Comments on: Escaping the Prison

By: Dale Asberry

Dale Asberry — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:52:38 +0000

shoot, meant
not

By: Dale Asberry

Dale Asberry — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:51:17 +0000

I’m not sure that courage is simply “not having any alternative”. It is taking action with these 16 qualities in face of pressure by others to force you away from them. One phrase from my Mom that I’ve held closely is that I *always* have a choice. So, “not having any alternative”, is a self-delusion, a power-sapper. Courage then comes when following through on choices to be consistent with these qualities – no matter the unpleasantness of doing so, the “stuck between a rock and a hard place” decisions.I’m not sure where this fits, but after letting this all settle in, these qualities become much more powerful when acting with intention. Seeing where you are, looking where you want to go and taking principled actions to move in that direction. I’ve labeled it “setting myself up to succeed”. To save the world, teach them this. Not only do most people not know they can be intentional, they have no clue as to how to follow through with principled actions. To them, what the hell principles are worthwhile? Instead, many act such that they seem to do what society says is acceptable, but, always with a cost/benefit analysis and then selfishly choosing what’s most desirable.

By: Pearl

Pearl — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 17:09:52 +0000

courage is just not having any alternative Dave Pollard. Consider yourself quoted. :-)Interesting post overall. Lots of food for thought. I like the take away tips. #6 is tricky but useful for me to apply more. And 1 and 2 of course.

By: Dave Pollard

Dave Pollard — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 22:24:40 +0000

Siona, Case — thanks. Dale, I practice them too, though I’m not sure I’m making that much progress. As regards courage, I’ve come to believe that courage is just not having any alternative, and though I admire courageous people greatly, to some extent I think their courage has been thrust upon them by chronically difficult or suddenly adverse circumstances. My greatest admiration is for those who show courage year in and year out over a long period of struggle.

By: Dale Asberry

Dale Asberry — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 08:21:54 +0000

Wow Dave, these 16 qualities exactly describe how I try to focus my energies and guide my development. I am aware of these qualities and *actively* practice them. My preferred order: 15, 14, 1 and 6, 4 and 13, 2, 11, 3, 8, 10, 5, 12, 9, 7. For “mindfulness”, if you “self-censor” then you lose that awareness. “Acceptance of responsibility” goes hand-in-hand with “not rationalizing”. If you rationalize, then how can you take responsibility for a non-existant problem? Being open to 1, 2, and 3 can lead you to empathy: watch others behavior, compare it with your own and if you build a consistent internal model describing the other’s behavior and feelings, then, regardless of the ‘acceptable’ model (as broadcast by society), your model is correct.Maybe one quality is missing: courage. Standing up for yourself, for your own good, and not for someone else and regardless of anyone else to do the ‘right’ thing.

By: Case Wagenvoord

Case Wagenvoord — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 12:14:12 +0000

There can be no courage without fear. Fear destroys when we turn away from it in a knee-jerk reaction that gives rise to hatred. Courage is born when face fear squarely and realize that the threat is not in the object of our fear but in ourselves. Your post was very enlightening.

By: Siona

Siona — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 07:23:14 +0000

I just wanted to say thank you for an excellent post. I’ve been meaning to get my hands on Burning All Illusions for some time, and your synoposis – and commentary – was wonderful. And while I agree a little with the objections made by the bonehead above (we are society; our illness makes for an ill culture; we are only attacking ourselves, and fear just makes this worse), the post is too good not to be wholly appreciated. Thank you so much.

By: zach

zach — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 03:51:10 +0000

“fundamental lessons…” Any bonehead who has spent any time in a corporation knows this, therefore I don’t agree that these are “fundamental lessons.” “the truth that it is this society that makes us ill” Blame, blame, blame. Of course people can’t change if they don’t accept the responsibility to make change happen.”chest of tools for intellectual self-defence” Self defence implies being attacked, being attacked implies fear. I’d rather not be afraid. So a feeling of inner emptiness is actually incongruent behavior (disconnection from and control of your emotions) caused by rewards and punishments of others?