On Needs and Desires
In a previous message I said that the mature Left handed person understands that conflict is generally only beneficial when an uncompromising individual or group stands between the left hander and that which they need or desire. Now there is a difference between need and desire. Needs cannot be altered by the individual posessing the need. Desires on the other hand can be altered by an individual. We need Air, Food, Water, a Moderate amount of Exercise, an adequate amount of rest, and an internal body temperature at or near 98.6 degrees farenheight, sufficient sanitation so as not to overwhelm our immune systems with disease, as well as touch intimacy, and comfort. These are the direct needs. You don't have a choice about whether you will have these needs. Failure to meet any of these needs will seriously impact your longevity. Indirect needs will not noticibly shorten your life if not met but are still something that you can do little to change. It is virtually impossible for example for a person to eliminate a desire for sex without surgery or pretty strong drugs. Desires on the other hand are things which we crave but have a reasonable level of control over. It is possible for example to desire a soul mate, but it is equally possible to give up that desire either by personal growth, or by frustration. An interesting point about desires however, is that failure to meet a substantial portion our desires can lead to a whole host of negative consequences which can dramatically shorten our lives. Among these consequences are frustration which leads to stress and or depression. The modern mental health and medical professions are quite familiar with how these things can lead to premature unwanted death. The thing is, that with desire we have some degree of freedom about chosing to either fulfill the desire, or to eliminate the desire. Basically, the criteria for the decision at least for us Left handers comes down to which will lead to the fewest negative consequences where negative is defined here by preventing us from obtaining other needs or desires. I might for example have a desire to jump from a tall bridge and fly with eagles. However, trying to fulfill this desire might lead to my falling into the icy water below which would seriously impact my ability to continue to fulfill some of my more critical needs such as air, and adequate core body temperature. Therefore, I might in this case opt to give up this desire. Alternatively I might identify the aspects of the desire that I crave, and find another way to fulfill them. For example, if the root of the desire is to experience a feeling of weightlessness, I might instead go to an amusement park and ride a really scary roller coaster. The important thing to remember is that having a substantial portion of our desires remain unfulfilled is no different than having one or more of our needs unfulfilled. We must find ways to either eliminate or fulfill our desires. Many acetics, will not acknowledge the wisdom of fulfilling ones desires and choose instead to take the other road which is to eliminate desires which cannot be easily fulfilled or which would cause us to run afoul of their particular system of ethics. Left handers on the other hand tend to celebrate desire, and look for ways to fulfill their desires keeping in mind the benefits of co-operation over conflict. They may engage in activities which are considered unacceptable to subscribers to certain Right hand systems of living. Yet Left handers understand that it is possible to engage in all sorts of desire fulfilling behavior so long as you remember the principles of integrity and how it relates to your ultimate well being.
In a previous message I said that the mature Left handed person understands that conflict is generally only beneficial when an uncompromising individual or group stands between the left hander and that which they need or desire. Now there is a difference between need and desire. Needs cannot be altered by the individual posessing the need. Desires on the other hand can be altered by an individual. We need Air, Food, Water, a Moderate amount of Exercise, an adequate amount of rest, and an internal body temperature at or near 98.6 degrees farenheight, sufficient sanitation so as not to overwhelm our immune systems with disease, as well as touch intimacy, and comfort. These are the direct needs. You don't have a choice about whether you will have these needs. Failure to meet any of these needs will seriously impact your longevity. Indirect needs will not noticibly shorten your life if not met but are still something that you can do little to change. It is virtually impossible for example for a person to eliminate a desire for sex without surgery or pretty strong drugs. Desires on the other hand are things which we crave but have a reasonable level of control over. It is possible for example to desire a soul mate, but it is equally possible to give up that desire either by personal growth, or by frustration. An interesting point about desires however, is that failure to meet a substantial portion our desires can lead to a whole host of negative consequences which can dramatically shorten our lives. Among these consequences are frustration which leads to stress and or depression. The modern mental health and medical professions are quite familiar with how these things can lead to premature unwanted death. The thing is, that with desire we have some degree of freedom about chosing to either fulfill the desire, or to eliminate the desire. Basically, the criteria for the decision at least for us Left handers comes down to which will lead to the fewest negative consequences where negative is defined here by preventing us from obtaining other needs or desires. I might for example have a desire to jump from a tall bridge and fly with eagles. However, trying to fulfill this desire might lead to my falling into the icy water below which would seriously impact my ability to continue to fulfill some of my more critical needs such as air, and adequate core body temperature. Therefore, I might in this case opt to give up this desire. Alternatively I might identify the aspects of the desire that I crave, and find another way to fulfill them. For example, if the root of the desire is to experience a feeling of weightlessness, I might instead go to an amusement park and ride a really scary roller coaster. The important thing to remember is that having a substantial portion of our desires remain unfulfilled is no different than having one or more of our needs unfulfilled. We must find ways to either eliminate or fulfill our desires. Many acetics, will not acknowledge the wisdom of fulfilling ones desires and choose instead to take the other road which is to eliminate desires which cannot be easily fulfilled or which would cause us to run afoul of their particular system of ethics. Left handers on the other hand tend to celebrate desire, and look for ways to fulfill their desires keeping in mind the benefits of co-operation over conflict. They may engage in activities which are considered unacceptable to subscribers to certain Right hand systems of living. Yet Left handers understand that it is possible to engage in all sorts of desire fulfilling behavior so long as you remember the principles of integrity and how it relates to your ultimate well being.