Questioning Disability, Lessons, Judgment, Mindsets, and God

 

“Don't be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.”

-- Rumi

What is self-realization, and why is it important?

Awareness. If you don’t realize your “self” how will you know which direction will be the best to take in life? Life becomes a crapshoot. You may attain what you believe are your goals, or you may not. The “house” usually wins, even if the dice aren’t loaded.

What do you do if you know someone is lying but you don't have any proof?

If you know, for a fact, that they’re lying, why do you need proof? Ignore them.

Can we benefit from a truly non-judgmental society with no right, no wrong, no good, and no bad?

No. There must be balance in the universe. Balance is found with opposites. How do we know right if we don’t recognize wrong? How would we know night, if there was no light? How would we know good if there was no bad, or sweet if there was no sour?

What role does mindfulness play in the process of self-realization?

If you aren’t mindful, how would you realize your “self” at all?

Does "accepting" my speech disability make me ignorant?

Not accepting it would make you ignorant. We are what we are. Knowing this, we can go about making our life better by overcoming our obstacles. Everyone, it seems, has some sort of disability. What you do to rise above it will define you to those around you.

“Part of the problem with the word 'disabilities' is that it immediately suggests an inability to see or hear or walk or do other things that many of us take for granted. But what of people who can't feel? Or talk about their feelings? Or manage their feelings in constructive ways? What of people who aren't able to form close and strong relationships? And people who cannot find fulfillment in their lives, or those who have lost hope, who live in disappointment and bitterness and find in life no joy, no love? These, it seems to me, are the real disabilities.”

-- Fred Rogers

What life lesson did you learn the hard way?

Marriage. You must be certain the love you feel is mutual, and you aren’t being used as a tool before you commit to a lifelong relationship. Otherwise, you simply waste 25 years of your life.

Do all personalities have different sides to them?

Yes, but how you control those sides defines who you are to those around you. 

How does accountability make you responsible?

If you accept responsibility, then you are accountable for your actions. If you are accountable for your actions, then you must be responsible. You can’t have one without the other. 

Are courage and strength of will mutually exclusive traits?

No. Strength of will is what you use to summon up the courage to act.

Do souls exist outside of Earthly life forms?

Well, if you buy into the soul leaving the body at death, then it must exist outside the host, otherwise, why would it leave?

"Neither a person nor a nation can exist without some higher idea. And there is only one higher idea on earth, and it is the idea of the immortality of the human soul."

-- Fyodor Dostoyevsky

What was it like when you felt accomplished?

That was when I made the grade of “Master Sergeant” in the Air Force. I attained what I was shooting for and didn’t feel I had to climb any higher to feel “accomplished” in life. I was happy in my life.

What does it say psychologically about someone who calls someone else a loser?

They are judgmental and probably have more issues than the person they deign to judge.

How do I become successful in life if I can be nothing other than either a creep or a corpse?

Success in life has more to do with being truly happy. Can you be truly happy as a creep or a corpse? I doubt it. Better you make the simple choice to strive for true happiness always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. It is just a choice.

What does having a perfect life feel like?

Making the conscious choice to be truly happy and strive for that happiness always and in everything you do, regardless of your circumstances. You accept that life is what it is until it isn’t, and you admit that you are the agent of change in your life. You happily accept responsibility for your life. You stop shifting the blame for what happens in the life you make the decisions for. You love, live, and have faith in the life you have chosen to live. You smile constantly, and at the smallest things. Nothing is so bad that you can’t make them better. Your wants are minuscule in the greater picture. This is when you know you have a perfect life.

Reader comment: This indeed is the recipe for happiness. It's not based on money or popularity, it's basically loving your neighbor and loving yourself.

How can cross-cultural dialogue and exchange be promoted to foster understanding and respect between different communities?

By being open-minded, and understanding. Acceptance isn’t necessary, but being open-minded goes a long way where mutual respect and peace are concerned.

“Even if you cannot change all the people around you, you can change the people you choose to be around. Life is too short to waste your time on people who don’t respect, appreciate, and value you. Spend your life with people who make you smile, laugh, and feel loved.”

-- Roy T. Bennett

What small act of kindness were you once shown at work that you will never forget?

I was hired. My boss was having a hard time finding anyone that wouldn’t blow smoke up his ass. He wanted to know the straight truth about what was going on. Coming from military intelligence, blowing smoke up his ass wasn’t in my playbook. I stayed with the company for 17 years. 

What are some common negative thinking patterns that can disrupt your peace of mind?

Any “negative” thinking pattern can do this. Better to be positive always.

How can you cultivate a more positive mindset to promote peace of mind?

Stop being negative. Yeah, it really is that simple. Stop, think, and find positivity before you act. You just need to make the conscious choice to strive to be positive always. If you can’t do this simple task, then you are doomed to be negative, and this is not a good thing. 

Is it considered rude to express unpopular opinions in front of others?

No, it is considered honest.

What are some of the things one can do to influence people?

Be knowledgeable of what you speak, and only speak the truth. If you’re going to influence, do so selflessly and for the greater good. Politicians lie all the time to influence. Instead of helping people to understand, it is a lot easier to bullshit them. Why? Because people are that stupid. Blind faith is why the United States is being destroyed from the inside.

“Just because something isn't a lie does not mean that it isn't deceptive. A liar knows that he is a liar, but one who speaks mere portions of truth in order to deceive is a craftsman of destruction.”

-- Criss Jami

Who are some examples of humble people throughout history?

The Dalai Lama, Mahatma Gandhi, Desmond Tutu, and Saint Teresa of Calcutta.

Where was God living before creating heaven and Earth?

God is a manifestation of omnipotent energy that exists everywhere and in everything. God was, is now, and forever shall be.

Should I care about what people think of me?

Not if you care about what you think of yourself. Your opinion, then, should say it all.

What is your opinion on the statement “Don’t blame me if something happens” made by a politician?

Lack of accepting responsibility. If their vote is evidence that they are against it, then why would they feel the need to say this? If they vote their conscience, then they must accept responsibility, and be able to explain, what they do. Otherwise, they are just lying sheep. Politics is full of lying sheep.

Is it okay to get revenge on a player?

Two wrongs don’t make it right. Leave revenge to karma.

“Karma comes after everyone eventually. You can't get away with screwing people over your whole life, I don't care who you are. What goes around comes around. That's how it works. Sooner or later the universe will serve you the revenge that you deserve.”

-- Jessica Brody

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 view 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