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Discovery: Diving into the Complexity

Joys of Learning

By: T. Franklin Murphy | September 2018
The outline of a head with the sky shining in. A Flourishing Life Society article on discovery and learning.
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Our explorations of life in general, and individually, is never complete. There is always more to learn. When fully engaged in discovering the greatness, we open our hearts to others.
The search for the meaning continues throughout life. There’s no destination where we confidently declare, “knowledge is complete—I have obtained enlightenment.” The enlightening of the mind is a process of exposing new unknowns and accepting the vastness of complexity while welcomingly inviting the small nuggets of understanding that deepen and enrich our experience. With increasing awareness—and acceptance—the chaotic appearance of randomness gives way to the beauty of complexity.

​Although events are caused, not randomness, the entirety of understandable causes eludes us. Once free from the delusion of perfect understanding, we find peace, accepting our limited role; new discoveries inspire awe, while unknowns spark curiosity. We sacrifice wisdom when we slam simplistic labels onto the complex events of life. Our simplicity conflicts with the natural unfolding of mysteries. We settle only for explanations that are currently unavailable. We compromise reality to mollify our anxieties.


We should seek knowledge. A flow of small discoveries opens doors, softens judgments, and invites compassion. Friedrich Nietzsche wrote, “growth in wisdom can be exactly measured by a decrease in bitterness.” Unveiling the contributing forces behind mind and behavior, softens the impact of biases by widening our empathetic understanding. We seek to adapt solutions, better matched with the complex system of life, rather than burning precious energy with fruitless retaliations.

Learning is a Life Time Process

The process of discovery (gaining insight, decreasing bitterness) is never complete—there is always more. Our biology, social learning, and individual experiences intertwine to create concepts. These concepts are a point reference—used to evaluate life; but also, susceptible to change. The blurred point of reference confuses judgments and alters predictions. This is the heart of complexity, multiple fluid parts acting and reacting in dynamic existence.

​We are neither powerless nor all powerful. Environments trigger unpredictable reactions, but the self can also, at times, transcend these external pressures, adapting to the changes while keeping focus on the long-term intentions. We exercise some control over what we do, say and think, and with this self-empowerment, we are an active agent in our own evolution.
"This is the heart of complexity, multiple fluid parts acting and reacting in dynamic existence. We are neither powerless nor all powerful."
Life expands when we transcend reactionary actions, instead of devoting energy pursuing comfy emotions, we work towards a better life. By accepting complexities—both known and unknown—disappointments lose disrupting powers. We still feel sorrow, grief, anger and guilt when confronted with challenges but instead of obsessive ruminations, magical escapes, or fruitless retaliations, we constructively adapt and then move forward.
 
Lacking knowledge isn’t a sign of stupidity but a necessary step in discovery. Blotches of unknown will always decorate our canvasses. Discovery opens our eyes, welcoming the unknown, widening our perspective, and bringing peace in the face of the complexities. With awe and curiosity, we observe the unfolding drama of existence and discover a little bit more.
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T. Franklin Murphy
T. Franklin Murphy
Wellness. Writer. Researcher.
​T. Franklin Murphy has a degree in psychology. He is dedicated to the science of wellness. In 2010, he began publishing his findings.
External Links:
External Link: Bad thinkers
External Link: Mental Health: Why It’s Sometimes Hard to Seek Help
External Link: The Experience of Awe
Link: How Humility will make you the greatest person ever
Environments dictate the success and failure of life. We flourish when environments are accommodating. But humans can transcend this, achieving more than the world would otherwise dictate.
We get stuck in an existential funk, searching for meaning. Life may not readily appear meaningful; but we can give life meaning.
Freedom of choice is earned through mulling over possibilities, evaluating conflicting data and then determining a course of action.
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FLS internal Link. Doubt, Search, Find: The vulnerable state of doubt leads to a curious search for more. We often neglect learning in exchange for secure and misguided dogma.
The Unknown Story. A Flourishing Life Society article link
Unfolding of Complexity. Taking a broader perspective. A Flourishing Life Society article link
FLS Link. An Article on Complexity: The simple positive messages spread easy. We enjoy hearing them and pass them along. The more complex messages of reality are not always attractive, requiring thought, and are passed over or even rejected. We need both.
Flourishing Life Society Link: Facing Ineptness
Discovery. Diving into the Complexity. Joys of Learning. A Flourishing Life Society article link
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