If I tell you to stop reading on my blog, can you just press Alt+F4 or Command+W right away? Or if you can, what if I just drop your iphone, can you just forgive me right away without temper?Often times, when I want to get distracted by something else and just not to think that one thing that bothers me so much. I just CAN'T do it! Instead, it stuck in my head even more. I even doubt if I am able to control how my mind thinks or if I am able to sort my thoughts in certain ways. It is kind of like how people pinch their fingers, and it just hurt so much in that moment, though it is not going to hurt forever. But just that amount of time that pain stays in you, it is just inescapable.
Is it possible to control how our mind thinks? It seems possible when we are rational. Such as your math teacher is giving you a lecture when you were little, 1+1=2, and 2+3 has to be 5. You can change your mind so fast if you said 6; and correct your mind in a blink of an eye. This is not the situation that I am talking about, what I am trying to point out is that there are certain ideas that are deep down in your mind that it just can’t go away or take longer to modify. Am I "deceiving myself" because of having this thought in my mind or I am just being stubborn.
By saying all these “I can’t” phrases, to Banach, it seems to be an excuse. But to me, I think people’s abilities are limited. I sometimes even think there is a little person in my mind that is controlling my brain. I want to be creative, but just that moment, I felt limited. “I am more than just these…I am free to do whatever I choose”, is that true? It sounds right, but is it possible to keep having this thought in my mind? Banach sounds like people are absolutely free, and there should not be barrier that can stop me to do certain things. Within this idea in my mind, it seems like my state of mind often have to be controlled in order to do so. By not believing in this, does it sound like what Satre calls that I am having a “bad faith”?
Referring back to the example I mentioned in the beginning, can you just don’t get mad at me for dropping your iphone right this moment? If you can’t, is it that you mind is controlling you that you can’t, or you just can’t forgive me right away. Either one, it reveals how we are not making “ourselves into little pictures on our mental TV screen determined by the script written by the expectations of other people”. I just simply don’t think we are absolutely free in certain moments in our lives even though we have the freedom to choose. Especially for the ones who don’t hide their feelings, and express their emotions right after the happening, before even think about should I cry or laugh. Of course we can decide whether to cry or not through the process of thinking, but arent't doing that will show that I am not "being authentic"? Emotions/feelings is just something that comes up to you, they are inevitable. We are not trying to meet other's standard in this case, we are just expressing how we feel. Does being sad or cry count as limiting my freedom since every single human being is living for happiness?
It might be true that we often be the one that others want us to be, which it limits many things that we want to do. It might be true that “the raw material that makes up our experience is determined by outside influences” can affect the way we think as many things as impossibilities. Aren’t this lecture is one of the idea that is telling me how to be free and gain more freedom in my lives? This is so ironic while I trigger my thoughts along the way.
How can I make myself “anew at each moment” and how can I be free if I listen to what Banach said, “Be authentic”? I thought we are suppose to be “ourselves” and create our “own nature and values”. Banach’s lecture might sound unique and profound, but by taking a side and making a statement, it creates an alternative. Such as reading Banach’s lecture, by following it, I feel like I am making myself as the image that “other people have” of me. By doing so, I make myself “into characters in the plays” in my mental screen TV “determined by the script written by the expectation” of Banach.
How can I make myself “anew at each moment” and how can I be free if I listen to what Banach said, “Be authentic”? I thought we are suppose to be “ourselves” and create our “own nature and values”. Banach’s lecture might sound unique and profound, but by taking a side and making a statement, it creates an alternative. Such as reading Banach’s lecture, by following it, I feel like I am making myself as the image that “other people have” of me. By doing so, I make myself “into characters in the plays” in my mental screen TV “determined by the script written by the expectation” of Banach.
Having absolute freedom requires following what Banach said in his lecture. This means if you are not truly want to be the one that he has described,"the secret of human flourishing and of moral action lies in avoiding bad faith and honoring the responsibility we have to create our own nature and values", but still want or think you have absolute freedom, you are not "being authentic"(or do you still consider yourself real for being someone you don't want to be?). The moment we are born we are being tie to many things, just like we have a fight with ourselves. We win, but we lose. What is the point of this fight?
Banach’s lecture is definitely one of the great lectures I ever read by now with numerous suggestions of pursuing human happiness. But is it necessary to have “absolute freedom” to have a great life? I truly doubt about this question. It may seem we can do more, but I felt we did less. The way I identify absolute freedom is a person who does what he/she wants without being told by anybody and they just follow their hearts.
Banach’s lecture is definitely one of the great lectures I ever read by now with numerous suggestions of pursuing human happiness. But is it necessary to have “absolute freedom” to have a great life? I truly doubt about this question. It may seem we can do more, but I felt we did less. The way I identify absolute freedom is a person who does what he/she wants without being told by anybody and they just follow their hearts.
Instead of struggling for freedom or trying so hard to control our mind to be mentally free, I rather just be myself and accept the fact that I will never be free until I die. You can say that I am having “bad faith”, but by accepting the reality is like I just cut off one of the string that is attached on some part of my body. I am more free.
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>>>>>It is just hard to keep our state of mind to be free all the time. Just like you are in the jail, staring outside the window. Stars hanging out there or gates in prison? Keep in mind, there are days in this world. What will be the replacements of the beatufil sky with stars?*OF COURSE HAVING A GREAT OPEN MIND WILL MAKE US HAPPIER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T THINK WE ARE BEING HONEST TO OURSELVES--AVOIDNG REALITY.*
So the question now is not about freedom, but being authentic or not (to be or not to be, that's the question)...
2 comments:
Hey Bao Liz,
I love how you start off with asking us if we could stop reading your blog could we press Alt + F4 or command + W right away. When I am distracted by something I do the same thing as you I just can’t stop thinking about it. I think, and I think until it drives me up a wall and I feel like I am going to go crazy. At times I often do. I get what you mean and everyone around me just says stop thinking about what’s bothering you and distract yourself and its easer said then done. I find it incredible interesting when you talk about the situation with your math teacher teaching you 1 +1 = 2. It’s so true that you can change your answer in a blink of an eye when you realize you made a mistake. I disagree when you say “that every single being is living for happiness.” I mean can it be that some of us are just living because we have no other choice but to. How can someone know by looking at someone if there happy with their life? I mean I have been told often that I don’t look depressed by some people but if you get to know me you will soon see that it’s not true. That I have my issues just like everyone else does. I just tend to go on and off with showing how I feel depending on my day and my environment. Even though I disagree with this question I do see how it could be asked. We are often confused when looking at someone with a smile or at someone with a frown. Is the person with the smile really happy or are they just trying to cover up the truth of their own messed up life. I find it true that at times we are often being someone where’re not just too fit in and be in a certain crowd of people because we think that’s the crowd for us. You ask a very good question when you say “We win, but we lose. What is the point of this fight?” I am always asking myself this question. Over the years I have come to the conclusion that you are your own worst enemy and harshest critic. It’s a constant battle with your own self. I agree with you when you say that “absolute freedom is a person who does what he/she wants without being told by anybody and they just follow their hearts.” I agree because if you are yourself then people will know the real you and you can be free even if your only half free.
Take Care,
May
To Bao Lin Z,
Hey Bao Lin, awesome paper you have written. You are such a great writer. You paper is so strong and deep. It is truely understanable and enjoyable. I appreciated your knowledge of coming up with great thoughts. I bert you put a lot of effort into this draft. You have my mind flowing on your paper which makes me understand myself even more.
You came up with following up questions which are a great way to start your paper. You explain how often time people get distracted by something else and try to forget about it but it is hard to control your mind. You have to fight your mind in certain ways just to focus on yourself. I totally agree how you stated that "people's abilities are limited." It seem like your mind is control by another person and wanted you to do something, but really we dont want to do what our "mind" sometimes tell us to do. For instance, "daydreaming" is a way of gettin distracted even though you dont realize you are doing it. Or say that you failed the same test a lot of time and you think about suiciding but seriously who wants to die. I dont think we're free at some points, such as obeying the laws or your parents. Keeping your thoughts and feeling inside of you doesnt show you that you are free.
Bao Lin, your paper is amazing... i cant even argue with you. I feel the same way as you..."I rather just be myself and accept the fact that i will never be free..." It is like sometimes we just have to keep on walking at the same old path and cant accept the fact the society is making us suffer. Thanks a lot for sharing your essay and i enjoy it. Good thoughts and development.
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