Comments on: Self-Delusion or Reality? http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/ On a Quest for Personal Freedom Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:57:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: practica http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27626 practica Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:56:22 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27626 Loved "life happens to you" a lot!! You know, i like the idea of treating life as ordinary subject and shapinng it vs accepting everytihng that happens to me. I like the idea of anticipating, adjusting myself accordingly and changing. Gives me illusion i control my life. But you never can actually check it :) anyway the idea is cool. Loved “life happens to you” a lot!! You know, i like the idea of treating life as ordinary subject and shapinng it vs accepting everytihng that happens to me. I like the idea of anticipating, adjusting myself accordingly and changing. Gives me illusion i control my life. But you never can actually check it :) anyway the idea is cool.

]]> By: Pamela http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27519 Pamela Tue, 19 Jun 2007 02:54:23 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27519 I agree. Some people may look normal to us but delusional to others. We all have different views at how things work and we can't blame them for having a different belief. I agree. Some people may look normal to us but delusional to others. We all have different views at how things work and we can’t blame them for having a different belief.

]]> By: Dave http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27387 Dave Mon, 18 Jun 2007 05:16:38 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27387 Nice article. True. No matter what we think, different people have different perspective. A few may share the same ideas but it doesn't prove that they have the same decisions. Nice article.
True. No matter what we think, different people have different perspective. A few may share the same ideas but it doesn’t prove that they have the same decisions.

]]> By: Lyman Reed http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27236 Lyman Reed Sun, 17 Jun 2007 05:56:16 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27236 Wow, great article and comments... Why is it that we assume that the "depressing" things about life are more prevalent than the "happy" things? If we take the conclusion that depressed people are more grounded in reality, then wouldn't that mean that the depressing things are more real? We hear that all the time: "Keep it Real". OK, I'll keep it real: 1.) I have a wife who (whom?) I adore, and who adores me right back. 2.) The sun rose today. 3.) I'm breathing. 4.) My income has doubled over the past couple of years. 5.) I've found my passion and I'm pursuing it vigorously. or I could keep it real this way... 1.) My wife has severe coronary artery disease at a very early time in her life. 2.) It was over 100 degrees today. 3.) I can't seem to quit smoking. 4.) My income is still in the lower middle class range. 5.) My material success at pursuing my passions is next to nil. Which of these sets of circumstances is real? They both are. And my "depressed" or "not depressed" has a lot to do with which I'm looking at. I'll keep looking at the first set, even if others call it deluded that I'm not looking at the second set, any day. Wow, great article and comments…

Why is it that we assume that the “depressing” things about life are more prevalent than the “happy” things? If we take the conclusion that depressed people are more grounded in reality, then wouldn’t that mean that the depressing things are more real? We hear that all the time: “Keep it Real”. OK, I’ll keep it real:

1.) I have a wife who (whom?) I adore, and who adores me right back.
2.) The sun rose today.
3.) I’m breathing.
4.) My income has doubled over the past couple of years.
5.) I’ve found my passion and I’m pursuing it vigorously.

or I could keep it real this way…

1.) My wife has severe coronary artery disease at a very early time in her life.
2.) It was over 100 degrees today.
3.) I can’t seem to quit smoking.
4.) My income is still in the lower middle class range.
5.) My material success at pursuing my passions is next to nil.

Which of these sets of circumstances is real?

They both are.

And my “depressed” or “not depressed” has a lot to do with which I’m looking at.

I’ll keep looking at the first set, even if others call it deluded that I’m not looking at the second set, any day.

]]> By: Steve http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27219 Steve Sun, 17 Jun 2007 02:54:34 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27219 Dan, No problem, I'll try to stop by more, I like what I saw... I hear what you are saying... Balance grasshopper balance :-) Dan,

No problem, I’ll try to stop by more, I like what I saw…

I hear what you are saying…
Balance grasshopper balance :-)

]]> By: Dan Piekarski http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27194 Dan Piekarski Sat, 16 Jun 2007 23:29:57 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27194 As the great philosopher Bertrand Russell once said, "The problem with the world is that the stupid are cocksure, and the intelligent are full of doubt". I think that sums up a lot of the depression comments in the responses. The key is to keep the big picture from paralyzing you. You can believe in Spinoza's deterministic world and still go through life as if you're in control. There's nothing wrong with that. Too little self-delusion paralyzes you, too much turns you into a politician. Oh, and Steve O, thanks for stopping by my new blog and leaving a comment, I appreciate it. As the great philosopher Bertrand Russell once said, “The problem with the world is that the stupid are cocksure, and the intelligent are full of doubt”. I think that sums up a lot of the depression comments in the responses. The key is to keep the big picture from paralyzing you. You can believe in Spinoza’s deterministic world and still go through life as if you’re in control. There’s nothing wrong with that. Too little self-delusion paralyzes you, too much turns you into a politician.

Oh, and Steve O, thanks for stopping by my new blog and leaving a comment, I appreciate it.

]]> By: Today is that Day http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27136 Today is that Day Sat, 16 Jun 2007 17:04:23 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27136 <strong>Self Improvement and Law of Attraction Link Love, Volume 19...</strong> This is Volume 19 of the Self Improvement and Law of Attraction Link Love series. This series will be published weekly and will be comprised of links to quality blog posts that have proven to be extraordinary in their ability to assist, inform, or empo... Self Improvement and Law of Attraction Link Love, Volume 19…

This is Volume 19 of the Self Improvement and Law of Attraction Link Love series.
This series will be published weekly and will be comprised of links to quality blog posts that have proven to be extraordinary in their ability to assist, inform, or empo…

]]> By: Tom Biggs http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27122 Tom Biggs Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:05:25 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27122 I love the Ben Franklin quote: "If you expect nothing, you won't be disappointed." I used to see the one side of it, the "Poor Richard" self-improvement angle. But to me it's almost Zen - it's true as a self-improvement motto, but it also works as a statement about non-attachment. Sly fellow, Ben. I used to work for two entrepreneurs. I used to think "how is it that they can wade through s**t and only smell the rosebushes up ahead?" Fact is, you need people like that to start new ventures. I'd be so busy looking at the potential downsides that I'd never be motivated enough to do what it takes to get a company going. Like you, Steve, I've been working to pull myself away from my life-long negative mindset. Your childhood sounds harsher than mine, but my parents were still kind of negative and cynical. I'm grateful for that inasmuch as I'm not gullible. But changing my outlook for the better does bring good into my life. Charles Tart's description of "consensus trance" has influenced me deeply - to him, the optimist and the pessimist are both deeply enmeshed in the group-consensus mind... they're just staking out different parts of the same campground. I'll try inserting a link: http://www.cantrip.org/charles_tart.html I love the Ben Franklin quote: “If you expect nothing, you won’t be disappointed.” I used to see the one side of it, the “Poor Richard” self-improvement angle. But to me it’s almost Zen - it’s true as a self-improvement motto, but it also works as a statement about non-attachment. Sly fellow, Ben.

I used to work for two entrepreneurs. I used to think “how is it that they can wade through s**t and only smell the rosebushes up ahead?” Fact is, you need people like that to start new ventures. I’d be so busy looking at the potential downsides that I’d never be motivated enough to do what it takes to get a company going.

Like you, Steve, I’ve been working to pull myself away from my life-long negative mindset. Your childhood sounds harsher than mine, but my parents were still kind of negative and cynical. I’m grateful for that inasmuch as I’m not gullible. But changing my outlook for the better does bring good into my life.

Charles Tart’s description of “consensus trance” has influenced me deeply - to him, the optimist and the pessimist are both deeply enmeshed in the group-consensus mind… they’re just staking out different parts of the same campground. I’ll try inserting a link:

http://www.cantrip.org/charles_tart.html

]]> By: Steve http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27117 Steve Sat, 16 Jun 2007 14:30:32 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27117 I just wanted to say that positive thinking and rational realism are not mutually exclusive. When something is not the way I want it to be, for example, my emergency fund is too small, I think about how not-so-cool it is. I analyze my expenses, see what I can cut down, etc. That is being realistic. I then envision how much I want to save. Say $12,000 in 3 years. Then I use whatever I can come up with to motivate myself to trim my spending so that I can save buy a car by writing a check, or just the knowledge that I can rely on myself if things go wrong. I write these down as if they have happened or they will happen... to keep the momentum going. That is imagination. May be it is delusional. My point is, you can do/have both. In Chess, there are times when you do psychological things, like play your move confidently in a lost position and leave the table. Your opponent may think that you saw something that he missed and not make the best/obvious move. Here, again, you have assessed the reality. You have decided how you want to act (as if things are better than they really are) in the hope of improving things. The two thought processes are not mutually exclusive. I just wanted to say that positive thinking and rational realism are not mutually exclusive. When something is not the way I want it to be, for example, my emergency fund is too small, I think about how not-so-cool it is. I analyze my expenses, see what I can cut down, etc. That is being realistic. I then envision how much I want to save. Say $12,000 in 3 years. Then I use whatever I can come up with to motivate myself to trim my spending so that I can save buy a car by writing a check, or just the knowledge that I can rely on myself if things go wrong. I write these down as if they have happened or they will happen… to keep the momentum going. That is imagination. May be it is delusional. My point is, you can do/have both.
In Chess, there are times when you do psychological things, like play your move confidently in a lost position and leave the table. Your opponent may think that you saw something that he missed and not make the best/obvious move. Here, again, you have assessed the reality. You have decided how you want to act (as if things are better than they really are) in the hope of improving things. The two thought processes are not mutually exclusive.

]]> By: Steve http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27111 Steve Sat, 16 Jun 2007 13:34:26 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/self-delusion-or-reality/#comment-27111 Rick, I understand. Pessimism didn't build rome, but complancency allowed it to burn. I find life far more enjoyable with an optimistc outlook. I still float back and forth, but I get nothing positive done in a pessimistic mindset. Aaron. You're right. That was my original point. We do have the power to change and I don't believe the changes I've seen manifest in my life are delusions, but if they are, I'm happily deluded. It beats the hell out of the realisim I've experienced in the past. In short, I think the shrinks in the article are dead wrong. We have tremendous power over our reality, most of us just can't or won't accept it. I don't agree that believing I have power over reality is truly delusional. Rick,
I understand. Pessimism didn’t build rome, but complancency allowed it to burn. I find life far more enjoyable with an optimistc outlook. I still float back and forth, but I get nothing positive done in a pessimistic mindset.

Aaron.
You’re right. That was my original point. We do have the power to change and I don’t believe the changes I’ve seen manifest in my life are delusions, but if they are, I’m happily deluded. It beats the hell out of the realisim I’ve experienced in the past. In short, I think the shrinks in the article are dead wrong. We have tremendous power over our reality, most of us just can’t or won’t accept it. I don’t agree that believing I have power over reality is truly delusional.

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