Life is composed of needs, wants, and responses. Needs are at the core of our lives, and cannot be ignored. They are simple and intuitive. Our wants, however, can vary and collide with our needs.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
We need to breathe, but we do not need sex. We want sex. Even though it is a very strong and fundamental desire, it is not a need. We also want specific foods, so while nourishment is a need, eating snacks or what have you is only a want.
Responses, while meaningful, are just how we react to unexpected events in our lives. While it is good to be prepared, it is how we handle our needs and wants that seems to have the most influence on us.
The meaning to life of a person is beyond what is shared with all others. It is personal and unique, by this definition, and so is constructed from our unique wants. It is personal, intimate, and thus has meaning to us.
So, finally, the meaning to life is our dreams, achievements, interests, hobbies, and our personal relationships; our intimate environment.
There is a difference between what an evil act can create, and what situations are sustained by evil action. I think the former is not necessarily evil, while the latter is necessarily evil. Lets take an example...
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One of the most evil acts known to man is rape. The use of force to physically control another person. It is not uncommon for a woman victim to get pregnant from the assault. In this case, there is no obligation for the child to follow in the steps of the father. Good raising and care will create a good person, regardless of the father. We have all seen cases of good children from bad parents.
On the other hand, there are situations that can only exist - be sustained, perpetuated, by evil acts. Take another extreme evil: slavery. It is not possible to possess slaves, without coercing yourself on them. Without continuous coercion, slavery will not exist, instantly so.
It seems that anything caused by evil may be either good or bad, while anything sustained by evil must be also wrong. This observation lets us better judge people's choices! Anyone who enjoys the results of another's evil is not liable, unless they are also involved.
However, if you are enjoying the sustained evil actions of others, then you are collaborating and are necessarily committing evil!
Philosophy is the art of wisdom. Differentiating between true and false. Finding out the realities of life and nature, to any evident degree.
It is also a way of life. Logical thinking, as devised by ancient philosophers and improved throughout the generations, is a method of filtering out the useful ways of thinking, and avoiding the useless ones. Useful thinking, in the sense that such mind-effort will lead to true conclusions, rather than false fantasies.
Without acting on it - being logical and using those methods of thinking, there is no philosophy. Just opinions and rambling.
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But then comes the question of whether being logical, and acting on evidence, is actually useful, in practice.
Logic represents likelihoods and impossibilities. Good arguments or fallacies. Looking back at history, those people who aligned themselves with evidence, are those that develop the most, both socially and technologically. The excitement around the Scientific method in recent centuries is plenty of evidence, to the benefit of logic.
It is common for people to seek the advice of wiser men and women. Tribes have their Shamans, Kings and Emperors have their Council - their citizens have Witches, and modern Politicians have their Scientists - their citizens have Psychologists.
And while science and psychology are founded on philosophy, their practice is far from logical. Logic had been replaced with experimentation; rather than reach the source of problems, symptoms are badly managed by gadgets and drugs.
I have rarely talked with a person who is aware of logical fallacies. Even more rare was talking with a person who practiced avoiding logical fallacies! Even those who studied philosophy seem to treat it as entertainment, abstract thoughts, rather than a practice.
Arguably, psychology helps emotional issues, but it does not show people how to be logical. Logic has a method and rules. Specifics that need be understood, and then practiced. Then applied to every choice you make.
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The Question of AI
As a side note, I can also mention AI, or rather computerized machines. After all, if being logical is useful to us, then logical machines will continue making choices that benefit us, without the well-known "human error" factor. No wonder computers have become the highlight of the new millennium.
Do you ever feel like you are not doing enough? Or that you are somehow not doing the "right" things?
Have you ever noticed how the larger part of your time is spent on doing what others want of you? Or how your main occupation does not reflect your dreams and ambitions?
If you nodded in agreement at any of the above questions, then you need to ask yourself, "What am I missing?"
And the answer is highly likely one or more of these three: Artistic creativity, volunteering with others, and going on adventures.
Artistic Creativity
Work does not only mean doing something for money. We often miss to notice that much of what we do is out of sheer joy. Playing games, organizing events, or helping friends out. Many things.
However, when we create something out of our own enthusiasm, regardless of others, a sensation of pride and achievement is manifest!
There are few things that we can do that satisfy our emotional needs, as creating out of sheer will does. A drawing, a sculpture, an accessory or device, and even just a brief text or recording.
Volunteering With Others
It seems that when nothing quite works for me, then I can always go and find someone else, even online, whom I can help and cheer. People appreciate kindness. And the amazing thing about it is that helping others, makes us feel achieving and positive, too!
It makes sense. When you help others, and improve their lives, then it creates a sort of promise of helping you in the future, and gives a feeling of security and comfort within your social circles.
Going On Adventures
When all else fails, go and do! Do not think. Do not plan. Do not seek understanding. Go, outside, or within, or even online, and seek new and exciting places, people, and ideas!
There is a misunderstanding, when it comes to achievements. Success is not only when we get the results we wanted. Success is also when things just work out, just because we kept on doing with a positive attitude and courage, even when there was nothing noticeable in sight, ahead.
So, to conclude, remember that there is always something to bring out to the world, regardless of circumstance or ideology. Keep on doing, keep on learning, and keep on having a blast, every day! :-)
The problem of patience is that there are always different, and changing, reasons to act, or otherwise. This means that, unless we do not want to explode with anxiety, then we must learn to evaluate situations quickly.
One way is to meditate. By sitting quietly, comfortably, and without disturbances, any person is able to reflect on their thoughts. By using concentration and effort, we can achieve clear conclusions, about the choices we want to make, and the risks we want to take.
People use different methods, to handle their own impatience and anxiety. It could be beer or weed, and online chat, on websites or through games.
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Sadly, it seems that external methods have serious drawbacks. Weed interferes with the concentration required to reflect. Beer disorients the mind, so that decisions are only impulsive. Chats encourage an impractical, detached from reality perspective.
Without patience, all we have left is irritations, and how we respond to them. We do not develop strategy and wisdom.
However, if we wait for understanding to broil, then we win the ability to achieve our mind's goals, and the manifestation of our dreams; or rather, a life of reaching towards.
