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PURPOSE
PURPOSE Become better. Be more skilled
Perception Perception depends on what is "known", which is subject to feelings and opinions. The Will is the source for feelngs. It is also the source for rigid opinions. If the rigid opinion is from feelings, are they actually the same, but credited differently? To change or modify perceptions, Will uses its Mind tool to get the proof required by the learning process.
Inaccurate knowledge = Inaccurate perceptions. Thinking (or feeling) that knowledge is complete or definitive invites false perceptions. A closed mind is not open to other possibilities. Assuming may feel certain, but knowing is certain. Yet learning depends on perceptions, because awareness depends on perception. When knowledge is hazy, perception is hazy, and learning random.
Every situation has an outcome whether it is perceived as a problem, a benefit, or undefined. Even "doing nothing" eventually has an outcome. And the outcome may be part of an accumulation of effects whose consequences can be distant, obscure, unpredictable, and not perceived. In the 20th Century an international official was asked about the effects of the 150-year-old French Revolution. His reply? "It's too early to tell."
Outcome may not be immediate Forced outcomes are seen immediately, but the actual outcome may not be experienced right away, and sometimes for a long time. Factors originally discounted, ignored, or not in awareness will have their effect. Disappointment might be avoided by heeding this advice: Don't invest in an immediate outcome.
Outcome has personal value, whose meaning is defined by personal perceptions. Real value depends upon the willingness to see real concerns. Is the concern felt? Can it be described? Is it described as it is, or perceived as a should, could, or would? These are pre-conceptions that distort perceptions.
Good communications work, but many seemingly good communications fail on various levels. For example, prejudice against the possibility of such a concern existing, its misperception or misunderstanding, generalization, false comparison, blind acceptance, emotional reasoning, false relationships, pre-conceptions, false credit, wishful thinking, denial, etc., etc. There are many opportunities to make mistakes, and when the errors are compounded, mistakes expand.
Denial usually doesn't help, but the denial of something at least acknowledges its existence!
Prejudice—pre-judging— doesn't even ackowledge something's existence!
Positive intent helps accurate perception.
Behavior Behavior is the response to a stimulus through physical action, mental contemplation, emotional performance, or a combination of them all. Conversely, lack of response may also be intentional. In any case, the concern remains real and behavior communicates the perception.
Cultures forbid certain behaviors, or expression of "feelings" about them. You just don't do it. If not honestly expressed, the concern persists, but is treated in a way that masks or distorts it, so it appears as another kind of behavior.
Some behaviors discount concerns. If a concern is not appreciated, real need is not met. A desired consequence may have been gained, but if it was not based on a real concern, the real need remains! A sense of incompletion pervades. Often, logic is used to rationalize such behavior, making it seem OK when actually not.
Behavior is usually instinctive, proceeding without thought on the basis "this is what is usually done in this circumstance," or this is what "should" be done, or responding to a "feeling" that one is supposed to have. This "feeling," or "should" may be remote from the actual concern.
Behavior that seeks "the highest and best good" usually addresses concerns well. If in the Mind the "highest and best good" is achieved, good feelings result. But if real concerns have not been acknowledged, the good feelings are temporary.
Instinct The dictionary has three definitions of instinct.
The first definition: An inner pattern of behavior that is not learned. For example, nourishing behavior, like eating, satisfies the need for survival. It is not learned.
The second definition: A powerful motivation or impulse describes behavior created to satisfy natural instincts. Though the need to eat is natural, what and how to eat are learned. Here, thought is used to make choices that, once instinctive, become automatic.
The third definition: A natural capability or aptitude covers them all—the unlearned instincts of nature, learned behavior, and the use of feelings or thought to acknowledge or deny concerns are all natural capabilities or aptitudes. For example, conviction feels natural, but is it a natural instinct, a learned behavior, or expression of a natural capability or aptitude? What is the concern that serves as the basis for the capability or attitude? Is it based on a misperception, a prejudice? Misperception of reality invites bogus concerns.
What can be attributed to nature? To nurture?
Awareness Awareness measures perception. It may register physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually—all or any of them. Action or reaction depend upon awareness. Understanding and misunderstanding depend on awareness. If misunderstanding prevails, subsequent behavior will eventually prove false, lacking awareness.
Accurate awareness is difficult, because the "highest and best good," or any good, is sometimes beyond understanding.  Yet, even when there is no understanding, reality prevails. Denial refuses reality, making awareness difficult. Prejudice is blind to reality, making awareness impossible. Without denial and prejudice, awareness opens the door to reality. When reality is misperceived, falsity can appear honest and true.
Behavior manifests awareness. Attitude suffices when a concern can't be expressed because it is too complicated, emotional, or overwhelming. That is, when words don't apply. An attitude distorted by prejudice manifests as behavior. Emotion is manifested, especially when feelings or attitude are not really justifiable. For example, denial or prejudice may use logic to support principles, but the logic usually lacks rationale, so it is based on emotional feelings.
The principle of "good" is inclusive, not exclusive. When inclusive, possibilities are acknowledged. Denial and prejudice exclude possibilities. When attitude pre-defines behavior, some possibilities are denied, and the resultant behavior limited.
Awareness of success is desirable. Success based on falsity eventually produces feelings of dissatisfaction and disappointment. Disappointment encourages a desire (another feeling) for a change in behavior. To change, the Will uses the Mind to think things through. When it works, be aware.
Thought Thought is the Will using the Mind to consider possibilities. When choice is considered, so are its consequences. Choosing to avoid choice, to resist inevitable change, to justify opinions with spurious reasoning, and to continue harmful behavior despite evidence to the contrary denies that the motive was feeling, not thought. The foolishness of some feelings are corrected by thought, despite tremendous unconscious resistance.
When words don't come, and the thought is too complex for expression or too remote to be identified, feelings dominate thought. Still, unsatisfactory feelings require thought to change behavior. Thought needs the support of a disciplined Will to effect the change. Willpower calls upon thought.
Thought affects behavior. Unsatisfactory results trigger a need for a change in behavior. Thought of change introduces the possibility of new behavior. But actual change requires more than just logic: rationale is necessary. After all, logic is used to justify behavior that is exclusive and unproductive! Logic certainly is valuable, but needs a rationale supported by thoughts and feelings that are not based on denial, prejudice, or the myriad of other errors further detailed in the Process of the Labyrinth of the Spirit.
Communication Behavior communicates. While communication itself is a natural instinct, different methods of communication, including no communication, are learned behaviors. Forms of expression like words, sounds, gestures, thought, physical expressions, etc. are all methods of communication. Even the lack of expression is a form of communication because something is transmitted.
The model for communication is Sender-Message-Receiver(SMR). Every message needs an originator—the Sender, and a Receiver. In a conversation, back-and-forth sees the Sender become the Receiver and the Receiver the Sender—back and forth, back and forth. Though every media of communication has limits, SMR still applies.
SMR corresponds with the Stimulus-Cause-Effect model used in the Labyrinth.
Stimulus-Cause-Effect becomes Stimulus-Willpower-Effect in the Will model and
Stimulus-Decision-Effect in the Mind Model.
SMR is very adaptable. SMR adapts to many formats besides the example above. One could also be Actor-Act-Action, with the Actor expressing a concern. The Sender could also be called Actor or Stimulus, the Message could be seen as Cause or Act, and the Receiver Effect or Action. This variability applies to both verbal and non-verbal communications. Hopefully, the "the highest and best good" is the Effective action.
Logic used for unreasonable communications is an uncritical use of thought. It is probably not thinking at all, but using logic to make reasonable-sounding arguments for the purpose of justifying faulty behavior. Thought uses careful evaluation to determine behavior.
Productive communication achieves "the highest and best good." Though this is an uncertain definition, productive communication is explored in the Labyrinth, which provides a means for eventually aligning with the "highest and best good" through learning.
Choice Choice means change. But, when one "knows" the "right" thing to do, choice isn't necessary. Claiming to do the "right" thing righteously avoids choice, which means no change. The saying: "this is what I choose to do," can be doublespeak, when choosing to not consider the possibility of change. There is a real choice difference between "right" and "righteous."
Choice of change is not a virtual process that apes reality, where behavior appears different but remains the same. It opens the consideration of other possibilities, and possible change. Real change requires the awareness of real concerns, and real choices. (One choice may be no modification or change of habit!)
Will Stimulus-Cause-Effect to Mind Stimulus-Decision -Effect is a choice.. Rather than Stimulus automatically causing an Effect, a choice (decision) is made to produce a thoughtful Effect. When stimulus is based on a weak premise, falsity is the Effect. How strong—"right," or "righteous"—is the concern of the insight created by the premise? What is the choice?
The Labyrinth of the Spirit offers valid choices because helpful behavior is the goal. Errors are a natural part of the human process, and probably not accidental. The difference is choice.
Errors are helpful because poor choices suggest better choices can be made. Better choices lead to better habits.
Proof Proof validates. Was the desire actually satisfied? Is the effect reproducible when the same decision follows the same stimulus? Proof applies to all three: Stimulus, Decision, and Effect. Is the stimulus perceived accurately, is the decision dependable, is the effect reasonable, are the feelings trustworthy, or did fallacy dominate?
To learn why error, go to Fallacy.
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