Human Behaviour, examined (in small part).

This started out as a response to @logiczombie's "Please critique." this post. It became lengthier than expected, and as such became its own post.
Perhaps, others would also be interested in joining the discussion?

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Image by Lars_Nissen_Photoart from Pixabay

Without thoughts and actions we cease to exist.

This really depends on how you would define we. This could potentially be a very long, and deep philosophical debate.

In general, I find that most people tend to define themselves by their consciousness(awareness). Which is interesting because we know that our subconscious(non-awareness) is far more powerful, and occupies a far larger share of our brain's resources.

So then, which are we, the awareness, or the non-awareness? Is it even possible to be a combination of both? Can we be something that we have no awareness of being?

And, on a biological level. What are we? Really, we are not just one thing, or one function, but a cooperation of many things and many functions. We are not one organism, but many organisms in cooperation, symbiosis with each other. But, what about rogue organisms, such as mutations. Are they separate or part of us?

And how deep do we go? Do we go to the cellular level? Or, do we go beyond?

If we go beyond, what are we then? Are we energy? And if we're energy, how do we separate ourselves from our interactions with our surroundings?

We can't exist without cause and effect. We can't exist without being influenced and influencing our environment (that which surrounds us). So what then?

Where is the line? Are we separate or part of a whole. Because we are definitely in a relationship with the whole. How big is the whole? Is it everything, and everyone?

Following this thought, are we everything and everyone? Who is having thoughts? Who is responsible for the action?

Do we exist beyond thought and action?

Could we?

Why do we do the things we do?

This is an interesting question and one that cannot easily be answered. Is it nature, is it nurture, or a combination of both? Are we conditioned by what we are exposed to, by our experiences, by others?

Do we ever truly know why we do the things we do?

Can we simplify the why into a short answer? Or, is it a culmination of many many factors?

Are we driven by primal, carnal, survival instinct? Are we driven by pleasure? Are we driven by purpose, or function, or perceived outcome?

Or, is it simply a matter of cause and effect? A perfect circle of influence?

What is the origin of the motive?

We can examine motive. We could come up with more than a simple answer.

We could likely explore our motives indefinitely, as our experiences, our knowledge and the understandings (conclusions) we draw upon are a culmination of everything we have ever been exposed to.

We are in essence influenced by everything, therefore, we could conclude that everything provides motive, rather than any one single thing.

What is the motive of revenge?

Revenge, in my opinion, is a display of a lack of emotional self-control.

As brutal as it may sound: No one can truly hurt us but ourselves.

Yes, we can experience painful events and circumstances, but we are the ones who choose how, how much we will participate emotionally, to what depth and for how long.

We can practice detachment. We can reconcile our emotions. We can change our perspective. We can stop and ask ourselves if our emotional experience is helping or hindering us?

Revenge is a fearful action. It is about control, or rather a perceived lack of control.

But, the whole concept of control itself seems nonsensical. Control, for the most part, is an illusion (yes, perhaps with some exceptions).

Is it punishment, or is it preventative? Are we trying to right a wrong, or prevent future such wrongs?

Is it a lack of control, or an effort to regain control? For example, the person received an unexpected experience (outside of their control), and now wishes to balance it with an expected outcome (perceived as inside their control).

Perhaps revenge is an attempt to restore balance or control?

What is the motive of guilt?

What is the source of guilt?

Is it conditioned? Is it action and consequence (an understanding of cause and effect)? Is it logic? Is it fear? Is it control? Is it insecurity?

It could be any or all of these depending on the situation.

Perhaps, it is a realization after the fact of our lack of emotional self-control, forethought, or any thought for that matter.

Perhaps, it is an effort to restore balance, to right a wrong.

Perhaps, it stems from inadequacy, insecurity, a lack of self-acceptance and/or self-love.

Again, everything is tied together, perceived knowledge and experience.

I am sure some would even argue that guilt indicates a knowing, a connection to Higher consciousness. (Which also is a potentially lengthy debate.)

What is the motive of patriotism.

Is it group psychology? Does it have primal roots? Was it about survival?

We are connected by perceived commonality. We are divided by fear and perceived differences.

How is love cultivated? By humanizing. By connection. By eliciting empathy and compassion.

How is fear cultivated? By dehumanizing. By outrage. By perceived attack/threat. By lack of connection. By lack of understanding.

In terms of patriotism. What is patriotism?

One first has to ask what are we patriotic to? Where are we placing our loyalty, or fidelity? To whom?

What are the motives of those and that which we are patriotic to?

Is it in alignment with who we are, and what we wish to be?

The interesting thing is that patriotism has very little to do with survival of the fittest. Even though, it is sold that way.

You can occupy the minds of people, and by doing so, control them. By giving them something to love and something to hate.

Perhaps, patriotism is just another method by which to elicit control. Perhaps, it has nothing to do with the individual but rather with the assumption of power.

There is a stark difference between political ideals and reality. At the end of the day, we cannot, nor do we live in ideals. We live in what is.

Therefore, is it helpful or harmful to attach to ideal?

The problem with discussing a subject like patriotism is that the meaning or intended meaning is often lost to reality.

It sounds nice to say that patriotism protects society, the people, the country. It sounds nice to say it is a cooperation.

Is it though? Does it though?

I always come back to one thing in debates such as this: What does a profit-driven model promote? What is it designed to promote?

I wish it was to promote that which is good and right, that which is best for humanity.

Unfortunately, I cannot reconcile that wish with reality.

Have you seen the things that people are doing?!

Displacing our motives.

It is true that we often see that which we are.

We often project on to others. It is true that we are often unaware.

If we don't reconcile our emotions, our emotions don't just dissipate. No, they will manifest elsewhere in our lives. They will create a volatility within us. What is inside will bleed into how we think and what we do.

It is also important to remember, that what we perceive may not have been what was intended.

We cannot assume to know what is in the mind of another.

Remember, every person who does anything, at the time of doing, felt justified in doing it, otherwise, they would not have done it. Even if that reason was insanity.

Still, in that moment, they felt justified.

What if we are perceiving an ill, based on our own pain, on our own experiences, on our own emotions.

What if the perceived ill, is a projection of our fears?

If we seek revenge, we are purposefully doling out evil, for what may or may not have been intending as evil towards that.

In my experience, I have seen people do this many many times.

The unfortunate problem is that people often don't realize that they are projecting their own fears and pain.

How can people take responsibility for something they are not aware of?

What is the motive of greed?

Does it stem from need? Does it stem from lack? Does it stem from a poverty mindset?

Is it so simple to say that it merely meets pleasure, or gain?

What is the motive of laziness?

Is it a lack of self-control? Is it is a lack of self-discipline? Is it a lack of balance and self-care?

What is laziness?

Is there anything wrong with doing nothing?

Or perhaps, it is necessary to experience periods of doing nothing in order to be able to do something?

Who defines laziness? Is it accurate?

To which standard are we measuring ourselves?

Personal Conclusions.

It is easy to paint reality in broad strokes in an attempt to move through issues more quickly. Simplified answers will often obscure the real issues.

Often they are used to avoid personal responsibility.

It is easy to blame others, our programming, our conditioning, our primal drive for our behaviour.

And, even if they have a part in what we think and do, we still have choice points. We are still an active participant in our own lives.

What motives you to do something may be very different than what motives me to do the exact same thing.

Mindfulness and presence in the moment can help us to identify and navigate more of our choice points. It can empower us to make better decisions.

Thinking about why you do what you do is an important exercise.

It can allow us to deepen our understanding of who we are and who we want to be.

It can strengthen the relationship we have with ourselves.

Disclaimer.

What I have posted here, was not intended to offend anyone, or to threaten their views. These are merely the thoughts that came to my mind as I looked at this topic.

-Akiroq