| PURPOSE |
Become better. Avoid error (list included). Seek truth. |
| 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.
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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. |
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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." |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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! |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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What can be attributed to nature? To nurture? |
| Awareness |
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. |
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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.A "good" attitude eventually manifests awareness. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
| Feeling |
A feeling is any emotion or attitude created as a reaction
to any event, circumstance, or to an opinion regarding events or circumstances
| 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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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." |
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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!) |
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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? |
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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. |
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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? |
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To learn why error, go to
Fallacy. |
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To top. |
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