Living a life of contradiction?

[Lark]

Do you get vexed by apparent contradictions of inconsistencies in your thinking or values or incongruence between those of others and your own typified either by behaviour, law or social structures?

I wonder because this was majorly important to me when I was younger, as I've gotten older I worry about it a lot less, not really because I was that intense an adolescent or had a lot of identity issues or anything but I do think maturation or aging can effect this.

Oh the other hand there are people like CLR James who are able to balance out the apparently contradictory, at once being a marxist anti-colonialist and at the same time a huge fan of cricket and the sorts of norms and mores associated with it by English colonialists and imperialists. Antonio Negri (who I dont have anything in common with in politics or thinking) I think it was who made a distinction on the basis of this between identity and ideology.

Some of the biggest contradictions, for me personally, I can think of is that while I'm by conviction a socialist I'm also pretty culturally conservative at times, so while I'd not support a conservative government or the sorts of changes they would like to see in the economy, I do think sometimes that the sorts of social norms, mores and behaviour they identify with are fine.

Not very interesting I'm sure, perhaps other members have more interesting contradictions or distinctions they can think of.

 

[gromit]

Do you get vexed by apparent contradictions of inconsistencies in your thinking or values or incongruence between those of others and your own typified either by behaviour, law or social structures?

I wonder because this was majorly important to me when I was younger, as I've gotten older I worry about it a lot less, not really because I was that intense an adolescent or had a lot of identity issues or anything but I do think maturation or aging can effect this.

Yeah me too. I sort of just love to cherish peoples inconsistencies, for the most part.

 

[nolla]

It would be incredibly hard to make my life reflect my beliefs. I am quite sure that there will be a collapse of civilization or environment, due to consumerism. Still, I do buy stuff and would work in a job that is indirectly responsible for maintaining the current system, even if I believe that the system should actually be put down softly now when it is still possible. I am not politically active, while I know it would be the best chance to do something about it.

So, my life is incongruent. I don't lose my sleep over it since I have adopted an attitude of a person who is terminally ill and just doesn't know when it will be over.

 

[LeafAndSky]

Do you get vexed by apparent contradictions of inconsistencies in your thinking or values or incongruence between those of others and your own typified either by behaviour, law or social structures?

I used to. Talk about judgmental, of myself and others. Yes, maybe it's an age thing, to not do that so much, not to "get vexed" about inconsistencies in ourselves and others. I've pretty much given up on 'shoulds'. Humans aren't logical; why not be proudly illogical?

It used to be important to me to be internally consistent and to present myself as consistent. Now it's more like, Don't we all surprise ourselves and others with our choices, and aren't we all changing?

Probably noticing our own inconsistencies gives us openings or opportunities to evaluate if certain behaviors or ideals are serving us well or not, and to grow. Makes us a little more humble too. Lately I've been noticing how I sometimes judge people for not changing and growing. Silly me.

 

[Shimmy]

I have no problem with living a life of contradiction.

 

[Lady_X]

yeah...and most enfps i know are conflicted...it's not easy being nefi

 

[Totenkindly]

When I was younger, I was really anal about making sure I was entirely consistent.
Which means I would rarely even go on the record with anything, if I wasn't sure.
It was very hellish.
I would also ruthless judge others inside for being inconsistent.

Nowadays I'd like to think I'm basically a consistent person and try to be consistent, but it's more in the generalities, not the specifics. I give myself and others far more leeway than I did. We're human, and life is meant to be lived, and not everything will always match up with one's expectations for self.

 

[Chunes]

People who get riled up over hypocrisy always amuse me greatly. When did hypocrisy become negative? Or avoidable?

Literally everything we do is contradictory when viewed through the proper perspective.

 

[Ming]

Sometimes I believe you start realizing that there is more to world than just the 'child world' that you live in. Sometimes there is just so much more to people, to the mind, to the body, to the unconscious side of life that people don't understand. As we grow older, we gain more wisdom on these aspects, and these, every single experience, will affect what we do in the future. That's how humans work. I think maybe that's why contradictions come up; because there are ALWAYS two sides to everything. No matter how impossible it may seem, there is always possibility. When you start opening up to these possibilities, you start realizing the contradictions. That is when you start doubting. Which is a good thing!

 

[Epiphany]

Literally everything we do is contradictory when viewed through the proper perspective.

True. I'm recovering from a childhood of black and white thinking. It's hard for me to reconcile the contradictions in my own thoughts and behaviors. I feel too old to be suffering from an identity crisis. I can't blame it on horomones or adolescence. I just can't seem to determine what my values are and that confusion frightens me. This combination of fear and anger has left me terribly depressed....and drunk.

 

[Mole]

Maps

Inconsistencies are very important for they show where our map of the world breaks down.

And if we remember the map is not the territory, we can be delighted we are discovering the territory.

Normally we mistake the map for the territory and fight over the map.

Geographers make maps and they make different maps of the same territory and so know the map is not the territory.

So we can take Geographers as our role models and seek out different maps for the same territory.

And different maps for the same territory leads to cognitive dissonance and emotional pain.

So if we wish to avoid the emotional pain of learning, we need to believe in one map for one territory.

And this is called blind belief and it makes us feel good.

And hey, we all know that if it feels good, do it.

 

[Nonsensical]