Jesse Bennett8
Newcomer
3 messages
joined Nov 2018
In this particular context, the boundaries you're referencing can be categorized as either internal or external. There is, of course, a secondary layer involving our current capacity to act—a capacity dictated by a blend of lived experience and theoretical knowledge. This synthesis creates specific states of consciousness where our ability to master a task depends entirely on whether this combination provides the necessary tools for mastery. Internal boundaries are those we construct for ourselves, whereas external ones are imposed upon us by others, typically manifesting as the social norms or the governing rules of the environment we inhabit.
Regarding the outside world, these perceived limits may not even be objectively real, as they are rooted in our subjective interpretation of reality. We often convince ourselves that a certain feat is impossible until we are presented with proof otherwise; conversely, we might refrain from acting even when capable because the consequences would be something we simply cannot stomach (and I feel compelled to emphasize that point for good reason).
Now, there exists a certain threshold—let’s call it the point of unification—where we embrace these external boundaries and adopt societal rules as our own, which ultimately allows us to navigate and exist harmoniously within our surroundings. On the flip side, there is a state of non-unification: these are the boundaries and regulations, such as laws or social dictates, that we refuse to accept. In an environment governed by such rules, we end up feeling restless, stifled, and stripped of our autonomy. It is a profound irony that, at times, the very act of accepting certain boundaries is what actually grants us true freedom. 😁
Finally, one must consider that external boundaries also include those established by nature, which aren't necessarily tied to social constructs. We tend to accept these natural limitations based on our understanding of them; for instance, everyone accepts the impossibility of human flight. Because we are constantly subject to these physical realities, we accept them instinctively without feeling oppressed by them. Ultimately, it is our internal principles that guide us and dictate the lifestyle we choose to pursue. The real choice lies in whether we align those internal values with social norms or even with the fundamental laws of nature—much like how if the Wright brothers hadn't accepted the limitation that humans couldn't fly, they likely never would have invented the airplane.
