2. a person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life.

As we embark on this journey of discovery, I imagine the topics I wish to cover may be considered by some to be "sensitive" in nature. I want to discuss morality and ethics, philosophy, spirituality and the areas of what I'd call the "grey" sciences, such as psychology or theoretical quantum physics and metaphysics. I believe in using the scientific method to observe and posit theories, however, I do not believe in being limited in creative thought by only what is observed. I will present scientific evidence in a non-biased way, but I will also freely express personal and theoretical conclusions on such, because this book is about thinking and possibilities, not limits. What you will not see is any posturing to a particular political or moral viewpoint or attitude. I believe that anything which touches upon personal beliefs and values has the power to touch and change both ourselves and others. Please understand that my intention is not to convert or discredit anyone's personal values, only to share my own. Remember, this is just a book. It is just a peek inside this author's mind, heart and soul. I am gifting to my reader this glimpse into my most private and deeply felt beliefs and existential questions. You will likely see my fears and doubts. You can see them in this very paragraph. I only ask that you treat them with respect. I welcome constructive discussion on these viewpoints, but I expect you to know what you believe before you open your mouth. And what I mean by that is, I expect you to have put the thought and effort into understanding why you believe what you believe, if you want me to attend and listen.