i-TFTD #322: Check Reality

#322-1. The greatest folly of a man is being oblivious to all the changes happening around him.
-Anon

#322-2. Frustrations come because we impose our illusions on reality.
-Osho Rajneesh (born Chandra Mohan Jain), controversial Indian mystic and spiritual teacher (1931-1990)

(Thanks to Arun Wakhlu for sharing this.)

#322-3. In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.
-Bertrand Russell, philosopher, mathematician, author, Nobel laureate (1872-1970)

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When we anticipate change and feel we are able to make sense of trends, we accept changes more readily and adapt faster. When surprised by a change we! go through an initial phase of anger and fear, wishing that there had been prior intimation and time for preparation. I have often discovered that there had been many clear signs of the impending change but I chose to ignore them or did not stay adequately alert. Deeper reflection also forces me to admit that I sometimes refused to think about certain aspects brought to my attention by events or other people.

Persisting with beliefs in the face of facts that seem to contradict those beliefs makes the inevitable adaptation more painful. Adopting a healthy questioning attitude and periodically re-examining our assumptions about our goals, constraints and resources is useful. A recent technique I am trying to apply is to deliberately seek out discussions with people with different opinions and beliefs, without necessarily debating nor agreeing with what they say but just listen with a view to enlarge my own perspectives—at the least it stretches my brain in new directions.