Thursday, February 28, 2013

Here’s an interesting thought. What if the things we obtained—good, bad or indifferent—were based solely on what we deserved? What if it had nothing to do with what we wanted? Could purchase? Afford or manipulate our way to getting? What if the only things that came our way were a direct result of what we’d done to deserve them?

Interesting premise….

Take a moment to imagine the world that would create….

If we could only be recipients of those things we directly deserved, I believe folks would handle themselves on a different plane. They’d be more cognizant of how they treated others. What they said. Did. And as a result, their entire way of thinking would shift…perhaps for the better.

This premise supersedes one being judged for their thoughts and behavior—a method of behavior control that has proven ineffective through history. Instead, it would feed on what tends to drive folks, well, not all but a good many, to do the things they do, say or think. I’m referring to how the media, society and other influences attempt to convince us that we should have all that we desire.

As a direct result, many find it hard to avoid the temptation to go to great lengths to obtain what they want. Never mind that the means used aren’t the most pragmatic, honorable, thoughtful or humane. No, what we’re told time and time again is that we should do whatever it takes to get what we want.

For the sake of this blog, I’ll assume that most would avoid breaking laws to obtain what they want. But aside from that, I’m surprised at how many individuals justify what they do, say or think to get what they want, as if they’re deserving, simply because they want said end goal.

But what if we stopped focusing on what we want and shifted our gaze to how we conducted ourselves? Seems to me doing so would alleviate a lot of self-inflicted stress. Think of it this way. If we refused to buy into the notion that we just need one more thing, relationship or whatever to make us happy, we could spend our time not only being happy but also trying to brighten the lives of others. And really, what’s so terrible about that? Oh, I know. It’s not all chic and cool—least not as far as the media, society and other influences are concerned. But who cares? I, for one would like to see that world we envisioned earlier actualized—the one where the only things that came our way were a direct result of what we’d done to deserve them.