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Home   | Personal Development | Bias Article Archive| Freedom from Stupidity

Freedom From Stupidity

Stop Destroying Your Dreams

BY: T. Franklin Murphy | February 2016 (edited November 25, 2021)
Hands breaking free of shackles. A Flourishing Life Society article on self destructive and stupid behaviors.
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We are are our worst enemies. We keep doing stupid things and suffering. We can free ourselves from the stupidity. 
Freedom is neither conformity nor rebellion. Freedom is not witnessed through thoughtless responses but discovered through mindful choice. We express our freedom by carefully evaluating complex facts and then determining the best course of action. A mindful approach frees the chains of careless reactions and the painful consequences of stupidity. We are not condemned to bad habits; we can escape the unhealthy patterns of our past.

Our society, social groups and relationships pressure for unquestioned conformity. Some social groups paradoxically expect followers to rebel against social norms but unquestionably accept the group’s own radical dogma. The current political climate provides daily examples of this. Any followers questioning the groups direction are condemned. But we know better—blindness invites abuse.

​Whether we automatically rebel or conform, we are blindly reacting, instead of using our powers of reason. Many substitute the powerful practice of mindful thought before a choice with waiting to use cognitive energy after the action to blame, excuse, and justify.

Politics and Unquestioning Allegiance  

I am fascinated during the political campaign season how rarely commentators’ support shifts from one candidate to another; even with a constant flow of new information. It appears once publicly committed, the blinders prevent any further examining logic. And we vote a fool into office.
 
A recent event piqued my interest. A senator was condemned as unpatriotic for questioning the success of a combat mission. The administration proclaimed it "un-American and disrespectful" to question an operation where a courageous soldier’s life was lost. Is a botched operation not possible? Could mistakes been made unnecessarily endangering lives of young solders? Blindly we accept a nonsensical remark, dismissing questions, and pledging our allegiance to the stupidity.
Freedom to Choose: Liberty from unseen influencing forces is obtained through bringing the unknown to light. Only when we clearly see can we navigate the complexities of choice.
My memory fades but has not drifted into compete amnesia, forgetting two years of campaign rhetoric condemning every previous skirmish as complete disasters—many courageous soldiers died in each of these. Neither political party should be awarded unquestioned authority to act, while condemning dissenters that enact their right to think as unpatriotic.
 
The same self-deceit occurs in our personal lives; instead of shifting gears, we follow the trajectory of emotion and then justify.
 
Following the life we desire requires self-discipline. We must pause before acting, preventing unhealthy impulses from dictating our lives. Freedom is born during that pause. The health of our futures, the strength of our nation, the freedom to choose requires courageous thought not blind following.

​We engage in purposeful effort after mindfully mulling through the thoughts and feelings. Our personal desires will occasionally conflict with the expectations of other people, groups, and governments. Maybe we are right—maybe not. Slow down to examine the difference, courageously speaking up when expedient to do so.

Some social norms are worthy of continuing while others are outdated and harmful; but social norms typically go unnoticed and unexamined. We must struggle to free ourselves from these chains. The norms may also be bad, containing dreadful biases, outdated approaches, and hateful reactions. Stop, think, and be free from this silliness.
 
Intentional thought, careful scrutiny of facts, openness to differing opinions frees us from harmful emotions, inviting flexibility and complexity into our character, freeing us from the stupidity of the past.
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T. Franklin Murphy
T. Franklin Murphy
Wellness. Writer. Researcher.
​T. Franklin Murphy has a degree in psychology. He tirelessly researches scientific findings that contribute to wellness. In 2010, he began publishing his findings.

Index:

Flourishing in Life
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Psychology of Wellness
  • Emotions​
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About Flourishing Life
Psychology Definitions Data Base Link
Human Flourishing. Flourishing Life Society article link

Articles on Human Stupidity:


The five universal laws of human stupidity

​Other Flourishing Life Society articles of interest on this topic:

Self Worth on Trial. Silencing the Harsh Inner Critic. A Flourishing Life Society article link
Masochistic Personality Traits. A Flourishing Life Society psychology definition.
A Flourishing Life Society article link. Fear of Change
Mindful examination of the two internal guidance systems behind our action can refine errant predictions and misguided reactions.
Childhood Development and Life Trajectories. A Flourishing Life Society article link
We struggle to objectively evaluate ourselves. We subjectively change the facts to fit our self-supporting reality.
A Flourishing Life Society article link. Fear of Failure
Our biased approach to new information limits learning, we get stuck in the ruts of the past, failing to gain essential wisdom.
Being Productive. Flourishing with Productivity. A Flourishing Life Society article link
FLS link. Self-Sabotage: We hurt ourselves. We sabotage healthy endeavors to escape the discomfort of change, settling back into our self-made prisons of stagnation.
Flourishing Life Society article link for Social Desirability Bias
Life is governed by laws. Many actions involve several laws competing fro dominance.
Eudaimonia: Living Well and Doing Good. A Flourishing Life Society article link
A Flourishing Life Society Article Image link. Accumulating Troubles
Psychological Flexibility. A Flourishing Life Society article image link
A Flourishing Life Society article image link. Self Determination

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Divorce and break-ups article archives
Freedom from Stupidity. Stop Destroying Your Dreams. A Flourishing Life Society article link
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