“But human control is limited. Susceptibility to despair, disease, aging and death is universal. In the final analysis, we do not appear to be the architects of our own fragility. Whose fault is it, then?” - Jordan Peterson
A Good Day Today!
Heeeello Steemians!
Today has been a good day.
I didn’t have work, but I did go out to meet a friend!
And I did get to eat Nene Chicken, which is always a highlight of my day/week/month.
I could even make a post about Nene Chicken in Korea, just like Book Off in Japan.
One of the world wonders, I tell you.
None of this Kentucky Fried Chicken business. All Korean Fried Chicken in this blog, baby.
Boneless snowing cheese chicken. Mmm.
I managed to read today’s chapter with nothing but green tea and water.
I’ve been doing intermittent fasting! And I’m adapting quite well, which isn’t surprising considering the medication I take.
Also, Happy Chinese New Year Eve everyone!
Stats
Habit: Reading
Date: 15/02/2018
Currently Reading: 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos
Previously Read: N/A
Pages Read Today (Minimum 10): 13
BOTD
This chapter isn't particularly difficult. It's far shorter than its counterparts and with good reason. I think it's something that we all think about, but what can we really do?
The rule in itself is straight to the point, it's just actually going out and doing it. Peterson doesn't need to give people a 10 step program to a healthier personal life, he gives questions for us to contemplate and consider.
Rule 6: Set Your House in Perfect Order Before You Criticize the World.
Don’t be hypocritical. Change yourself before you change the world.
Discipline yourself so you don’t fall into the trap of nihilism, pushing yourself to the edge to commit horrible acts against humanity.
But what can we do when those thoughts of hopelessness and destruction are all we have? When the only reasonable solution is to go out?
“Tolstoy could identify only four means of escaping from such thoughts.”
1. Retracting into childlike ignorance of the problem
2. Pursuing mindless pleasure
3. Dragging out one’s life despite life being evil and meaningless
4. Destroying life when one realizes that life is evil and meaningless.
This quote and four means is in relation to Tolstoy’s conclusion of life being meaningless and evil.
But what about those who rise above it? Those who block out those thoughts? I have heard of others who use their religion and faith to protect them, as well as move above such thoughts.
But then again – wouldn’t that be the first mean of escape?
“People who experience evil may certainly desire to perpetuate it, to pay it forward. But it is also possible to learn good by experience evil.”
If any person had a shred of compassion, sympathy, or faith, then one would learn from the injustices placed upon them.
Because who would want the same to be done to their children, their family, or their friends?
“Abuse disappears across generations. People constrain its spread. That’s a testament to the genuine dominance of good over evil in the human heart.”
It is these words which remind me of the fact that despite all the cruelty in the world, which is blatantly broadcast and blown out of proportion, the rates at which such news truly occurs is gradually decreasing.
IE. The number of plane crashes, suicides, certain illnesses, etc.
“If it’s her fault she may be able to do something about it. If it’s God’s fault, however – if reality itself is flawed, hell-bent on ensuring her misery – then she is doomed. She couldn’t change the structure of reality itself. But maybe she could change her own life.”
If it were to be God’s fault, or fate’s, then she can do nothing with it. She wouldn’t fight against the waves, why would she? It’d be hard, it would be a waste of effort, because you will always be pushed to whichever direction the divine beings have decided.
“But success makes us complacent. We forget to pay attention. We take what we have for granted. We turn a blind eye. We fail to notice that things are changing, or that corruption is taking root. And everything falls apart. Is that the fault of reality – of God? Or do things fall apart because we have not paid sufficient attention?”
Is it the monotony which seeps in that causes us to miss critical details, to fall into our own traps?
How can we exercise alertness and manage our attention, to make sure that what we do simply doesn’t become a habit that can be looked over?
Another thing it reminds me of is a NoSleep story, where a father goes through the motions of his day, but he forgot to drop his kid off at the kindergarten. The child was in the car the whole entire day.
I'm sure it's not that hard to guess what happened to the child, especially when it was very hot without any access to water or fresh air.
“Consider your circumstances. Start small. Have you taken full advantage of the opportunities offered to you? Are you working hard on your career, or even your job, or are you letting bitterness and resentment hold you back and drag you down?”
“You will stop making your life unnecessarily difficult.”
And if you’re like me, then set your bedroom in perfect order before you criticize the world.
I don’t live by myself.
I’m by no means responsible enough to do so. But I’ll take responsibility for my room, my own little space which defines me.
Even then, with the house inside of me, clean as it may be, I don’t think I have much to criticize about.
I think there’s acceptance for all the things I do know.
And I let it simply be.
Another day is done!
Thanks for joining this ride! I hope you’ve enjoyed it thus far.
Tell me what you think of the book at its current stage! What are your thoughts on the quotes given and questions raised?
And don’t forget to follow if you’d like to see more updates and thoughts from me,
C8!
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