The Permanent Anti-Bitterness Regime

[Mountaineer]

What strategies and/or tactics do you employ to avoid becoming bitter? 

Mine would be to focus on acting like this as much as possible:

Let love be genuine.
Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Love one another with brotherly affection.
Outdo one another in showing honor.
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of others and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.
Never be wise in your own sight.

... Mountaineer

[Benko]

Great idea, but transformation is not so easy.

Change what you can, and let go of what you can't.

I daresay letting go includes the notion that you know what is best for everyone. 

[moda0306]

Great idea, but transformation is not so easy.

Change what you can, and let go of what you can't.

I daresay letting go includes the notion that you know what is best for everyone.

Agreed 100%.

HB's How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World is one huge perspective-builder for me.  Looking at how utterly lucky we are is another... Thinking of how much horribly worse life could be. There are billions in history that would probably be dumbfounded by the happiness attainable today.

Not to agree with my usual opponents, but adopting a TRUE philosophy of self-ownership is huge.  That doesn't mean being bitter against those who oppose it, by to truly own my own success and avoid obstructions to that accordingly.  I know a UFC fighter who's usual saying is "the common denominator to every failure in my life is myself." 

That may feel depressing or nerve-racking to some.  For me it's liberating. 

[Tortoise]

Consider the possibility that the concept of self-ownership is an illusion.

None of us chose to be born, and yet we were. And we will all die someday, whether we choose to or not.

Someone or something else brought us into this world "by force," and someone or something will take us out of this world "by force." If it makes a person feel more powerful to talk about "self-ownership" in the interim... more power to him.

I consider my brief time in this body to be "on loan" from a force greater than myself.

[moda0306]

Tortoise,

That is fine... in fact I agree that much of what you say is much more likely to match reality.  But I see no better way to go through life than being ultimately responsible for what happens to me.  I may not be, but going through life pondering what we are "meant to do" by some greater power seems like an exercise in spinning your wheels.

[MachineGhost]

I daresay letting go includes the notion that you know what is best for everyone.

Great ideal, but the problem is other people that haven't let go of that notion put themselves into positions of power where they can do so and enrich themslves at your expense; so if you don't stay politically aware and resist when necessary, you will one day wake up and find yourself a slave in your very own motherland.  Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.  Even HB grew up after writing some of the juvenile tripe in HIFFIAUW.

[MachineGhost]

None of us chose to be born, and yet we were. And we will all die someday, whether we choose to or not.

I disagree with both premises, but I think what really matters in the long-run is what hallucinotion you use to drive your rented meatbag forward and that you be happy with your choice, because the alternative is winding up chronically unhappy and depressed like doodle.

[Xan]

I disagree with both premises, but I think what really matters in the long-run is what hallucinotion you use to drive your rented meatbag forward and that you be happy with your choice, because the alternative is winding up chronically unhappy and depressed like doodle.

Time out.  MachineGhost, you chose to be born?  This is big news!  How did you do it?

[Mountaineer]

None of us chose to be born, and yet we were. And we will all die someday, whether we choose to or not.

I disagree with both premises, but I think what really matters in the long-run is what hallucinotion you use to drive your rented meatbag forward and that you be happy with your choice, because the alternative is winding up chronically unhappy and depressed like doodle.

I just reread this thread and have a question.  What is a hallucinotion?  A cross between a hallucination and a notion?  I'm puzzled.

... Mountaineer

[moda0306]

None of us chose to be born, and yet we were. And we will all die someday, whether we choose to or not.

I disagree with both premises, but I think what really matters in the long-run is what hallucinotion you use to drive your rented meatbag forward and that you be happy with your choice, because the alternative is winding up chronically unhappy and depressed like doodle.

I just reread this thread and have a question.  What is a hallucinotion?  A cross between a hallucination and a notion?  I'm puzzled.

... Mountaineer

When Bush was told by God to turn the Middle East into a flowering den of democracy the night after his oil & arms contracting buddies told him what a great deal it would be for his investment portfolio AND his country...

THAT was a hallucinotion.


(JK... I am being very sarcastic here.  Not at all saying any of that happened.)

[Mountaineer]

I disagree with both premises, but I think what really matters in the long-run is what hallucinotion you use to drive your rented meatbag forward and that you be happy with your choice, because the alternative is winding up chronically unhappy and depressed like doodle.

I just reread this thread and have a question.  What is a hallucinotion?  A cross between a hallucination and a notion?  I'm puzzled.

... Mountaineer

When Bush was told by God to turn the Middle East into a flowering den of democracy the night after his oil & arms contracting buddies told him what a great deal it would be for his investment portfolio AND his country...

THAT was a hallucinotion.


(JK... I am being very sarcastic here.  Not at all saying any of that happened.)

moda, I must say, I really do appreciate you sense of stupor humor!    You would be a fun guy to have a beer or three with.  (Sorry for ending with a preposition - I know the lib crowd would rather end with a proposition). 

... Mountaineer

[moda0306]

I am a fun guy to have a beer with.  I'm bad enough at enough things that I'm willing to acknowledge my strengths without feeling pompous.  And enjoying a beer while wise-cracking in quasi-line-crossing humor is one of those few strengths.