eThoughts : The Arrow of Direction

“It was more like an affair, ego is your master.”

There are lots of ways to configure this–chaos is the master, slovenliness, craving, and so on. At the heart of the issue are two things: what is really guiding us, and do we know it? From the awareness of these two questions arises yet another: what, if anything, can we do about it?

In an example to explain the concept of the arrow of direction, I once read an analogy about smoke. If one could be a conscious molecule alongside the smoke molecules, all would look chaotic, molecules would be bouncing around every which way and no discernable arrow of direction could be observed. However, by being aware in larger form (such as a human), the smoke’s arrow of direction would be quite clear.

I took this as an analogy about perception–shift it and reality assumes a new clarity. Clarity itself wasn’t the point (in studies on the reliability of eyewitness testimony, the degree of certainty by a witness is often negatively related to the truth of their statement), the issue was one of moving our points of view around.

Of course this can be quite a taxing exercise. And for those not quite aware of what is going on, shifting realities can seem like a mental disorder (if not apparent to themselves, at least to others). In fact, human psychology may be oriented towards finding a grounded reality (if possible) and sticking with it. Certainly society likes its members to be stable.

But one problem with a grounded reality is the energy exerted to hold on to it. It’s tough to see things a different way when we’re polarized to stick with what we know.

Why shift our points of view?

Keep in mind I’m not talking about practicing being a loose cannon. I’m talking about the ability to see new logic, though that logic may seem contrary to other logical views of reality (like the figure/ground pictures such as the faces or the vase in Gestalt psychology). It seems to me that giving up our position and finding a new, logical position, breeds depth and stability. How arrogant and self-righteous can one be when they recognize other points of view?

All right, we know much of this, even if it’s not much practiced. But let’s practice it a bit here.

So, in assessing the arrow of direction in relationships (with what or whomever), it seems important to understand what the guiding principle really is and how congruent that principle is with the exhibited behavior.

For instance, obviously one who claims to be in love with another and to desire that love and that life together, better know who their master really is. That might help the relationship be a little less of an illusion (delusion?).

How do we practice that?

A healthy respect for transparency in relationships seems like a must to me. It works a bit like the scientific principle of exposure–ideas have to go out there for others to turn over and to replicate. Temporal consistency may be uncovered by such community (of course a lot of sheer meanness may be uncovered as well). And if we really get into it, immutable constants may be ascertained–common ground for us all (our psyches will love that). In any case, our ideas and beliefs are not so easy to hide behind, brought to the light of day. So exposed, and if we are lucky, so nurtured in that exposure (not enabled–nurtured), we might find our real master.

And if we are practiced in the art of shifting realities, perhaps we will not be so resistant to letting go of our mindsets and we might become a little better at the art of creation.

That should generate a different view about the nature of responsibility.