The Destruction of the Mind Through Pride

The first time I sat down to write Know the Game You're In was over 11 years ago. This little letter was then sent through Fax Broadcast (email was not yet perfected) as a weekly accompaniment to a Newsletter "Generations". I can remember the marvelous satisfaction I felt when I traveled the country and heard from people how much they loved this "Weekly Thought" that was really nothing more then the ramblings of my mind, focused on becoming productive in the Market Place. Imagine what they might of thought if they had known the absolute Internal Self Destruction that was taking place as I became so extremely Proud of the ramblings of my Mind and the challenges that were to come in discovering this powerful force of destruction.

The struggle with Pride and the role it deceivingly plays in our lives is one that appears to have gained momentum over the past 10 years. It appears people are Proud of everything, from their children, their gender, their accomplishments, even their Racial Heritage. The Paradigm is that Pride will lead to Self Esteem and a Positive Portrait of oneself. How can this be Destructive? How many stories have you heard of a child so deeply bent on making a parent proud, they became completely self destructive, addicted to behaviors and substances, covering these problems as not to cause disappointment, until they just felt helpless and worthless? How often have we see movies wherein a character is acting completely ridiculous and irrational and the excuse whispered behind their backs is, "He is a man, or She is a woman, with a lot of Pride", or have you witnessed this in an acquaintance? Someone can not do the loving, reasonable or mature thing because they are Proud. The question remains; How do we find Self Esteem without a sense of Pride?

To lay a simple foundation, let's propose that the Human Mind has a Devine Connection (which I believe it does). That every Human Being has a deep connection to Goodness that can only be changed, and most often is, through Training and Conditioning during It's most vulnerable years. Yet, the Foundation, no matter how suppressed into the sub-conscience, is constantly testifying of Truth and Goodness. The voice may become smaller as conditioning takes hold but it is always there. This connection, or light, is instilled by the Source of It's creation. Based purely and solely on the basis that It was important enough and loved enough to be created in the first place. Now, instill Pride into this process. Not just being proud for what It accomplishes, but Pride in things, that It deeply knows, were completely and utterly the choice of others. Things that no choice It makes can ever change. Now add one of my favorite philosophical principles to the equation: "The Body is Slave to the Mind".

When you take those thoughts into consideration, isn't the destructive nature of Pride more visible? If your Mind knows that all Pride is based on the false assumption that we did it completely and utterly without assistance and negates the role of the Source of creation, which It knows to be true, wouldn't that cause an undeniable contradiction in a mind that also knows, "There are no Contradictions"? If, no matter what you tell yourself, the Mind, at It's deepest level, knows the absolute truth and the health of the Mind dictates the health of the Body, wouldn't the force of this contradiction tear at every fiber of your being?

So, what are we to do? How are we suppose to find that wonderment called Self Esteem? What if we were to replace Pride with Gratitude. Try this exercise: Instead of telling your child you are Proud of them because of an accomplishment, tell them your are Grateful for their efforts toward that accomplishment. Instead of endlessly seeking to make you proud by winning at every effort, even if that effort is dishonorable, they would need only to make their best effort, to win honorably or lose graciously, to know you were grateful. Instead of taking Pride in attaining your goals, be Grateful for that which was given you that allowed you to undertake such a task and overcome the obstacles. Show Gratitude for your heritage and the ancestors who worked so hard and made the choice to give it to you. After all, your very being was their choice, not yours. Be Grateful for a wonderful marriage or happy, healthy family. Be Grateful for children and the wonder and love they bring to the world. Be grateful for the Mind you were "GIVEN", for the very wonder of the electromechanical functions that allow your lungs to suck air. By becoming Grateful, we acknowledge what the mind already knows, we exist because of the love and goodness of the Source that created us. The very reason Pride is listed as destructive is because it contradicts the knowledge we have of the existence of that Source.

Try this, change your words, that is how it all starts: make a conscience effort, replace any synonym for Pride with one reflecting Gratitude in your daily language. Look up these two words in the thesaurus and see for yourself which one relates more positively. Try this for one month and let me know how it affects your life. I am certain there will be positive changes.

The Moochers

The unethical, illegal and compulsive redistribution of wealth has become a plague in our nation. As Government Bureucrats align thier constituencys with those who choose not to create, not to make a contribution but, rather, to Mooch what they can in their own self interest with no consideration for those who are robbed with the threat of force of their earnings by Government in order to appease possible voters, this country becomes continually weaker. Robbed of moral values and ethical virtues by the lure of receiving something for nothing.

Our Moral Standards are declining, Teen Suicide is on the rise, the enhancement of life via chemicals seems to be ever more acceptable and almost inevitable, and many of us ask, Why?

Are these two related?

I would argue that they are. The constant bombardment of Politicians who seem to have absolutely no Moral or Ethical Standards, those who change thier rhetoric depending on the latest poll or the audience they are obviously attempting to appease, are constantly causing those who listen to wonder if their is anyone out there who has attained success without losing their soul. We could argue that the near criminalization of Christian Values, the explosion of Governement Programs that offer something for nothing. The Socialistic threads interwoven throughout our society have robbed many of the self esteem one needs to value themselves. Without any value for self, we soon lose value for others and it becomes less and less common to ask, "If you are giving to me, from whom are you taking? By what means do you take? By what authority do you take what is not yours and give to another?" Without value for self, one may lean toward a lifestyle where Morals, Ethics and Standards are completely subjective.

Then , of course, there are those who love to use Christian Values as a means wherein, the redistribution of wealth is a "Christ like teaching." To keep this short, I completely understand the teachings, that one should be most generous with ones possessions. However, I dare you find me one example where His teaching was that charity should be compulsary, enforced by the power to take ones life or liberty. Where it is taught that you should force others to give to causes you see value in under the threat of law? As many will definately take issue with this view, take for example those teachings of The Master wherein the reason for the action is as important or more important then the act itself. If you are using law and the threat that comes with enforcing the law to compel another to be charitable, are you robbing them of the blessings that come with making correct choices?

Let me make an example. I love charitable work. I enjoy giving to causes that I hold dearly. In giving of what I earn, to causes and organizations I deem worthy of my donations, I gain a sense of accomplishment, I feel the warmth one feels when exercising correct principles. When the Governement takes what I earn, this sense of accomplishment is robbed from me. As I see the woman (or Man, it just happens most I see are the women, not to mean they do not have a man too worthless to even accompany her in her looting with unearned finances) in the market with one cart of Alcohol, Tobacco products, Gossip Rags, Pornographic magazines and various other non-necessities, in which she pays cash for and another Cart of necessities that she uses Food Stamps to pay for, I become a little aggrieved and feel I have a right to ask why it is that I pay for her food in order to allow her to exercise her vices. Does it shock you when this same person has the money for Lottery Tickets? Further, should we not consider the morality of forcing one citizen to pay for services that individual holds morally reprehensible?

I ramble, forgive me. My point is simple. If you wish to see the exact cause of our Moral Decline, our increased Drug Use, the explosion of Gangs amongst our young people, look no further then your Elected Officials who have set the example of apparent success through manipulation, constant revision of what and when they actuallly stand for anything, the willingness to loot from one to give to another in persuit of one more entitlled voter who allows the cycle to constantly repeat. It is this absolute legalization of Larceny, as long as the Larcenist has the power to create a "Law" which allows them the power given no other which has lead to every negative in our society today!