Pathwalking 226
Pathwalking is not the One True Way.
Simple as that. This my personal philosophy for working on doing as I would wish to do to live the life I want to live. This is my method for being in control of the things within my control.
I have in my four plus decades on this planet learned a lot of things. I have experienced quite a bit, too. I have seen, heard, read and otherwise gotten involved in many adventures, both good and bad. Along the way information has come into my possession, and I have formulated my personal view of the world from this.
With certain exceptions, nothing is unchangeable. Exceptions include the Earth rotates around the Sun, gravity does its thing and keeps us on the surface of the planet, the Earth is round, and similar irrefutable, scientific truths.
What we believe can be changed. What I believed about the world and how life worked at the age of ten was not what I believed at the age of twenty; what I believed about the world and how life worked at the age of twenty is not what I believed at the age of forty.
Certain things remained the same over the years, but many were changed. I learned things, experienced things, found things that changed my world and my perspective on it.
Sometimes this was easy. I had been seeking out a change, I wanted something different for my life, and so on. But other times this was hard. I wanted things to be as they were and I did not want to see them change. I wanted what I knew to remain constant, even though I had learned that it was not.
Some of these things are based in truths that change as we study them. For example: when I was a kid I learned that dinosaurs were related to modern lizards. Now science tells me they are more related to modern avians.
More of the truths we believe are based on opinions, experiences, what we do with our own lives. We go to school and learn from our teachers not just the things that are in the books, but how to think. The way we think academically is different in high school than it is in college, when we start to be more independent and begin to learn to think critically. As our approach changes, what we know and believe changes.
This can get particularly sticky for many people. You learn a thing, you believe that thing, and then something challenges it. Perhaps you can defend it and continue to think as you do; or you refuse to accept that it is not as you think it is, and resist change; or you see the new perspective, and you adapt your take on it.
In my experience, most people don’t much like change. I’m guilty of this as well, there have been many times I resisted changing because I didn’t want it. Human nature is often to nest, and that’s not just settle down in a place to call home physically; we want to take comfort in our knowledge. When that knowledge is challenged some react violently to not be affected by change.
Look at American politics right now. The open hostility, the bigotry, the racism, the hatred is based on precisely this. People are being challenged to think in a way counter to what they already do, and they do not want to give in. Those seeking power are playing on people’s resistance to change, or people’s desire for it. No change, change going forward, change going backwards. What will draw the most people to vote for person ‘X’ and get him or her elected? That’s what is stirring people right now.
There are certain things I have come to believe about how the Universe works. Some I have seen for myself, some I have studied or read about, some are based on experiences, others are based on faith. When I am challenged about my beliefs, depending on which is being challenged, I will either defend my position, refuse to accept that I may need to shift my view, or change to match the new data.
I believe that consciousness creates reality. I believe that if we are more positive we build better things. I believe that we are all empowered to choose for ourselves. I believe that I alone control my emotional state, unless I give that power away. I believe that I can find and walk my own path in this life.
Pathwalking is my philosophy. I created this idea and shared it because I believe that I am happier when I take control of my life experience. I have had issues, I have had good days and bad, but overall I believe that the choices I make are right for me.
You may think differently. I expect you to. I also respect that you may have a totally different perspective from mine. I will not force my way on you and expect the same courtesy in return; however, I am all for a good, intellectual, well-thought debate and discussion on any given topic. Maybe you can show me that I need to adjust aspects of my philosophy.
Life is a paradox. The world is vast, but at the same time amazingly small. We want stability but at the same time we want change. We want control but at the same time we want to let others guide us. Whatever paths we choose along the way, the challenges we face are what make us into who we are.
My answers to certain questions will differ from yours. When we better accept that this ok, and we can coexist with our differences, we can work together to build a better world.
Pathwalking is my way. What is yours?
GOAL LOG – Week 16:
Diet: I continue tracking my intake, and I’m seeing continued improvement in choices and portions.
Exercise: Fencing happened twice last week, and I hit the gym twice. I did a large amount of walking on one day, so my I exceeded my goal.
Writing: Five days of writing and editing.
Meditation: I spent at least 4 minutes meditating six days last week.
Gratitude: I wrote out 5 things to be grateful for every day last week.
This is the two-hundred twenty sixth entry in my series. These weekly posts are ideas and my personal experiences in walking along the path of life. I share this journey as part of my desire to make a difference in this world along the way.
Thank you for joining me. Feel free to re-blog and share.
The first year of Pathwalking, including some expanded ideas, is available here.
If you enjoy Pathwalking, you may also want to read my Five Easy Steps to Change the World for the Better.
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