| This whole business of realising the potential
of our fundamental needs is an antidote
to the widespread fatalism and inevitability springing directly from a
nihilistic sense that there's nothing we can do about it. Whatever we
find inhibiting, simplistic, violatory or spurious is debilitating
and morbid.
The fallout from such gall is (per C.M.Cioran) that it 'conceals a revenge which is translated into a system: pessimism, that cruelty of the conquered who cannot forgive life for having deceived their expectation'. Mia culpa is one thing but a pseudo culpability takes us straight into a Kafkaesque trap of inevitability; in it we deny our problem solving potential, and we're in real trouble |
| Yet we who have survived are expert problem solvers; that other
less experienced and more fearful people don't see us as such resourceful
people - to their benefit if they chose - is their loss.
When we realise the potential of our fundamental needs in tricky
situations we are skilled beyond all measure; but we have to know what
we bring to life is good and thus realise
our own credibility
|
| Yet we may still be dogged with a phoney
idea that our own sense of worth is determined by what other people say
of us.
In every conversation we make a statement of our own worth; ours is not to prove, or try hard to get it right since others will read in it what they will. We deem our behaviour or response to be appropriate which leaves others free to disagree, but it does not invite conflict. |
| Yet by default we are silent in a culture
of an indvidualism which clones youngsters to do well or make something
of themselves and value advantage, preference and privilege.
In so doing they over look the social nature of knowledge; but we know the essence of our humanity as we realise the potential of our fundamental needs; only in this confidence can we contend with simplistic and inhibitory pressures of our fearful culture, and come to terms with life as it is. |
| As problem solvers the antidote to any predicament is to ask what can we do about it; we get into the shit and it's not quick setting cement so we can get out; more like retracing our steps and finding which of our fundamental needs we're neglecting; do that and we do something about it. |
| In this struggle with everything that makes our modern world seem alienating to so many, we find new friends with whom we don't have to say the right thing. |