From Chaos to Freedom
By Greg | August 14, 2010
You might have heard this saying by Winston Churchill:
Show me a young Conservative and I’ll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I’ll show you someone with no brains.
I guess it must be pretty common for people to change their views or attitudes as they go through different stages of life. My story illustrates Churchill’s statement perfectly. As a young teenager I suddenly realized that there were more ways to have fun than I had ever imagined. I decided to take advantage of every opportunity my young, rebellious lifestyle provided. Eat, drink and be merry became my philosophy.
Then I had an experience which was a sort of turning point for me. One day I had an argument with my dad so I told him that I am no longer going to live with him and the rest of my family. I packed my sailor’s bag and slammed the door behind me. I remember feeling free at last. It was summer and the whole, exciting world lay before me, anticipating my exploration of it.
Some days later I decided to come back just to get my toothbrush and a few other items. As I was about to leave again my dad came to the door and asked calmly if I was managing all right. I mumbled a quick I am fine. and slammed the door again. But for some reason I didn’t feel light and free anymore. My dad’s tired and plainly anxious face kept coming back to me. I didn’t feel like being with my friends anymore, because I knew that if I didn’t go back home, my dad would spend another sleepless worrying about me. That evening I returned to my parents.
It was the first time since the beginning of my teenage rebellion that I realized that I am free to do whatever I feel like, if it’s fun, it can’t be wrong and some other “liberal” philosophies simply can’t be true. I loved my dad and the memory of his unhappy face always reminds me that as correct it is that I am free to do what I want, it is also true that my actions always have an effect. In other words, I can choose what decision I make but I often cannot choose what results my decision will have. For example, I wished I could live alone or with my friends, away from my family, but I couldn’t keep my parents from worrying about me.
As you can imagine my rebellious heart began a war with my conservative mind. This and many other experiences have taught me that at least to some extent I am responsible for the people around me. This is true in many respects but especially with regards to their often very tender feelings. Especially for my family and other close ones. I must admit from time to time my heart and brain still fight battles. I still love and value my personal freedom, but even more I love my wife and my children and so more and more often I am willing to give up some of my freedom in exchange for their happiness.
So, that’s how I went from complete anarchy to continuous search for true principles that govern the world and all humans.
True freedom doesn’t come from denying the existence of natural laws, but from learning and applying them. This makes sense. A teen might feel free speeding in a car and ignoring all traffic rules but sooner or later he will realize that real freedom comes from obeying the traffic rules, and hopefully this will happen before the freedom to move is taken from him after a serious accident.
Popularity: 43% [?]
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Books on Self Improvement
By Greg | June 5, 2010
Have you noticed this common trend in books on self improvement: They are usually full of examples of people who stepped out of their comfort zones and changed their lives for the better? Then why is it that most of the readers of self improvement or self help books don’t ever achieve the same kind of success?
I think the number one reason why so many unhappy people have bookshelves full of self help books is because they don’t understand that when it comes to self improvement, there is no such thing as a quick fix. Reading about Bob who’s self-awareness helped him lose 30 pounds or how Jane didn’t succeed to quit smoking until one day she read an inspiring quote might be a good start but it won’t make the reader thin or habit free. Even learning some good tips won’t really solve the problem unless they are applied.
Good self improvement books teach true principles but they don’t give the reader real experience. What readers need to understand is that everything comes with a price; and the price for greater happiness is usually much higher than simply gaining some knowledge or reading a few exaggerated stories. It can be a good start, but perfection never comes until after knowledge is properly applied. Can reading a lecture suck you into its pages and let you live the principles of self improvement? I am afraid in most cases the answer is No. But well written fiction containing true principles which effectively stimulates the reader to leave his comfort zone and take some life changing steps can come as close as it gets.
Less than a year ago I decided to write a self improvement novel. The idea of writing a self help book has been haunting me for years or since I realized that our lives are governed by certain laws and principles. I even started one but as I was working on the final draft I couldn’t help but think: “How can I make this book trully effective?” “How can I involve the reader to the extent that he or she will actually experience a lasting change of heart and in the process become a better, more successful person?”
At that time I was reading one of my favorite classic novels by a Polish author Boleslaw Prus called “Pharaoh and the priests”. Actually, that time I was listening to the audio version. I would put my headphones on and go for a walk to a nearby forest. At some point I noticed that the speed of my walk changed as the pace of action in the chapter I was listening too changed. Then, after returning home I would tell my wife about the life in ancient Egypt and share some experiences I had with Phoenician bankers or Egyptian temple guards. I also realized that some of the conversations and adventures of the young Egyptian prince started affecting my attitudes toward some religious leaders of today and even my political views. What a powerful tool a good novel can become! It can affect the readers for centuries after the author leaves this world!
This is how “The Happiness Order” was conceived and I am hoping that soon the book will be born and start improving the lives of those who decide to read it. Although my literary skills are far from Prus, I hope to present the powerful, heart changing ideas in a way that the reader (or listener) will close the book (or put the headphones down) feeling like he just returned from an exciting trip where he met some amazing people. I believe this will have a much greater impact than even the best motivational lecture.
So, stick around or leave your email address so that I can let you know when the book is ready. I hope it won’t be any longer than a few weeks or months.
Popularity: 100% [?]
Topics: Uncategorized | 3 Comments »