Friday, April 06, 2007

Perception of Right and Wrong

What would you do if you were me? What would you do if you knew what I knew and didn't know the things I don't know either.
I've got a unique learning path to walk on.
Don't judge me for what is right and what is wrong because your point of view is different.
If I could make one thing come true that would be to make everyone who think they know me to really KNOW me, or to know the REAL me.
I always want to make sure everything is clear, to have no secrets from anyone and to follow certain common priciples or rules, etc. What I'm not feeling confident enough about I judge on the pre-defined rules. I don't like breaking the rules even if in that way I may hurt people. If I can't define the future consequences of a risk I might take, I just don't take it. Maybe next time when I have some historical data I could make up my mind and be more people-oriented than rules-oriented.

People have different perceptions of what is right and what is wrong. Who am I?

I am what I am. This is what Hodja was writing on the top of each sheet of paper whenever he started describing memories of his past - in the book "The White Citadel" by Orhan Pamuk.
Who am I? I am an elephant. If you don't know what this means, I'll tell you. This is a person who always tries to follow the rules, likes everything to be made clear to everyone. Such people are very strict, punctual, analytical.
The question is why? Why more rule-oriented than people-oriented. Clashes between me and other types of people arise when the other people are more "people-oriented".
I have asked myself this question: what is the initial purpose for me to try to follow the rules and not to break them. If I raise this question on general level: why do "elephants" obey certain perscribed principles instead of following their common sense, it might prove helpful...if there are any elephants here at all.
So, the answer may be found by finding the real purpose for this obedience. I don't want to fall into thoughts about what has triggerred it, but rather than what it aims to.
Rules or principles in a perfect situation are used to help people make decisions. They are the BASIS which aims to reach the balance between different perspectives. They only help people understand this BASIS, in their perfect form they provide only this basis, nothing more, nothing less. So elephant types are following the rules to find the golden mean which points the balance between different interests and perspectives. If elephants are considered not to think about people, then it's a wrong perception of the others who don't understand them. It's exactly because of the people why elephants follow the rules. They want the basis to be clear, and on this clear basis clear relationships are built.
But sice the human mind and therefore human relations are a complex labyrinth, it takes a lot of time and sometimes time is never enough to understand the motives behind certain actions. What really makes us humans is the fact that we always will strive for finding the cause and effect. This is what really makes the difference. The level and complextity of this human ability also defines in a certain way the stage of personal development of each individual.

3 comments:

Sis said...

People like you the way you are - never forget it!
Hugs to you and remind me to tell you Coelho´s story about the elefants ;)

Unknown said...

Thanks for the words, Sis! :) I'm sure you're right. Those who like me know me well. Those who don't now me...hmm, I guess they just don't pa attention to me: just like everyone of us does. The problem comes when people who are closer to me than the usual acquaintances just don't understand me. That's what makes me really sad. My hope in these cases is that everything needs time... :)
So, tell me about Coelho's story?

Many, many hugs!
Tsveti:)

Sis said...

Coelho´s story: actually not that great connected to your post, but a story which I really love...
...An elefant was born. It was so small and helpless and people bounded it by a robe to a tree. The baby-elephant tried to free itself. And although the tree was pretty young as well, it couldn´t, because it was a baby-elephant. It tried few more times and gave up.
The elephant grew, become a huge elephant (just like those in the Sofia zoo). It was still bounded to that small tree. It didn´t even try again to release itself - his memory remained it that it was impossible as it was baby...
So, we decide how far we can go and what to do with our lives..

P.S. Ok, besides over midnight and not being the greatest narrator, I hope you got Coelho´s idea :) Hugs :)