Questioning Psychology, Age, You, Couples, Sex, and Destiny

 

(Not a chance. Stupid is... stupid.)

Psychology of Everyday Life: What are some of the greatest examples of "absence of mind"?

When you act or do without justification or concern for the consequences. Or, you can be a babbling idiot without a conscious thought. I would go with the “babbling idiot” answer.

Are obsessions always related to thoughts, or can they involve actions too?

Isn’t an “action” brought about by thought, even if the “thought” is subconscious?

Which do you prefer, to be known or known by what you know?

Having been in the Intelligence field, I would rather be known. I am continuously trying to forget everything I know. I left Intelligence in 1994, having served for 23 years. I think the years have made, what I still know, pointless. But, I am still on guard.

What inspires and motivates you today?

I am awake. Being awake “inspires and motivates” me, even if I don’t want to be.

Why does everybody have a future they want to pursue, yet, for some reason, I don't seem to find enjoyment or a drive to want to have one of my own? Why does it seem so dull, and there's no end goal? Nothing to strive for.

If you don’t have a future you want to pursue, and there is nothing you feel like striving for, get out of the way of those people who have a future they feel like pursuing. You have become an obstacle other people need to navigate around.

What do the right questions contain?

A point. A question without a point makes no sense.

"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them."

-- Galileo Galilei

Why as we grow older we learn that being a good person is not good for us?

Who told you this crap? As I grew older, I learned that being a “good person” was better than being a “so-so” person. Being a good person is very good for us.

Can true free will only exist in a godless and spontaneous universe?

Everyone has “free will” as part of their consciousness. They may not understand the point of “free will” but, it is there. Revolutions have been started because people discovered they have “free will,” whether they are godless or not. "Free will" is especially important in a "spontaneous universe."

What makes you believe that you are on the right path in life?

Because I am truly happy. That makes my path the right path.

What was the last moment of opportunity you had to do something big?

I found out that my dad had suffered a stroke, so I retired from my job so I could come across the country to be with him. My boss was a bit pissed and asked me how sustainable was my decision? I told her it was as sustainable as his stroke. She pissed me off. Dad had three more strokes before he died. I was a great help to him for a few years. He built me a house and I have been here ever since. Quitting my job and moving across the country was the last moment of opportunity I had to do something big. I have never regretted it.

What role does humor have in your 2025 goal to improve your social life?

I am a constantly happy person. That makes my “humor” my social life. I can’t improve it much.

What are the most powerful and scientifically proven strategies for achieving happiness?

Scientifically proven? That made me laugh and shake my head. Happiness is an emotion, so do everything necessary to be truly happy. I have strived to be truly happy always, and in all things, regardless of my circumstances. I have maintained this attitude for about twenty years, and it is so easy to put all the "drama" behind you. Just don't buy into it.

"A mathematical formula for happiness: Reality divided by Expectations. There were two ways to be happy: improve your reality or lower your expectations."

-- Jodi Picoult

Does the concept of 'you' truly exist, or are you simply a collection of reactions to external stimuli, shaped by your environment and experiences?

If you take the external stimuli and use your “free will” to strip it down, to what you need to be, you have created a concept of you. If you let others “create” you, then, you are not you. You are something others have made. Your “free will” belongs to them.

What part/parts of our biology make us sacrifice objectivity for emotional well-being? People tell me I need to balance these things, but why? What makes happiness more important than facts?

Nothing, if you exercise your free will.

Is human life a tragedy?

Only if you make life one. A person’s life is full of free will. The only way “free will” can be a tragedy is if someone restricts it. The good thing about “free will” is that only you control it. They can try to "restrict" it but with "free will" you can find a way to free your mind. The one thing they can’t control is your freedom of thought.

Are you that pretty all the time?

I try, but, at 71 years of age, staying pretty can be a bitch… especially because I’m a man.

Is the world we live in a lie, or is it our perception of reality that works to deceive us?

The world we live in is fluid. It can be a “changeable” fact, determined by who is in charge. If the people have a say, then the people are in charge. Our “perception of reality” does not deceive us, unless we aren’t paying attention.

Can having too many opinions on a topic be a problem?

If you’re one person, then, yes. Pick an opinion and stick to it.

"Too often we... enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."

-- John F. Kennedy

How do you know when you are ready to get together?

She says, “Yes!”

What if test tube babies are soulless?

They are a concoction of tissue from human donors. As such, the babies will have souls.

How do people find a girlfriend when I can’t?

Lower your expectations.

How can I stop being a human?

Too late.

Why do I think people don't understand me?

If you don’t know, then how the hell would we? Do you speak gibberish?

Why should we not look down upon others?

You might find they’re looking down on you.

“Leaders should never look down on the people who put them into power because every leadership requires followers.”

-- Gift Gugu Mona

If someone told you they had a sex dream about you, what would you do?

Were they satisfied? It has a bearing on my answer.

What are you doing right now? Can you show us?

No.

As I have too many unknown things in life despite being an adult, how can I decrease it pretty much fast?

Become another person. Leave where you are, and pick up another identity. Done.

Why should I respect all professions?

Not a clue. I don’t. 

Why do people get mad when you have standards in life?

I really don’t care if they get mad. They need to get a life.

What happens when you truly believe in your ability to achieve something? Does that belief drive you to invest the effort and take the steps needed to turn it into reality?

Indeed.

“Believe in your infinite potential. Your only limitations are those you set upon yourself.”

-- Roy T. Bennett

How do people usually deal with changes in their destiny?

If they accept the changes they make in life, they have changed their destiny. It is a choice. “Destiny” will happen, regardless of your choice.

How do I know this is the best path for one's self?

Are you truly happy? If you are, it is the best path for yourself. Many people think that “best” means they need to suffer to follow the path they have been given. You need to choose your own path, not one that someone says you should follow. Pick a path that makes you truly happy. When I joined the Air Force, I didn’t have a job. I was offered an Intelligence slot. Intelligence? Hell yeah! I served for 23 years and never regretted a minute of it. It was the best path I could have chosen. The next civilian job, I served for 17 years. Again, I truly loved the work. If you have to work, do something that you can truly love.

How do l stop talking to my "Scorpio" mother?

When you can, leave. That ends the discussion.

How does psychology play a role in an athlete's success?

As an athlete, training can hurt. If you tell yourself, “Work through the hurt,” and you do, this is you using psychology to train. If you continue to train, using psychology to keep going, you will experience personal success. You may not be the best, but you didn’t quit. That is a “personal” success.

Is there a way to "watch"/"see" the future?

Get a chair and sit outside. Every second passes is the future. If you watch, you will see.

Life feels overwhelming lately. I’m not sure which direction to take. How do I figure out what’s best for me when everything feels so uncertain?

Take a break. Relax. Take a walk on the beach, or in the woods. Think about what you truly want in life. When the answer sticks in your brain, you have it. Now, you need to get it. Figure out a plan and put it into action. Be truly happy in your direction. It is that easy.

“Enlightenment is man's release from his self-incurred tutelage. Tutelage is man's inability to make use of his understanding without direction from another. Self-incurred is this tutelage when its cause lies not in lack of reason but in lack of resolution and courage to use it without direction from another. Sapere aude! 'Have courage, to use your own reason!'- that is the motto of enlightenment.”

-- Immanuel Kant

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. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, 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 while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a 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 United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He 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 personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

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