“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” — Sir Walter Scott
Yes, and the first person we begin that practice upon is ourselves. Deception is almost a learned experience from the cradle. It is infused upon us almost imperceptibly . . . and as we layer our lives with certain behaviors or modes of conduct, this sadly becomes the “norm and not the exception.” We are for some inexplicable reason, rewarded for “behavior unbecoming . . . ” Why is this acceptable? The obvious response may simply be found in . . . because no one stops it. Of course, this is not inclusive of the majority . . . unfortunately those exhibiting the unyielding behavior/conduct receive the spotlight. How does this evolve, you might ask? One response might be . . . in many instances, individuals don’t know, that they don’t know. Eckhart Tolle has another idea . . . “Thinking is only a small aspect of consciousness. Thought cannot exist without consciousness, but consciousness does not need thought.”
Which is it for you? Ultimately, we are responsible for our behavior, conduct etc., if not in the moment . . . sometime we will be held accountable. Self-evaluation/examination is not an easy exercise, and reveals a great deal of information which we may choose to ignore . . . for a time. Where are you in the process? Are you conscious, aware or present in the moment, in order to discern what you are doing to yourself and those around you without becoming angry, mean spirited, contentious, acidic or acrimonious? Dr. Wayne Dyer has a suggestion, “It’s never crowded along the extra mile.” Not many wish to take the risk, however, you are worth it and always have been.
As a performing artist, I have gleaned far more from audiences than I believe they received from me. As an educator, I always believed I learned so much more from my students than they took away from me, and continue to feel profoundly humbled by that experience. Oscar Wilde had a different perspective . . . “The critic has to educate the public; the artist has to educate the critic,” and consciousness knows the difference without deception. JLR