Information Whore

It seems one of my overarching themes is to gather a lot of information from different people, attempting to integrate many of their varying ideas, perspectives, and views into something I can use personally, especially for navigating the experience of living.

Religion as one of The Ultimate Mindsets?

To me it seems like religion is one of the ultimate mindsets. For those who are able to really be affected by religion to the point of deep resonance, it allows individuals and groups to really endure and persevere. For some it allows for a deep focus on some larger goal. For others it allows them to be willing to suffer or even die. And for some it allows for the willingness to kill others for the sake of something believed in, believing it will somehow protect or even gain favor and respect. Religion seems to serve as a mindset to be able bolster our efforts, allowing us to do some things that perhaps would be much more difficult without religion.

What a Leader is to Me

To me a leader is someone who guides, protects, and builds others up via their own position and strength, fostering growth of individuals for the benefit of the whole.

Sorting Skill Level into Hierarchy and Goldilocks

By sorting people according to their skill level, and having said people interact, it allows for the Goldilocks amount of challenge and resistance: Not too much and not too little... Fostering growth, allowing people to build up gradually without becoming too discouraged or too bored.

The Feel Good Outweighs the Feel Bad

I think so much of what we do depends of the Feel Good outweighing the Feel Bad. From the things we enjoy doing, our habits, and the people we spend time with.  Any kind of major change from our usual way of being often results in a lot of Feel Bad. It takes a lot of time and effort in order to create more of the Feel Good. Because of the initial discomfort, it is helpful to use as many resources as possible that contribute to the Feel Good to help us cope with the initial Feel Bad that results from major sudden change.

Acquiring Skills that Exist Outside of Nature: A Very Human Trait

As humans with a large amount of cerebral cortex, we are able to acquire skills that exist outside of nature. By some combination of modeling, guidance, mirroring, innovation, and intuition, and with enough repetition, we have an extreme ability to adapt and change, so long as we work within the framework of our mammalian rewards system.

It's likely that there are preexisting patterns that exist in nature (easily seen in other animals) that also serve as a framework guiding many of our behaviors, patterns, and predispositions. So likely it helps to work within those existing frameworks when acquiring skills that exist outside of nature.

When we attend concerts or sporting events, very concrete and observable reflections of skill acquisition, I believe that on some level, our admiration reflects our own human desire to continue to learn and adapt: It reflects our very human trait of acquiring skills that exist outside of nature within the framework of our mammalian rewards system.

I believe our admiration is a reflection of our own innate desires. I also believe on some level we know how difficult it is to create changes and acquire or increase our skills: We're admiring the quest and journey involved. As humans we constantly ride The Edge of Adaptation. We have to honor an ever-changing environment (that is often a product of what we create or have created), while simultaneously honoring our underlying primal instinctual desires (of safety and continued survival...  In a social animal context, gaining respect as well as gaining trusted allies are the most obvious manifestations of our underlying desires, as both create a feeling of safety within a group. From a physical body perspective, we wish to be free of too much pain and physical discomfort, and constantly seek ways to acquire resources that allow for hoped for increased physical safety). We also have to honor our preexisting tendencies (either from natural disposition or acquired through earlier experience). We all have a unique map full of desired destinations and obstacles along the way... Traveling that map is somehow very human.

The use of the Word "Baby" in a Romantic Relationship and Vulnerability

It's my belief that in romantic relationships, some people use the word "Baby" as an unconscious link towards feelings of vulnerability and the desire to feel protected. The mindset of being vulnerable creates an opportunity for another to honor that state of rawness (and fear), by offering protection and security. When the call and response are completed and answered via what is desired, oxytocin flows through our brains, by both Being someone who is trusted and by being someone who trusts, allowing for a feeling of deeper bonding and connection... By taking down our armor, we allow others to be there for us. Yet at the same time, taking down armor can result in what our brains consider increased chances of death... The exists of the risk being put into situations not helpful for getting our needs met... so ultimately we must use discernment in order to find those who will honor, respect, and help us along our journey of living.