Wisdom= Destruction of Paradigm

A simple act of defiance, a distortion of normalcy, rules bent, and authority questioned. Some may say these are the signs of anarchy, but can it also be the beginning of wisdom?

In your job, or in your relationship, do you have a strict set of rules? Do you follow them? It may be hurting you.

As Barry Schwartz argues
(http://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_our_loss_of_wisdom.html),
rules create a distortion of character and values.

Just last week in the news, a chimpanzee owner had to stab his pet to death with a butcher knife. Obviously this goes against great many rules, such as loving all God's creatures and animal ethical treatment. But I failed to mention on purpose that the chimpanzee turned feral and was ripping apart the owner's friend's face. Immediately all animal rights rules goes out the window to preserve the life of a human over an animal.

In our own lives we are confronted with similar situations. We may not have a chimpanzee gouging out our eyeballs, but we do have a system we adhere to, may it be a weekly small group, a boss, work contracts or even our own daily regiments such as exercising or studying or reading.

We are stuck in machines of the grimmest order. We do this because of the ease of life that rules and regulations offer. You don't have to think, you just do. "All I am doing is inputting data or a stream of letters in my job. It's boring, but it's easy."

That's why working with people gets messy. When it comes to relationships, we cannot input data to figure out what is hurting a person, we cannot use a formula to get out of an argument, or combine the right spacing of groups of letters to make someone like me. It doesn't work that way. And because it is not clear cut and the rules no longer hold our hands through the lovely fields of relationships, we get pissed.

So then, when we are confronted with problem solving, you have two choices: 1. do what has normally been done and proves to be successful, 2. do something different. If option number 1 always works and you stay with it, you are being mediocre. If you take option 2 you risk failure or achieve success.

In what areas of your life do you find dull or lifeless? Do you want change? Then more than likely you are sticking to option 1.

Sometimes we set our own rules and when the world doesn't play by them, our hearts get eaten alive and digested into goo. For example, I can safely say "I have worked hard. I have a degree. I am good person; therefore, I deserve a good job and a good pay and deserve to forever keep my job."

That is the rule of Karma my friend, and that rule fails very often.

Say that, "If I study my bible every day, pray three times a day, tithe regularly, and feed the poor, I should hear God's voice clearly."
That is the rule of kissing butt. As some of us learned in High School, this doesn't go very far either.

We set rules because we think what should be right and what should be fair and what should be protocol (I do it this way, so the world must follow suit). This is judging situations with mortal eyes. This leads to defeat, destruction and death.

We might as well have a primate ripping us to peace. So let's be creative, and set ourselves free from what we think would work. Option 2 is scary and comes with pain. But with that pain is learning and developing of character, of skill and craft. Option 2 says follow someone's footsteps but follow alongside them with a different stride, different foot size and maybe go beyond where the footsteps stop.

It's time to change and change now.