Questioning Who We Are

“Somehow, we'll find it. The balance between whom we wish to be and who we need to be. But for now, we simply have to be satisfied with who we are.”

-- Brandon Sanderson

What type of people gives the best constructive criticism?

“Constructive” criticism depends on what you want to hear. I’ve always found the best critiques come from those capable of doing critical assessments of themselves. People who own their faults and can work through them. They are more likely to admit they’ve done the same things, and usually give some constructive comments on how to correct things they’ve been through. I always am critical of those who critique without being asked. It’s like having your painting shredded by an art critic that doesn’t paint. They could benefit from a good dose of their own medicine. I catch critiques all the time from the League of the Perpetually Offended about things that I write and, yet, when I ask them what they’ve written is when the vulgar name-calling begins.

What is a simple saying that gets you through a difficult day?

This, too, shall pass.

Why would any social media site delete simple content links/URLs like basic news that's current information? Since posting links is a basic ethic of communications and part of mature human interaction, what does it tell about the motive for retaliation?

Socialism is insidious. Free thought and expression are frowned upon by those seeking control. Be aware of the media and tech companies you watch and utilize, and never forget what they’re truly about. They seek to be so much more than a tool.

None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.”

-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

What is success actually? I am given a compliment every time by elders and teachers, "You will be successful."  So, I want to know if "success" is beneficial for myself or for others?

What they should really say is, you will accomplish much. So, you will be “accomplished,” but, along with accomplishing much in your life, you should also strive to be happy always. Once you have accomplished this happiness, you are truly successful, for what is accomplishing anything in life unless you are happy in it?   In this way, your “success” is beneficial for everyone.

What is correct, what we believe we think, or what we think we believe, and how are these different?

What we think, we don’t necessarily believe. If we believe, we must think about it, so, it stands to reason, we must believe what we think.

Do British people who go to work by walking exist?

Wha… what? The question’s answer notwithstanding, why pick on the poor Brits? Any answer to this question would hold true for everyone. Well, maybe not the Tibetan monks. Their answer would make my head hurt more than this question, and they’d probably be right.

We all “exist,” we just have to agree on the definition.

“Monsters exist, but they are too few in number to be truly dangerous. More dangerous are the common men, the functionaries ready to believe and to act without asking questions.”

-- Primo Levi

Why do I imagine myself as someone I’m not and rarely imagine myself as who I am?

Do you not like who you are? You might be imagining the future of who you hope to become. I used to imagine myself as James Bond, Agent 007, and I ended up in military intelligence. It may be that my subconscious self steered me toward my goal. Like who you are, above all else, but always strive to be who you wish to become.

How are subliminal messages used to manipulate people’s perceptions?

Subliminal messaging works on your subconscious to make you believe what the sender wants you to believe, and it isn’t necessarily true. If it were true subliminal messaging wouldn’t be needed, because the truth will win out in the end and the sender will, eventually, pay for their deception. Media and journalism, in particular, walk a very dangerous line by not printing the truth, but only their deceptive version of it. People need the facts so they can choose their own beliefs. Media, journalism, and, now, big tech companies, cater to the members of the League of the Perpetually Offended. These people, the League,  are not the most intelligent group to use as your base, but these people are their base, and there are a lot of people out there who are offended at everything.

What are you afraid of if you will become poor overnight?

Nothing. I have been poor before, and it took time, hard work, and the support of friends and family to recover. But, this time, I have a secret weapon in my arsenal. I have learned to be happy always!

“You might be poor, your shoes might be broken, but your mind is a palace.”

-- Frank McCourt

What is your insight about this quote “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves”?

A mountain is just a large task, a challenge to be completed, to be conquered. If you aren’t up to the challenge you won’t be able to complete it. Completing any challenge is a choice we must make for ourselves. Anything we attempt in life is all about making the conscious choice to do it and if you’re not up to the challenge, if you’re not up to conquering your own limitations, you will not succeed.

"Efficiency is the capacity to bring proficiency into expression." What reflections can you give on this quote?

It’s an intelligent person’s way of saying something smart that a lot of smart people won’t understand without thinking about it. Personally, I’ve known many “efficient” people who couldn’t grasp a concept and, therefore, found it hard to be very “proficient” at their task. It drove them nuts because their intelligence kept getting in the way of their smarts. They kept overthinking the task at hand. 

In order to gain someone's trust, do you need to convincingly establish why you want to help them?

“If I don’t cut your leg off, you’re going to die!”

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to convince me of why you think I’m going to die.”

Yes, there are times when you need to establish trust by convincing people that your help is necessary and, more importantly, that you're the one to help.  I'd hate to have them cut my leg off only to, then, find out they don't know how to stop the bleeding.

"Beware of the naked man who offers you clothes."

-- African Proverb

What is something someone ever told you that hurt you deeply?

This is easy because it still hurts. After 20 years of fighting to keep my marriage together, my ex-wife finally told me that the only reason she married me was to “escape” from her parent's house. I would have thought she could have left me earlier, before wasting 20 years of my life in her selfish quest for independence, and forcing our children into a broken home. Unfortunately, the only person who didn’t see her for what she was, was me.

Will our species always be at war with ourselves making us our primary enemy?

Will we always be greedy and selfish?

What is a time you used self-awareness?

I try to be “self-aware” all the time. I have adopted many personalities, for cause and due to employment, over the years. I found that you tend to lose your “self” over time. In order to offset this loss, I found it necessary to rediscover who I was and always be aware of my “self” lest I slip back into character, so to speak.

“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”

-- C.G. Jung

 

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.