Etch a Sketch

[gurdonark]

"We have somehow accustomed ourselves to the belief that art is independent of the purity of private life. I can say with all the experience at my command that nothing could be more untrue. As I am nearing the end of my earthly life I can say that purity of life is the highest and truest art."--Mohandas Gandhi

I am exhausted today, after yesterday was yet another "fly to Long Beach at dawn, take a deposition, and fly back at midnight" kind of day. I found myself easily irritated, which is a trait I dislike exhibiting.

I think a lot lately about how to build things in life which nurture and help rather than just exist. I don't have a grand pronouncement. I post no magic elixir. But I do have the conviction that the way out must be by creating good.

marstokyo created a community called imagining_good. I love that idea of focusing on what works, and what is beautiful. I do not believe that "positive thinking" changes external realities. But I wonder if a good attitude doesn't change my own life, and help me be a positive force, rather than just stressed out. I cannot save the world. I cannot save myself. But perhaps I can be a bit more useful.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_riomaggiore/]

i think the key thing is having a good attitude--how we conjure that up becomes the endeavor. for me, trying to make time with others who desire the same and are acting upon it is the most beneficial. thanks. so i'll see where imaging good may lead.
may your weekend be more normally a robert experience for you.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

You are very positive, and your posts lately seem stronger somehow (not to say the older ones were weaker or anything). Is there some change in the way you're approaching your life or your journal?

[amatrixangel.livejournal.com]

I do not believe that "positive thinking" changes external realities.

You're right! 100% right. People often 'think' it does, but that's a not a clear perception. However, but.. there is a but.

This is yet again one of those reversie things.

It's the old well-worn cliche change yourself and the world changes. The world around you doesn't change one ounce jack sh*t. But you do through so-called 'positive' thinking. I would not use 'positive' thinking so much but positive feeling. There's a big difference between the two. What changes is the way you perceive things, not the things themselves. A tree is still a tree. A bird is still a bird. An *asshole will still be an asshole (as in person). *To other people yes, but not to you. In fact, that person (just giving a throw in example here of course), the asshole, may even smile next time they see you. They may even like you! (heaven forbid ;) ...this doesn't mean that you still have 'to like' them or spend time with them. But, don't be an asshole back or even 'think' asshole. Think positively about them and see what happens.

Another cliche. Which works; smile and the whole world smiles with you. Try it and see. I'm not kidding. As they say, "trust me I'm a lawyer" (sorry, just had to throw that one in ;)

What happens is it's not 'the world' as in everywhere in every country of course, but 'your' world. When you walk down the street. If you are happy within yourself, it shows. People pick it up and they return the same. Not to everybody, but to you. There's part of their soul which recognises it and responds.

You begin to 'attract' good things in whatever form. You may not get what you want, but you will get what you need. (thank you Mick Jagger ;)

It's like that scene in The Matrix where the little boy is holding a spoon that bends at his will and he says to Neo it's not a spoon which bends, it's your mind. In other words, don't concentrate on trying to change the external world, concentrate on changing yourself and then see the response that the external world gives you ;)

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Very thought-provoking. I truly believe in a postive attitude and in a smile, although I don't practice my belief often enough. By a "postive attitude", of course, I mean a truly positive attitude, and not that faux cheeriness which some folks confuse for a positive attitude. I think that one can change onself, and then one can do more good in the world. But I'm not convinced, yet, that one's attitude changes oneself in a way that attracts good things to one in some metaphysical sense. I'm not trying to debate, as I don't know the answers. I am just expressing my sense of things.

But I do notice in life that people do react in many instances according to how you expect them to treat you. I think that this is why self-esteem traps are so devious. One thinks poorly of oneself, and then others pick it up and some pack mentality makes the problem worse. Horrible way to cull the herd.

[amatrixangel.livejournal.com]

I mean a truly positive attitude, and not that faux cheeriness which some folks confuse for a positive attitude.

I smiled when I read this line. I thought oh yeah that's right, Robert's lived in LA too (^_-)

"attitude" is what I'm getting at - feeling and being it. In other words be-in attitude.

I know what you mean by those last couple of lines. It makes me sad because it's true. There are better ways and I pray that people make those choices to understand.