A discussion of the good, bad and ugly.
Good and bad are neither good nor bad. Good and bad are your reactions. They just are as good and bad as you want them to be. However, the ugly hides in plain sight. The ugly is not understanding they reflect your bias, understanding and conclusions. They hide the ugliness of your convictions from yourself. The good and bad are your projections that you cannot see of yourself.
The Paradox of Projections
“In psychology, the “paradox of projection” refers to the phenomenon where someone unconsciously attributes their own good and bad traits or feelings onto others, essentially creating a situation where they are both the source of the good or bad and the one perceiving it in others, often leading to conflicts and misunderstandings in relationships that also shield them from confronting their own issues. It is a layered paradox because while projecting enables one to avoid self-awareness, it also creates the distorted view of others and themselves. Thus, hindering an authentic connection to both the self and others. And yet at the next level, it also provides an opportunity to examine their distorted projections.
Key points about the paradox of projection:
Defense mechanism: Projection is a defense mechanism where individuals unconsciously displace their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses onto others to avoid dealing with them directly within themselves.
Distorted perception: By projecting their own issues, individuals can misinterpret others’ behaviors, often seeing negative qualities in others that are reflections of their own internal struggles.
Relationship challenges: Projection can significantly harm relationships as individuals may become overly critical, accusatory, or defensive towards others based on their own projected negativity or positivity.
Example of the paradox of projection:
A person who is secretly insecure about their own intelligence might constantly criticize others for being “uninformed” or “stupid,” projecting their own self-doubt onto others.
Or a person who is enamored with their own intelligence might constantly praise others for being informed or intelligent, projecting their own flimsy self- magnificence. Such as in cases of groupthink, tribalism or academic and political affinity.
How to address projection:
Self-awareness: Recognizing when you are projecting is the key. Pay attention to strong emotional reactions towards others and consider whether if they are stemming from your own internal issues.
Reflection: Is an opportunity. That is when feeling triggered; it is a cue to take a step back to reflect on your own emotions and behaviors before jumping to conclusions. It is an opportunity to for self-examination which hopefully leads to more self-awareness.
Therapy, meditation, reflection, mindfulness, etc.: Are modes of self-examination and evaluation of your presumptions, programing, processes and resulting conclusions and projections of your understanding of your reality. For example, if projection is significantly affecting your relationships, seeking professional therapy can help you understand the root causes and develop coping strategies.”
(In part, AI generated which inspired further elaboration and expansion. A brief side note: This is an example of the using AI to generate a summary, perspective, framework and then take it further… to go beyond its (AI) general, vague, and simplistic AI conglomeration).
The problem or issue of the “paradox of projection” is when a person is unaware of it, how it works; it creates difficulty in their life and being. Thus, the therapeutic statement of “what is resisted, persists” applies. The pain and suffering of the human condition are the opportunity for self-awareness, reflection, and therapy. It is a cue to face and examine the pain and horror/terror of the wrathful deities (anxiety, fear, and demons).
Journey into the Mist
Amidst the journey of facing the pain of the human condition, the secret refuge is equanimity. Equanimity is simply calm composure, position or abode in which to focus upon the pain and suffering… without attraction, identification with or judgement to the offending irritant. It is simply to things. First is the knowledge that all things change. Second to sit or relax into a state of grace. The state of grace or is the witness who is sovereign living in equanimity, and can witness, understand, and release their attachment to the pain and suffering (and their fascination, absorption or surrender to). If one can maintain equanimity, i.e., to see that good and bad are neither good nor bad… or ugly. To understand, feel and release, the good, bad and ugly are no longer attached; released from the delusions of the self. The clear light of the awareness of being… dawns. What dawns is the rock or foundational position of being the witness of the constant and changing parade before one’s self. It is when the mountain comes to Muhamad.
Carrot and Stick
The carrot, good and the stick bad, yet both motivate us to change. If there were no good and no bad, would we change? If there was no good and no bad, then we choose to change? Would we be too comfortable or too paralyzed; unable to change? What if we were bored and discover something more? Or too sick and tired of being sick and tired… figuring this is hell. I might as well try something else than to continue to be in an endless hell. What if we can expand to include heaven and hell? To discover more of ourselves and in that expansion, we experience more but are not of more.
The Problem of Being God
If God knows all and is all. If all there was, was God wouldn’t that be a boring and endless hell? Being lonely without interaction, play, novelty or surprise? What if God wanted to do something else, what would be needed? Perhaps two things: forgetfulness and free will. Forgetfulness, not knowing who one is. And the other is freewill. I.e., the ability to choose, in some random, surprising and novel manner. Forgetfulness and freewill, are the ontological one-two knockout punch. Forgetfulness being not knowing who one is. And the free will to discover what one is. To randomly choose an unknown path to oneself.
Punch Drunk
So, a few blows to the head… In the movie Punch-Drunk Love, thoughts and emotions are accoutrements of entertainment. The definition of “punch-drunk” is, in a word, the “confusion” of fighters who have become confused from blows from the head. Ok, what the hell… Timmy?
First, things like the philosophy of ontology (existence and the nature of being), epistemology (the nature of knowledge), etc. is a huge rabbit hole that is both fascinating, a headache, and yet hides the ugly that hides in plain sight. The ugly is simply the division or separation between. It is the search for existence and being. The “original sin” is the false division or separation of getting kicked out of the Garden of Eden by eating the fruit (apple/knowledge) from the tree of knowledge.
The ego is in a sense the epitome of the external division between self and other. And now this external division (the veil) is crumbling, thin and will fade, forcing us to consider the underlying unity of everything. But unlike orientation of the external division of ego. There is the emerging of internal orientation and recognition of the underlying unity of being. Punch drunk… confused yet?
The Turning… Inward
The great turning inward is the turning from being externally receptive, i.e., drunk and confused. Turning inward, such as being a fighter, or the journey of the hero/heroine. One becomes internally determined, expressive, i.e., being. This is not a regression back to “unknowingness or unconsciousness.” But is a progression into an expansion, expression and experience. Which is becoming and being or knowing the diversity of unity. Of all things created are discovered to be that which they are. We are learning to be, become and appreciate the infinity, singularity, equality and unity of all creation. This is the revelation. A time of creating, discovering and flowing… being in and of the dynamic expression of contraction and expansion in the same endless moment and infinite space of unity. It is the transcendence or enlightenment to be. The story coded in the return of the prodigal son to the feast of heaven. A return to and rediscovery the Gardens of Eden on earth and in the heavens. To be being aware of the expansion, expression and experience of being the creator, creation and expression. We are the Gods, the Gardens, and Creation… sovereign, self-evident and will ever be Love.
Love Expanded
A different determination of love is via its expanding and expansion. It is not a possessing or possession, but an encompassing of. An expansion, expression, and experience of becoming, being, and to be… love. We expand, discover the things and express ways of being in a new existence. And in that expansion, it is not a matter of possession or control, but an expression and discovery of understanding and being. An expansion and expression of compassion, grace and sovereignty. It is not the old romantic or even the platonic thing, but it is the movement or flow of the existence of being. An expressway to, of and for the heart. A new physicality, physics, and existence which is not possessive, controlling, but of the sovereignty, respect, discovery and appreciation of each other and all their beingness.
Whether of another being, animal, existence or dimension, the grace is being grateful of and for their being, existence, and flow. Appreciating and loving because it is the expansion, expression, and experience that we have not known. We have mutual expansions, expressions and experiences of each other. A tantric communion, conception and birth of a new way of being. For example, a rescued dog loves us because we are who we are. And we are grateful for them being who they are. In this expansion, expression, and experience we discover a new relationship, a new way of being. And they also, experience an expansion of a new existence and way of being… without fear, hunger, abuse, etc. What we are doing, is sharing ourselves expressing with each other. The other being sharing with us… we are expanding and becoming more than we ever imagined or thought possible. It is the new expansion, expression and experience of Love. An expansion, expression and experience into the unknown to become known and to be… and more.
It’s the same paradigm, process, and pattern. Imagine love, be in Love… and be Love. Feel love, be in love and be love. Do love, be love and love. These are the wings of your heart carrying you beyond the unimaginable.
Blessings,
Tim