Questioning Perfection, Change, and Truth

 

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.”

-- Heraclitus

How do I have a victorious life?

I became victorious when I discovered true happiness. I strive to be happy at all times and in all things, regardless of my circumstances. I found that failure is not an “end-all” in life, it is simply an opportunity to learn, and you only truly fail when you choose to quit. I am constantly learning, which by my definition must mean that I am constantly failing. I am, and this is a good thing because I am constantly learning. Whether you are victorious, or not, is entirely up to you. No one else has the right to judge you as victorious, or not, except you. Be generous with yourself.

Should I tell you about my success? I don’t want to share with my relatives any details about my life because I know that it will spread and they’ll be spilling the tea about me. I think they’re jealous too. But my Mom says to stop being so confidential.

Who really gives a fig what their relatives think about them? Let them spread it. What they do says more about them than anything they have to say, and if you’ve already said it, what’s their point? I agree with your mom. Smart lady, there.

How do I debate this quote with an explanation for my philosophy class: "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence." by Vince Lombardi?

“To Aristotle, "perfect" meant "complete" ("nothing to add or subtract").” 

-- Wikipedia, “Perfection”

Just a point to ponder: 

So, the argument hinges on finding something that cannot be added to or subtracted from. Nothing can be improved upon, and if you subtract from it, how perfect is it then?

Everything, and everyone, can strive for excellence, but everything, and everyone, “excellent” can also be improved upon. Change is the only constant in the universe because everything changes.

“The Only Constant in Life Is Change.”- Heraclitus

“Heraclitus, I believe, says that all things pass and nothing stays and, comparing existing things to the flow of a river, he says you could not step twice into the same river.”

-- Plato

How often do we "mix fact with fiction" in what we come to believe is true or not in life, and why do we do this?

Well, we base what believe on what we hear or read, fact or fiction. If we pay attention to the news media, we base our beliefs on mostly fiction, on what they want us to believe.

If we were able to only be presented with the facts, as they are known, we would be more apt to decern the truth from what little bullshit would also be presented. Unfortunately, most “journalists” editorialize, present their opinion, more than they present the facts. This does everyone interested in the truth an injustice.

What are three questions to guide you here or grow in any way?

Who am I? What am I? Why am I?

Why, regarding past acts that we cannot change, do we convince ourselves that we were not guilty?

Fear of ownership. We fear accepting our responsibility for anything negative. Until we do this, we will never really know, nor will those around us, who we are. We will also not be able to claim, for ourselves, a personal moral code of ethics. Isn’t this sad for us?

"Refusing to own your mistakes doesn't make you seem more competent; it reveals cowardice, callousness, and untrustworthiness."

-- Ben Carpenter

What refuge or hope do you have amid the struggle in this broken world?

Constant and true happiness. In always striving for this, I find hope for the moment. If I have hope for the moment, then I must have hope for every moment going forward. We should all strive to be happy at all times and in all things.

Is there a possibility of goodness in the world? How can goodness be accessed?

There is always hope. Strive to be truly happy at all times and in all things. In this way, you selflessly present yourself as a beacon for hope, happiness, and goodness. Goodness, like happiness is a choice you make in everything you think, say, and do. Choose to be truly happy, and your goodness will also present itself.

How do you learn the virtue of not giving an F to what others achieve?

I’m not certain there is “virtue” in that. I view what others achieve as attainment for them. Any time someone attains a goal is a time for a celebration of their effort. I’m not sure how selfish not caring what others achieve is, but I do think it rates on the scale somewhere. I’d be more apt to believe they don’t give an F whether anyone recognizes their achievement, or not. Some people strive to reach a goal for themselves, and not for the recognition of others. People who do things for recognition are probably selfish braggarts.

“If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second greatest favor you can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first greatest, of course, is to shoot them now, while they’re happy.”

-- Dorothy Parker

I can’t enjoy/look forward to doing anything good anymore because I always have that mindset of “it won’t last forever and when it’s over you’ll be back to the harsh reality”. How can I snap out of this?

Grasp the real truth that change is the only true constant in the universe. It is what it is until it isn’t, and then it is what it is again. Nothing lasts forever, that is the nature of change. The most we can do is strive to be happy always, even in the face of adversity and change. I wouldn’t be so intent on trying to “snap out of this” as much as I would be inclined to embrace the truth of it, and learn to move forward smiling.

What do you expect from yourself?

I expect that I will remain a happy camper, always. It is what we should all strive to do.

I have an unpopular opinion that discipline is not truly important. I believe when you want truly something, you don't need to force yourself to keep going. What do you think?

I think you are endowed with a natural discipline to keep going. You have, in fact, trained yourself to follow a code of behavior in order to get what you want. Oh, wait, that would be, again, a discipline.  But, I don't consider your opinion unpopular, inasmuch as I consider it, well, just wrong.  

“Self-respect is the root of discipline: The sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.”

-- Abraham Joshua Heschel

Is it a talent to see beyond oneself and to know that life isn't just about you?

More of a selfless attitude, than a talent.

What should you do if your life is hopeless and you can't change anything about it?

Learn that the change you seek begins with you. Make better choices in your life, and don’t let anyone make the choices for you as this would just be another bad choice of yours. If all of this is beyond you, then learn to be happy always and in everything, regardless of your circumstance, and in the face of any adversity. But, personally, I’d make better choices and decisions. As a matter of fact, make that your first good decision.

What motivates you to do anything knowing it will all come to an end and everything you have done will most likely not matter in a few decades?

To quote George Mallory, “Because it’s there.”

Mallory is famously quoted as having replied to the question, "Why did you want to climb Mount Everest?" with the retort, "Because it's there", which has been called "the most famous three words in mountaineering"

-- Wikipedia, “George Mallory”

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.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com