Questioning Reactions, Grounding, Teachers, and God

 

“Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.”

-- Eric Hoffer

There is a person who was rude because of a simple, unintended mistake I made, and I dealt with him coldly and explained to him the reason for my position, did I do well?

Other than dealing with him “coldly,” you did fine. Never stoop to someone else's level of bad behavior. Always strive to remain above “plebian” society, whenever possible.

Why do people almost always (or even always) fall short when they set a goal to be "incorruptible", and/or to be "immune to the arrows of Cupid"?

Have you really considered a set of gorgeous legs? Immune? I’ll take the disease.

If many followers don’t like you anymore, do you want to stop owning and managing your business?

If the business is that important to me, it would be more productive to fix the reason why many followers don’t like me anymore. What changed?

If social media algorithms are designed to blow our emotions to the roof, how is that going to unite us and make us happier in the long run?

It isn’t. And, more people, like you, need to become cognizant of this reality.

What are some important behavioral tactics that defeat laziness?

Perseverance. Laziness is defeated by knowing the task must be completed and owning the fact that you’ve become a lazy couch potato. You have to make the conscious decision to get off of your dead ass and get something accomplished.

“We often miss opportunity because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work”

-- Thomas A. Edison

What is the study of the equilibrium of an intended result (any and all)?

Probably the same as the study of the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow.

How can I become intelligent within 30 days?

Unless you’re already intelligent, you can’t. However, becoming “smart” is within reach of those who possess wisdom.

How can you ground yourself when you feel reactive or defensive?

Always. It has much to do with self-control. I usually just smile and walk away.

How do you develop a sense of self-awareness and what are your core values?

My sense of “self-awareness” is closely linked to paying attention to my good and moral, code of ethical behavior. Paying attention to your personal code will, almost, guarantee you remain self-aware.

What do you think would be the consequences of achieving the impossible?

If you achieve it, you’d understand that it isn’t impossible.

“When a goal matters enough to a person, that person will find a way to accomplish what at first seemed impossible.”

-- Nido Qubein

Would you trade places with a teacher for a day?

Not in this day and age. I’d have to go back to the days when students were there to learn and, here's a concept, “teachers” were there to teach, not to indoctrinate.

How can you tell if someone is their true self around you?

Observe their behavior around a few other people.

What are some creative ways to teach difficult concepts?

Feedback, at every step of the teaching process. If they can show an understanding of each layer, they will be able to grasp the whole.

How can we have a society where the rich don't just hoard all the money?

Nope. Greed is everywhere; socialism and communism are not immune. 

What is catastrophe psychology, and when is it a play?

“The sky is falling! The sky is falling!”, even when it’s not. For a person with this outlook on life, “catastrophizing” is always in play.

“Psychological trauma is an affliction of the powerless. At the moment of trauma, the victim is rendered helpless by overwhelming force. When the force is that of nature, we speak of disasters. When the force is that of other human beings, we speak of atrocities. Traumatic events overwhelm the ordinary systems of care that give people a sense of control, connection, and meaning.… Traumatic events are extraordinary, not because they occur rarely, but rather because they overwhelm the ordinary human adaptations to life.… They confront human beings with the extremities of helplessness and terror, and evoke the responses of catastrophe.”

-- Judith Lewis Herman

What does "suck at" mean?

Do very badly at whatever it is you're doing. For instance, getting “gutter balls” for ten frames means you really “suck at” bowling. 

Why is it important to understand and accept your weaknesses?

If “free climbing” is your weakness, you would be well served to stay away from it. If you don’t recognize, understand, and accept your weaknesses, death or nothing good could be lurking right around the next corner. 

What does it mean to be present and how can I achieve it?

It isn’t enough to be where you’re supposed to be, you have to be there and be paying attention.

How can you promote a free mastermind group?

You don’t know? 

How can irrationality lead to success?

If it led to “success” it wasn’t all that irrational. Sometimes, what we think is “irrational” is simply thinking out of the box and very rational.

“If you build a wall to separate people, there will be those who find a way around the wall, or over it, or under it, or through it. We humans are not meant to be contained, and neither are our thoughts.”

-- Teresa R. Funke

Do rich people have an easier time being successful?

Considering they’ve already attained the goal, I’d say yes.

How do economic systems affect people's happiness?

In Russia, the former Soviet Union, happiness is linked, still, to the availability of copious amounts of vodka.

Can you be successful if you don't embrace your weaknesses?

Yes, but the success probably won’t be sustainable.

What is the meaning of the idiom "to help someone out"?

Selflessness. “To help someone out” intones no expectation of getting anything back, from the “someone,” for your effort.

How can we account for the orderly universe without a creator?

Ask an atheist. They’ll have the answer.

“I believe that an orderly universe, one indifferent to human preoccupations, in which everything has an explanation even if we still have a long way to go before we find it, is a more beautiful, more wonderful place than a universe tricked out with capricious, ad hoc magic.”

-- Richard Dawkins

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. 

I fervently 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, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western 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 the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

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