Posts by dustyraven26

Paul Jones7 said:Maybe the future isn't just one set path laid out for us—I don't know, maybe it’s more like a tree? Like, there are all these different branches of possibility stretching out everywhere. If that's actually how it works, then I guess faith—or even just what you choose to believe—could be the thing that actually makes a difference in which outcome you end up walking toward. Or at least, it might influence the direction you take.

I think psychology has actually looked into this whole "vision" thing before—if I recall correctly, there was some research done on students, comparing them during their college years to how they fared much later on. It basically showed that people who had a clear, positively defined picture of their future—you know, a real vision of what they wanted to achieve—and actually believed they could pull it off, ended up doing significantly better than the group that just sort of drifted along without any specific plan or vision. It’s funny how much that mental blueprint seems to matter, I guess.

You’ve got another example you can show yourself—assuming you’re still young enough to pull that off, anyway. Otherwise, I guess you'll just have to rely on your memory. 😁So, here’s an idea—it might be a little simplistic, maybe even a bit cliché, but bear with me. Try this out: go up to a girl once with total, unwavering confidence, like you just know it's going to work out. Then, try it again later with someone else, but this time, go in without any of that certainty—just sort of winging it, I guess. You’ll see pretty quickly that if you actually believe in yourself, things tend to click. But if you don't? Well, you're probably going to get shot down. It sounds almost too simple, but honestly, that level of self-belief... it really does make all the difference.

I don’t really see much point to hope—not that I think it’s particularly harmful or anything, either. It just feels like one of those deeply emotional, purely human traits. Hope doesn't exactly exist because it's useful or serves some grand purpose, I guess. From what I can gather, it seems to have two different sides to it. There's the positive kind, which is basically just optimism. Then there's this other version—a sort of sad, hollow hope that lacks any actual faith behind it. Now, that first combination—where you have actual faith paired with hope—that’s something I can get behind.

In my experience, expectations are generally pretty lousy—if you can even call them that. I mean, look, there’s this nuance here, I guess... belief and hope have this sort of emotional, soulful component to them, right? They feel like something. But an expectation? That feels strictly like a mental trap—this rigid mindset where you just decide that something *has* to happen for you. It seems like a losing game to me. If you actually get what you were expecting, you don't really gain anything—you’re just back to zero. But if it doesn't happen? Then you're stuck in the negatives, feeling let down and frustrated. It’s a bit of a rigged system, honestly. So, I keep wondering—if it's possible to hold onto belief and maintain hope without falling into that whole expectation pitfall, why wouldn't you? Why would that be a bad thing?

If you ask me, I say go for it—because if there’s even a shred of truth to the idea that belief carries its own kind of energy toward making things happen, then throwing that faith away would just be a mistake, I guess.

I say this as someone who mostly navigates life through faith, and honestly, I haven't had much reason to doubt it yet. When you have that kind of deep-seated conviction, you get this sense of being absolutely unstoppable... and when a critical moment actually hits, it shows up as this genuine sense of satisfaction, or just pure happiness; like having the sun shining right inside you.

Here we have the very essence of language and its inherent meaning. Thus,

Whether belief and hope serve as essential catalysts for meaningful action or merely function as a convenient delusion to escape reality—that is the question. 🙂

In my own process of self-improvement, whenever I found myself grappling with this particular dilemma or one of its many variations, I turned my attention toward observing the behavior of a child, driven by the conviction that these early patterns establish the very habits that ultimately define an adult.

What truly drives a child to take action?
The tension between one's own internal desires and the external pressures exerted by parents or other authority figures in one's environment is an inevitable struggle.
When adults exert pressure on a child, they are essentially imposing an external direction that disrupts a much more profound internal process. At any given moment, a child might think:

Does that fall under the category of faith and hope?

And thus, the inaugural human paradox was born: children spend their entire lives rushing toward adulthood, while adults spend theirs mourning the loss of childhood. (Neale Donald Walsch - Conversations with God)

It seems to me that curiosity and desire are the true engines of human action, whereas belief and hope serve merely as psychological escapes—a way to retreat from reality.

If we were to actually accept the existence of both positive and negative beliefs and hopes, we would immediately run headlong into a new complication: the matter of criteria. One must ask oneself whether a belief held to be "positive"—such as the conviction that one is acting in self-defense—could somehow justify something as heinous as murder.

Paul Jones7 said:A quick little heads-up to the OP that I didn't miss you or forget to reply to your comment 🙂 don't worry about it, buddy... 😉

Paul Jones7 said:It seems like you're saying belief has the potential to create things... though it's hard to say at what level or how that even works (assuming it works at all).

I guess this is about how belief and hope are used or misused; if you already do everything you can, then belief and hope might be useful for those extra little bits; but if they're used as a substitute for taking action, then they're harmful.

So, are you trying to say that belief and hope lead to a lack of action?

Hmm. Well, anyone who wants to achieve something starts with a vision. You basically sketch something out in your head first. In doing that, you're expressing a certain kind of faith in its realization.

What would an ideal look like on your part, though? Like... a total blank slate of irrationality? Or strictly being rational?

My apologies🙏

While you didn't ask, if what he has envisioned in his head is known—something tangible and real—he doesn't exactly need belief to confirm it is possible, does he?
If he possesses all the necessary preconditions to achieve it, what purpose does hope serve?
And if he lacks them, what use is hope? He should simply determine whether they can be met and act in accordance with reality.

There is a saying:
If you can change it, don't stress, just change it;
if you cannot change it, don't stress, because you won't be able to change it regardless.
(And who is the one prone to stressing? The individual whose expectations are rooted in mere belief and hope.)

Is there anything more important than LOVE!?
__________________________________
Identify the problem, solve the problem, move on!

I am still processing the implications of what was discussed earlier. kaže:
If I have understood you correctly, you aren't simply spinning your wheels in a vacuum, operating under the illusion of total knowledge, but rather practicing the art of listening to that inner voice. ☕

👍
The constant noise of our own thoughts serves as nothing more than a barrier, preventing us from ever truly hearing that inner voice. Consequently, quieting the mind is the only genuine way to unlock one's intuition.
Everyone possesses it, though whether they choose to grant freedom remains entirely up to them.

jademarlin26 said:How does one intuit without thought? And what use is an intuition that only reveals itself after the fact? You could simply call that luck.

There is no such thing as a mental quest for possibilities, beliefs, hopes, or fears. There is only an intense focus on whatever has managed to capture a person's attention.

What value does intuition hold if it only reveals itself after the moment has already passed?

One might consider events that are poised to unfold in the immediate future, perhaps within the next few moments or over the coming days—scenarios from which I have personally drawn experience. Alternatively, one could look toward more profound temporal shifts, such as when Einstein’s theory of relativity remained unproven until much later in history.

One might comfortably characterize that as luck.

I held that same conviction initially, but the sheer frequency with which "luck" seems to manifest has since convinced me otherwise.

jademarlin26 said:

I have no idea what you are trying to say. As stated by:
If I understand you correctly, you aren't just spinning your wheels in a void thinking you have all the answers; rather, you are listening to that "inner voice." ☕

Does intuition only manifest when one has the luxury of waiting for that "inner voice"? I know individuals who claim to be guided by intuition, yet they leave a trail of failed relationships in their wake. How is that possible? Can intuition actually fail us or lead us astray? Furthermore, does intuition operate on a temporal constraint—perhaps perceiving only five minutes ahead rather than the broader picture?

Whether we are witnessing the mere precursor to an upcoming shift or something being intentionally kept from our view remains to be seen, though one should always remember that time is a resource you can manage at your own pace.

I know people who swear by their intuition while leaving a trail of disastrous relationships in their wake. It is quite a curious phenomenon. How does one reconcile such profound confidence in their inner compass with such consistently poor navigational results?

They’ve gone ahead and credited their own ego for what was essentially an initial stroke of luck or a mere fluke. It is exactly the outcome you described.

Can intuition fail us, or perhaps lead us down a false path? It makes one wonder if there is some inherent temporal limitation to the phenomenon—as if it provides a glimpse only five minutes into the future, leaving everything beyond that horizon entirely obscured.

Neither "Yes" nor "No."
To see further requires maintaining one's focus until the very end.
In the beginning, I frequently experienced that distinct intuition that things were not going to unfold according to plan, though the specific nature of that deviation remained entirely elusive to me.
I can finally see how it unfolds.

To allow for a bit more clarity: I am discussing a process I have only just begun to navigate—one that remains largely outside of my control—yet I am starting to recognize the specific internal states in which I attempt to exert that control, as well as those where I let it go.

Anonymous said:So, how would you define intuition?
How do you tell the difference between actual intuition and just having a personal opinion?

That is a fair question 👍, and it aligns perfectly with your idea that ignorance isn't a sin 🙂
When a hunch eventually proves to be correct, we call that intuition. It is a phenomenon that arises precisely at the moment when active thought ceases.
I have personally encountered instances where I had a distinct feeling about a situation, yet I allowed my preconceived notions to override it, ultimately leading me astray.
One cannot learn intuition any more than one can learn love, freedom, or spirituality; it is not a byproduct of accumulated knowledge or logic built upon it. No specific rituals, biases, or dogmas can grant us these states.
Instead, they must be attained by letting go—by consciously moving away from their opposites in our daily lives. One must embrace the principle of

.
Someone seeking to experience the profound power of intuition will work to break the habit of relying solely on their intellect to answer every question.
Someone seeking to experience love will let go of any behavior that manifests as its opposite, such as possessiveness or longing.
Someone seeking freedom will release themselves from all forms of conditioning, including rigid goals and the methods used to achieve them.
And someone seeking spirituality will distance themselves from a purely materialistic way of living, observing and acting through a secular lens.

Anonymous said:Or better yet, just ask the person directly what they meant! 🤷
There's no shame in not knowing.

I agree 🙂.
However, it is worth noting that an individual who relies solely on their own knowledge tends to be unable to tolerate uncertainty, which inevitably drives them toward a hasty conclusion or a convenient answer—some sort of belief or hope used merely to settle their nerves. Such a person becomes prone to prefabricated solutions, unaware that this habit turns them into a spiritual "living dead," someone whose life is improved only in a purely material sense by constantly seeking comfort and fleeing from discomfort.
On the other hand, intuition represents our true reality, yet its profound power remains stifled and unconscious, drowned out by the relentless noise of active thought.
Therefore, while asking an author or speaker for clarification is useful, it shouldn't be done out of a desperate need for a quick answer, but rather as a way to confirm the insights a reader or listener has already reached through a quieted mind.

While it may not be directly relevant to the current topic, I feel compelled to point out something that people seem to overlook in their self-contained way of operating—something that deserves far more attention than it currently receives.

It really comes down to the words themselves.

Words function as symbols through which a writer or speaker attempts to convey a specific argument to their audience.
An individual relies upon their own accumulated knowledge, drawing from the words they have read or heard to construct their own unique interpretation.
This creates a scenario where genuine communication between individuals becomes incredibly strained, if not entirely impossible. Even in cases of simple misunderstanding, the listener often walks away feeling as though they are being coerced, while the speaker is left with the distinct impression that their perspective is being dismissed.

A person who lacks that particular awareness will likely remain oblivious to the fact that they have fundamentally misconstrued the speaker's intent, especially when their conclusions are drawn from a place of hasty or superficial reasoning.

It is therefore prudent for any reader or listener to pause and consider, before jumping to a conclusion, whether their interpretation actually aligns with what the author or speaker intended to convey.

wearyowl29 said:Sure they can, but do they actually WANT to???

The choice between alleviating suffering or allowing it to persist isn't really a choice at all. Whether one chooses to acknowledge the true source of that suffering is an entirely different matter.😲

wearyowl29 said:I honestly think the trick is that people don't *want* to see things differently. They cling to those illusions because it's the only thing making them feel safe...

There is no obligation to believe in something different. One should instead focus on uncovering the truth regarding what already exists.
It is entirely within a man's capability. 🙂

wearyowl29 said:The core issue is that most people don't actually know what they want; instead, they define their lives by simply selecting what they refuse to tolerate.

It might be easier to leave things as they are, but people tend to daydream about the exact opposite of their dislikes because they need a concrete goal to feel a sense of security.

Success requires genuine effort and trial. One must tear away the old rags of outdated opinions, attitudes, and reactions before any new ones can be worn.

Imagine if someone suddenly realized they had been living a complete illusion. Would it truly be such an exhausting task to cast those illusions aside?

Yes, though people rarely perceive their own anger in quite that way.

Which brings us back to the fundamental necessity of uncovering the truth.

wearyowl29 said:Oh, absolutely... but there's always that pesky "but." 🙏To truly strike out on your own, you have to shed the heavy baggage people so generously handed us as if it were essential survival gear. It isn't easy! It’s a long, grueling process that takes real grit. Honestly, anyone who actually has the guts to walk alone after stripping away those old weights is someone who has truly embraced self-awareness. The path is narrow, steep, and frankly pretty terrifying. That's why I see so many people turning back, scurrying home to grab their heavy old backpacks just to feel safe again...

Try looking at things from a different perspective.
The notion that one can simply decide who they want to become is a fallacy predicated on the reality of who we already are. You cannot manufacture a different self through sheer will alone; attempting to do so is merely a recurring failure in the history of our species.
We cannot reasonably stand opposed to anger, especially when we find ourselves scrambling for excuses once it finally catches up with us.
"Knowing what I refuse to become, even while being it" represents a significant departure from that traditional mindset. Once a person finally confronts the truth about who they aren't—which is usually just an illusion they've been clinging to—that illusion tends to dissolve on its own.
Once you realize that anger is merely the byproduct of unmet expectations, you stop focusing on the rage itself and start examining the expectations that triggered it.
It’s difficult to say. 🙂

Tyler Baker6 said:🙂 You kind of "drifted" way out of the actual topic here—you're jumping from HERE AND NOW to some hypothetical "there and then" that doesn't exist and honestly never will. You're straying too far from the original post.

Those divisions haven't vanished; they remain very much alive today. Do you honestly believe that Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims have reached some state of perfect harmony across the country? And on a global scale... one can only imagine the friction.

Terry Kim3 said:But can he really pull the trigger on anything without some shred of faith—some hope—that he’ll actually stumble upon the truth? At the end of the day, hope and faith are the only things that actually drive us to act.

He certainly possesses intuition—those sudden flashes of clarity regarding reality that bypass formal knowledge—he simply needs to clear the path for it. It isn't an easy feat, given how deeply ingrained our habits are, but it remains entirely achievable.

Hope and faith are the primary engines behind all human action.

And where exactly has that driven us?
Science suggests that humanity is steadily eroding its own sense of morality, ethics, and fundamental character.
The ultimate endgame of globalization is nothing less than the privatization of the entire planet, creating a world where the population size and lifestyle of the average person are dictated solely by the requirements of the elite.
Driven by consumerism, people have quite willingly embraced a philosophy where having things is far more important than being someone.

If we don't change course, we will inevitably arrive at the destination we are currently sprinting toward.
Where, precisely, is the human race heading?

Post: 7.

Anonymous said:Since the dawn of time, humans have clung to faith out of a sheer fear of the unknown—that overwhelming sense of facing something we simply couldn't grasp. You only have to look back at ancient civilizations and their polytheistic gods to see this in action. Without a scientific understanding of what causes rain, thunder, or lightning, people attributed these phenomena to divine acts. It was their way of making the incomprehensible feel slightly more familiar; by labeling the chaos, they felt they were building a foundation of knowledge. When we’re terrified of something we can't explain, even if we give it a name, there’s this desperate hope that we might somehow exert control over it. That’s where rituals, prayers, and organized beliefs take root. Hoping a prayer gets heard is really just hoping for the illusion of control.

From the perspective of a modern person living in an era of rapid technological advancement, our understanding of the world has expanded immensely. Because we actually understand the mechanics behind how things work, the urge to slap a divine label on everything has diminished significantly. We’ve studied natural phenomena to reach the conclusions we hold today. Yet, at our core, we haven't changed a bit.

Whenever we encounter something we don't yet understand, instead of stepping back to observe and build actual knowledge, we tend to project meaning onto someone or something. We have this frantic need to know everything *right now* because uncertainty triggers an internal sense of chaos. This leads directly to the birth of superstitions, beliefs, and hopes. And unfortunately, it also fuels the desire to "bend" reality to fit our own convenient narratives.

Because most people don't actually seek out the objective truth, opting instead to jump to hasty, subjective conclusions, I personally view beliefs and hopes as nothing more than illusions.

Post: 29.

Anonymous said:I think self-esteem and self-confidence are essentially the same thing. If we believe in ourselves, we trust ourselves.
For me, my confidence isn't driven by outside forces, but strictly by my own effectiveness. I don't see it as being limited to just one area—because that's more about "knowledge"—it's really about my mindset and how I function in general. When I can look at a situation and react effectively, no matter what it is, my confidence grows.

Because then, the desperate need to control everything—which is impossible anyway—disappears. I stop praying for someone or something else to solve my problems for me. It just leaves me, reality, and the abilities I've been given.

👍 👍 🙏 🙏

WHY CLING TO DOGMA AND PRECONCEPTIONS IN THE HOPE THAT THEY ARE TRUE, WHEN

Susan Price30 As stated by:
Self-confidence is essentially an internal conviction, and a healthy sense of self-belief shouldn't inherently preclude someone from placing their trust in external forces or higher powers. 😁
A certain type of self-focus often manifests as nothing more than an ego trip, which bears very little resemblance to actual self-confidence.

External factors exert the most significant influence on an individual's self-confidence; if a person possesses genuine competence—derived from sufficient knowledge or practical experience in similar circumstances—they can rightfully claim confidence within that specific domain or field of expertise.
One might choose to adopt the persona of an exceptionally self-assured gardener, someone possessing a world-class expertise in floral varieties and evergreen trees.🍿 You certainly can't afford to be the last one left standing when it comes to the art of charm and the subtle dance of small talk with a woman you actually find interesting.

Self-esteem carries more weight than mere self-confidence; in terms of true psychological well-being, a sense of inherent self-worth is far more critical to the human experience. Values.Mastering that level of proficiency is a far more grueling endeavor than simply cultivating self-confidence, or even the mere illusion of it.

Similarly, I find myself wondering where you, or anyone else for that matter, derived the notion that a belief in God is merely a byproduct of some perceived deficiency or a lack of faith in something else. It appears the message provided was insufficient to perform a rewrite. Please provide the full text you wish for me to transform.Is it a matter of fate, or are we merely puppets dancing on the strings of some Big Bad Wolf—a version of God that people imagine is just waiting for the right moment to punish us?

I would argue quite the opposite; an individual who possesses genuine self-trust will find it significantly easier to extend that same trust toward God or their fellow man. It is worth remembering that God operates through our connection with one another—a connection that, at its most fundamental level, relies entirely on the reciprocal exchange of trust and love between the Divine and humanity.

The text leaves me torn as to whether this is actually...
A comprehensive examination of the subject. Either.
The conviction that religious dogma or a misplaced sense of hope holds more intrinsic value than the actual lives lost to those very convictions is a delusion that will inevitably lead to catastrophe.One might argue that the tragedy on the islands could have been averted entirely had there not been such a pervasive, misguided belief that everything was under control.
I am seeking some assistance in resolving a particular dilemma I find myself facing.

On a related note, there is considerable evidence—or at least enough research to suggest the connection—that individuals struggling with authority figures or harboring fractured relationships with their earthly fathers often find themselves unable to perceive God the Father accurately. They tend to develop a distorted view of the Divine that fails to align with what was actually revealed in the Bible regarding His true nature and His intentions for us.

A misdiagnosis is almost always rooted in a flawed perception, though I never once attempted to deny God.
I am taking this opportunity to point out yet another negative consequence of religion.
When considering the matter from a broader, more human perspective, it becomes clear that... Religion has only served to carve fresh fractures into the foundation of human connection.Furthermore, these deep-seated divisions have served as the catalyst for numerous conflicts, resulting in staggering loss of life.
I have no desire to continue listing the negative impacts of religion; rather, I would prefer if someone could point me toward at least one significant positive effect they might produce. 🤷

Susan Price30 said:Of course, because it’s just human nature to need belief and hope... someone who doesn't dream is dead inside, and someone who lacks both hope and faith is just as much of a
lost cause.
What you're describing sounds more like expectations (which is just part of our psychological makeup), rather than true hope and faith, which are much more spiritual components...

But what about self-confidence?
Isn't it true that belief and hope actually become more vital when one's self-confidence is lacking?
Is a person brimming with confidence, who feels they have no need for belief or hope, truly dead?
Naturally, genuine confidence is forged through action, not through mere fantasy.

________________________________
Identify the issue, resolve the issue, move on.

Tyler Baker6 said:Honestly, looking back at that first post, I totally missed the point that we were talking about religion. To me, it feels more like that basic human instinct—that gut feeling where everyone just hopes and believes that tomorrow is gonna be a better day.

👍

Faith and hope are so deeply woven into the fabric of the human psyche that most people aren't even aware they are relying on them.
If drivers speeding down a highway or driving under the influence didn't possess that subconscious belief that nothing bad would happen, how many fatal accidents would simply never occur?
How many psychological traumas, homicides, or suicides could be prevented if lovers didn't cling to the belief that they had found their soulmate, only to suffer when those illusions inevitably shatter?
Would criminals even bother to operate if they didn't harbor the hope that they would somehow evade capture?

From a philosophical standpoint, I believe there is significant value in bringing these feelings into conscious awareness and examining them. Perhaps doing so might allow a person to recognize when they are reaching for these crutches, enabling them to let go and potentially avoid unnecessary trauma.

granitebadger30 said:Honestly, I’m starting to feel the same way... the more time passes, the clearer it becomes.
The most fascinating part is when someone finally realizes this truth; it triggers a struggle so profound that even the most unhinged prophets couldn't begin to describe it if they were predicting the end of days.
So, it isn't surprising that believers find it such a massive hurdle to transition into atheism, regardless of how many facts are laid out in front of them.

Atheism is just another form of faith—specifically, the faith that God does not exist. 😲

I believe that both faith and hope should be discarded as methods of engagement in favor of a dedicated pursuit of the truth. Humans are perfectly capable of doing just that.

Anyone genuinely committed to improving their circumstances must act in direct alignment with those intentions. Such action can only occur within the reality of the "here and now," because the concept of "there and then" is a fiction that simply does not exist.

In observing how belief and hope influence the human psyche, I have noted several patterns:

A person can only truly believe in what they cannot currently see or experience in the present moment. It is a known phenomenon that if one maintains a belief long enough, they begin to perceive it visually. However, at that stage, what they are seeing is not objective reality, but rather a mental projection—a waking dream—which can lead to severe psychological trauma when it inevitably clashes with actual reality.

Furthermore, the mere hope that things will improve "someday"—whether through fate or the intervention of others—serves only to diminish the drive required to take meaningful action today. In its purest essence, hope acts as an escape mechanism, allowing one to bypass the necessity of acting in the present.

Because of these dynamics, I hold the view that

Belief and hope are dangerous delusions; they erode the motivation needed to engage with the real world. By encouraging an escape from reality, they render a life stagnant, ritualistic, and ultimately precarious, posing a significant risk to one's mental stability.

Based on these observations, and without indulging in hypothetical scenarios, I am inclined to assert that religious faith exerts a negative influence on individuals by further fueling this tendency toward belief and passive hope.

Please share your thoughts.

slymaker9 said:I have, and I accepted reality. Sometimes it took time, and sometimes it happened instantly.
Every individual requires a specific balance of truth and illusion at any given moment to remain functional; that is precisely why the human psyche employs defense mechanisms.
In my view, forcing too much truth into a psyche—more than a person can actually process—leads to either a complete retreat into a world of delusion or total collapse.

I understand your perspective, and I think you’ve hit on something important 👍.

When a person is truly prepared, the reality of the entire situation tends to reveal itself naturally.

Once someone begins the journey toward genuine transformation, they develop an increasing capacity to detect LIES—anything that lacks a foundation in actual reality.
Recognizing a LIE simply for what it is cannot destroy a person; if anything, it bolsters their psychological stability.
The danger lies solely with those who choose to believe the LIE, for reality can be incredibly unforgiving to those living in denial.