5 Keys to Understanding Why Your Life (probably) Sucks # 4
We are in constant competition
If we take evolution seriously, then the reason why we lasted this long (individually and as a race) stems from the fact we have adopted a survivor mentality. Either consciously or unconsciously we subscribe to the "survival of the fittest" mentality. That means we see everyone and everything else as potential competitors. Whether the competition is about which political or religious system offers the best lifestyle or who has right of way in merging traffic, the competitive mind set thrives on proving my way of doing things is better, or my wants are more important, than yours.
As a result we become driven to prove we are bigger, stronger, faster, smarter, richer, more important than everyone else. Even once we achieve that goal, we need to maintain constant vigilance just in case someone else sneaks past our guard and proves themselves to be bigger, stronger etc.
This competitive nature happens on all levels, international, community or individual. It happens between human beings. It happens between the human race and nature.
The first European settlers in my own country (Australia) had the policy: 'If it moves, shoot it; if it doesn't move, chop it down.' Any person who works on the land knows what it's like to compete with the elements.
On a community and international level, our competitive mindset leads to doubts and suspicions, fear and hatred. The only possible way that sort of thinking can lead is into open conflict with the inevitable outcome of devastated lives.
The same can be said of our relationship with the environment.If we only see ourselves in competition with it, having to subdue it, then 'it' will suffer and so will we. The 'shoot it/chop it down' mentality of my forebears meansthere are vast tracts of land in this fragile country that are barren, desolate wastelands.
The consequences are that we take on an attitude that "it is better to be safe than to be sorry" That means we stop trying new things, and develop our lives as a safe fortress into which we can retreat from the hostile environment called life.
We become suspicious of anything that is different from us. So people of different ethnic origins from us, people who have different beliefs; people who have a different sexual orientation all challenge us by their very existence poses pose a very real threat to our own existence.
So, how do we deal with the mindset of competition? Whether it's with nature, or your fellow human beings, the answer can best be summed up in one word; Co-operation. I'm talking about a mindset of co-operation as the first step towards making your life less frustrating and more enjoyable. Such a mindset begins with the realisation that everything in your possession at this point in time came into being only as the result of many people's contribution. Think about it for a while and you will see that is true.
The upshot of that is I need you to make your contribution, just as you need me to make my contribution so that together we might live more complete lives. We all need each other.
That came home to me very strongly one time when the local garbage collectors went on strike for better conditions. As a result stinking, rotten garbage piled up in yards and in the street. It was a mess and made life very unpleasant for a while.
A job as a garbage collector is probably not one that many people aspire to, but those people provide an invaluable service, particularly in the throw-away society most of us live in.
But a change of mindset, from competition to co-operation can only start with one person. You. In fact you are the only person whose mind you can change. Trying to change someone else's mind only leads to trouble. You may find you need some help, but the first step, is to realise it IS possible and if you choose, you CAN do it.
Hey, that's two steps!
Because the first step in anything is always the hardest, you're already a significant way along the path to a better life.
Graham Hunt is the founder of Prentis Carpenter Center, an organisation established to resource an environment where those people who chose to do so could discover and work towards their potential. One way in which Graham is doing that is through his website http://www.higher-self-esteem-site.com/ Drop by anytime.
 Google News Updated : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:51:30 GMT Saving TV advertising the TiVo way - BBC News
BBC News - You gotta hand it to those bods over at TiVo land. First of all they invent a brilliant dvr for recording TV programmes that lets you skip adverts and gives you ultimate viewing power. TiVo Gets Its Own Shopping Channel: Amazon Is TiVo and Amazon's new ad system crazy? Or will it get you to ... Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:34:55 GMT Preston on Politics: PUMAs stalking Obama - CNN
CNN - By Mark Preston Not all of Sen. Hillary Clinton's supporters have fallen in line behind Sen. Barack Obama. Not exactly the slogan you want heading into your presidential nominating convention, but one that is being repeated online and in neighborhood ... Clinton supporters lend Obama a big fundraising hand Conservative Group Takes on Obama in Ad and Film Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:46:06 GMT Sox strong-arm Mariners again - Boston Globe
Boston Globe - The way the Mariners are swinging, a 12-year-old from Daisuke's old Little League team from Tokyo will gladly skip Williamsport and the Little League World Series, where they're scheduled to represent Japan, to take his shot at Seattle. Red Sox remain on course • Dice-K, Drew carry Sox past Mariners Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:42:27 GMT United parent secures $1 billion boost for liquidity, posts solid ... - MarketWatch
MarketWatch - By Christopher Hinton, MarketWatch NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- UAL Corp. has reached a new financial deal that could bolster its cash position by an additional $1 billion, strengthening the company's liquidity in the face of record-high fuel prices and ... UAL posts loss on fuel, ramps up downsizing effort From the Chicago Tribune Publ.Date : Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:38:10 GMT Phillies 8, Mets 6 Mets’ Shot at Win Goes Down Drain - New York Times
New York Times - By BEN SHPIGEL It was all there for the Mets, so nice and neat. A win against their fierce rival, and first place to boot - if only they had someone to notch the final three outs. Phillies rally past Mets to NL East lead, 8-6 Wagner's absence felt in defeat Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:53:56 GMT 'Golden Girls' actress Estelle Getty dies - New York Daily News New York Daily News - BY CARRIE MELAGO Diminutive actress Estelle Getty, who found fame late in life with her portrayal of a sharp-tongued Sicilian mother on "The Golden Girls," died Tuesday. Video: Estelle Getty of 'Golden Girls' Dies at 84 Remembering Estelle Getty Publ.Date : Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:41:45 GMT Microsoft speaks on Games for Windows Live changes - CNET News
CNET News - DirectX 11 is official, and it will include support for GPU programming, among other new features. We had a chance to talk to Kevin Unangst, Microsoft's Senior Director of Global Gaming, and he provided some more details. Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE – Promising Future For Aspiring Game Developers Microsoft: Make an Xbox 360 game and get paid Publ.Date : Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:07:25 GMT Clickbank Affiliate |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... My grandmother, Mimi, was a great solitaire player. My family... Read More What is wisdom? But first, what are the conditions that... Read More Are you content and at inner peace?Or are you insecure... Read More Let's just say? first thing when you popped out of... Read More Perhaps the most sought after thing in the world is... Read More I always marvel at the way people shine when they... Read More If you have a very low self esteem or a... Read More Women are conditioned to be people pleasers. Women are taught... Read More Sure it sounds easy? "Be happy." Let's face it there... Read More Are you living a balanced life?Many people are not. Their... Read More We are in constant competitionIf we take evolution seriously, then... Read More WE count the broken lyres that rest Where the sweet... Read More Laughter, humor, a lighthearted sense of being - all of... Read More Who is the happiest person in America? USA Today featured... Read More Are you an adrenaline junkie who is looking for balance?... Read More It was just a few degrees shy of swimming weather... Read More Most people don't even know they're doing it. Throughout the... Read More What makes you happy? What are the simple pleasures that... Read More I ran a contest in "Your Daily Dose of Happiness"... Read More What is the one thing you want more than anything... Read More A friend once said to me, "There is no meaning... Read More I have to be honest. I made the woman cashier... Read More Well, doesn't that depend on what's causing you to be... Read More Joy is sexy because in embracing our joy, we embrace... Read More Jesus says in Matthew 13:25"But while men slept, his enemy... Read More
Adsense
websites
May the Budgie of Happiness Sit on Your Head
Wisdom
Inner Peace
10 Easy Ways You Can Feel Happier, Be Healthier and Live Longer Starting NOW!
Happiness - Not Something To Pursue
Have Fun, Make Friends, Be Happy
You Need To Start To Like Yourself
Could Your Thoughts Sabotage Your Happiness? Take This Quiz And Find Out
5 Fabulous B?s for the Happiest You!
Create a Balanced Lifestyle and Begin Living a Happier, Healthier and Enriched Life
5 Keys to Understanding Why Your Life (probably) Sucks # 4
The Voiceless
The ABCs Of A Great Life: J Is For Joviality
Happiest Person In America: Whats Sex Got To Do With It?
Chasing The Whats Next
Having Fun with Life
Conversational Negative Self-Talk
Happy Buttons
How Do You Define Happiness?
Happy Talk and 3 Simple Secrets to Happiness
Finding Purpose and Meaning in Life
The Gift is in the Giving
Can Money Buy You Happiness?
Joy Is Sexy
Do You Still Have This Type of Dreams?
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
No Happiness Without Patience
I'm searching for modern happiness. The old-fashioned kind takes just... Read More
How To Be Outrageously Happy
You can be as happy as you want whenever you... Read More
SOLD! Again! Contrast Can Work FOR You
Have you ever had an experience where everything you wanted... Read More
Have You Ever Tasted The Fruit Of Pure Happiness?
Have you ever been really happy? Have you ever tasted... Read More
Eleven Keys to Success and Happiness
1. Mend a quarrel Seek out a forgotten friend and... Read More
Happiness Versus Pleasure
We are a pleasure seeking society. Most of us spend... Read More
5 Fabulous B?s for the Happiest You!
Sure it sounds easy? "Be happy." Let's face it there... Read More
Conversational Negative Self-Talk
Most people don't even know they're doing it. Throughout the... Read More
Could Your Thoughts Sabotage Your Happiness? Take This Quiz And Find Out
Women are conditioned to be people pleasers. Women are taught... Read More
Suffering
Since wisdom is the art of coping with suffering, it... Read More
Happiness - Work Now or Later?
Long-term success and happiness follows hand-in-hand with strength of character.As... Read More
May the Budgie of Happiness Sit on Your Head
My grandmother, Mimi, was a great solitaire player. My family... Read More
Create a Balanced Lifestyle and Begin Living a Happier, Healthier and Enriched Life
Are you living a balanced life?Many people are not. Their... Read More
Happiest Person In America: Whats Sex Got To Do With It?
Who is the happiest person in America? USA Today featured... Read More
How A Psychovirus May Be Destroying Your Life
A pervasive sense of low self-esteem, a feeling of unworthiness,... Read More
Why We Have Problems? A Coach Debates
As a coach, I often ask myself the question why... Read More
Simplify - and Be Happy
People's lives today are jam-packed with great projects, ideas, to-do... Read More
Common Scents For Emotional Well Being
Aromatics which include essential oils, perfume, centred candles and incense,... Read More
Gratefulness
Gratefulness brings a great fullness to life. The choice to... Read More
10 Easy Ways You Can Feel Happier, Be Healthier and Live Longer Starting NOW!
Let's just say? first thing when you popped out of... Read More
Growing Up Backwards
It seems like I set out in this life to... Read More
Making Peace With Sloth: The Value of Natural Pace
Though his racing speed is a maximum 6 feet per... Read More
Can Existential Therapy Give You a Sense of Wellbeing?
My journey to becoming a therapist began with a desire... Read More
Can You Really Let Go Of Your Huge Internal Struggle?
When I was in graduate school for psychology, we had... Read More
Choose Happiness
It's a beautiful spring day in Beverly Hills, California. I'm... Read More
Finding Happiness |