This question has been staring at me all along but only now I see it...?

Question

It is obvious and completley logical that if we all cooperate with each other, forgive others for what they have done to us, forgive ourselves for how we have been behaving in the past, and make the effort to be compassionate and friendly towards others - it will make everyone as a whole, and thus yourself, happier, healthier, and more fulfilled in life. So, why don't we change all of our behaviours right now and make our lives and our world the best place to be? Isnt it obvious, so simple?

What excuse do you wish to give if you disagree? Who or what are you going to blame before you decide to look in the mirror, stand on your own two feet, and make a change?

The scars from the past are so deep that we have become afraid to make the jump, so deep that this simple question is pushed all the way to the back of our minds? Why only now do I recognise it explicitly. It seems like all my other questions can be summed up into this question.

Answer 1

A team builder once handed a board of directors a card that said something to the effect that "the only person I can truly change is myself". Good listeners and good observers are able to "see" and "advise" and "lead". However, if there are too many strong personalities in the room and these strong personalities all believe they are right and won't listen to anyone else, the ideal you mentioned can never be met. A very good example of this kind of behavior is exhibited by George W. Bush every time he opens his mouth. The problem is that the only way we can shut him out and regain control of the country and bring it back to the most favored nation status is to practice the Delphi Technique on him and his followers. Sometimes you have to cut out the bad cows from the heard and send them to the meat packing plants. Otherwise, I agree with your premise. The world has been an exercise in "survival of the fittest". Unfortunately, often those who are rarely seen and even less often heard but who listen, look, analyze, prioritize, strategize, and then just sit back and wait for the rest of the world to destroy itself enough to become vulnerable before taking action are the real winners. There is always an emergent leader in every group. That emergent leader only has power because people believe him and believe that he can do the job required with the proper expertise. He can teach them how or will go first and show them how. People turn on their leaders when the leaders forget the basic principles of leadership. "If you empower those you lead to be leaders themselves and if you learn from their actions and reactions and you lead with knowledge, compassion, trust and ability, you will never consider yourself a leader." "A good slave master is also a great slave because he realizes the importance of all those who are part of his world." If People will read their Bibles (as an historical document instead of a basis for religion) along with the equivalent of bibles for other religions like the "Koran", they will begin to see the parallels and they will begin to realize that the similarities in their religions outnumber the differences and that the prophecies will be fulfilled due to the failure to understand.

Answer 2

You already know that I am going to agree with this, it is the basis for virtually every answer offered. We have been beyond the need for violent competition and into the need for co-operation as a species for long enough that even the most dense know it. The only problem left is, How to get people to give a part of themselves to the whole so we can succeed? Because that is really what it means.

Answer 3

Beautiful! Very beautiful, dearest friend.
So you've changed. I'm so happy you talk like this.
The main point is awareness.
If you look intently, you notice that just a few weeks ago this concept was not as vivid as it seems now to you. Look back and see what has happened . You were THINKING, asking QUESTIONS and SHARING your views with others, UNDERSTANDING flew and LOVE showed its face.
Ok, you should help others to experience the same thing; to gain that awareness.
Keep up the good job and rememeber that you sould be patient. Change is gradual. And everyone changes at a different pace.

Answer 4

I agree, I like the old addage, "Why can't we all just get along?" The world would be a much better place if we followed your advice. I also really like, "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!" That is one I live by. Hopefully you'll get a lot of people to read your Question, you do make it sound so simple.

Answer 5

Try selling that to 6.5 billion people

Doug