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fireworks_god
Sexy.Butt.McDanger


Registered: 03/12/02
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Being Concerned With One's Own Success
#5937245 - 08/06/06 02:46 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Making it a priority for oneself to be successful in one's life situation is beneficial for everyone. One can focus on one's own life first and foremost, and concern themselves with applying themself and accomplishing one's goals.
Following one's own path that is centered around one's own growth is to be strived for, in fact. Improve yourself and the world improves as a result. One does not need to forget oneself and only help others. Others will accuse one of being selfish, but there is nothing inherently wrong with being focused on the self.
Do not rely on others for your own success, and do not make it so that others are reliant on you for their success. Life your own life as an example. The world grows as you do. Focus inward, not outward. 
 Peace.
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If I should die this very moment I wouldn't fear For I've never known completeness Like being here Wrapped in the warmth of you Loving every breath of you
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Veritas

Registered: 04/15/05
Posts: 11,089
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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: fireworks_god]
#5937267 - 08/06/06 02:52 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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It makes sense to put on your own oxygen mask first. The vision of nobility and sacrifice associated with "selfless" behavior is appealing, yet we cannot serve others unless we have something to give.
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Fucknuckle
Dog Lover

Registered: 04/24/04
Posts: 6,762
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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: fireworks_god]
#5937270 - 08/06/06 02:53 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Hey we don't except any Sermons in here 
Attention to people in this thread..I gots FW on ignore so I am not sure if I said the right thing....but based on his many other Sermon threads I think I probley got it right
this should be fun responding to his posts not knowing whta he said becasue it will make no difference anyway what I say to him.he's always right
-------------------- What it is, is what it is my Brother. It is as it is, so suffer thru it.
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Silversoul
Rhizome


Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: fireworks_god]
#5937277 - 08/06/06 02:54 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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I measure my success by my ability to help others. Naturally, that ability increases in proportion to my ability to help myself.
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Fucknuckle
Dog Lover

Registered: 04/24/04
Posts: 6,762
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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: Veritas]
#5937286 - 08/06/06 02:56 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Veritas said: It makes sense to put on your own oxygen mask first. The vision of nobility and sacrifice associated with "selfless" behavior is appealing, yet we cannot serve others unless we have something to give.
The point I have repeatedly tried to make is this........TO EXCELL in life one must put others first. That does not mean put all what is about you aside and fuck it, that would be stupid. No I agree here 100%..........What I am trying to say is this..When the time comes to put others first and you do not and you keep doing this you will end up NO where.
-------------------- What it is, is what it is my Brother. It is as it is, so suffer thru it.
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fireworks_god
Sexy.Butt.McDanger


Registered: 03/12/02
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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: Silversoul]
#5937297 - 08/06/06 02:58 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Silversoul said: I measure my success by my ability to help others. Naturally, that ability increases in proportion to my ability to help myself.
Exactly. Often times, more success means more responsibility, which implies that one plays a greater role in the lives of others.
Being a success implies that others will become successful as a result.
 Peace.
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If I should die this very moment I wouldn't fear For I've never known completeness Like being here Wrapped in the warmth of you Loving every breath of you
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fireworks_god
Sexy.Butt.McDanger


Registered: 03/12/02
Posts: 24,855
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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: fireworks_god]
#5937315 - 08/06/06 03:04 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Also to be noted is that those who profess to care about others first are usually self-righteous themselves, continously seeking attention for themselves and their actions, especially at the expense of others. 
 Peace.
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If I should die this very moment I wouldn't fear For I've never known completeness Like being here Wrapped in the warmth of you Loving every breath of you
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Fractalated
There's no onehome up there...

Registered: 07/22/06
Posts: 640
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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: fireworks_god]
#5937388 - 08/06/06 03:35 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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I think saying that one should always put one's own success first is perhaps overgeneralizing. As Jesus said, there are those who see the splinter in the eyes of their brothers, but aren't aware of the log that's in their own eyes.
To me, this means that one must liberate oneself before one can most effectively go about liberating others. But that doesn't mean that one cannot or should not help out whenever possible. In Mahayana, the ideal is the Bodhissatva, who strives to liberate all beings before achieving liberation themselves.
In terms of material success, things get a little bit more complicated. As biological organisms on this planet, we all have needs. The most basic need is survival, which entails adequate food, water, shelter, air, and health. It is therefore quite natural to go about obtaining an adequate supply of the above. However, it is often the case that once your needs have been met, you continue trying to get as much as you can. This is where greed and self-indulgence come into play.
I make a distinction between self-preservation and self-interest, and self-indulgence. Once I've got all that I need to survive, then I try to help out those who don't have all they need to survive as much as practically is possible. Gandhi said that the earth has enough for everyone's need, but not for everyone's greed. And this is true. When great numbers of human beings compete, out of greed, for the limited resources that we have, then the world turns into the state its in today, with war, famine, hatred, violence, poverty, and so much suffering.
I think one needs to make a distinction between enlightened selfishness (maintaining one's being here while causing the least amount of suffering in others as possible) and unenlightened/animalistic selfishness (trying to get as much as you can for yourself; being greedy and causing suffering for yourself when you can't get what you want and in others when they can't get what they want or even what they need).
-------------------- "Now that the principalities and the powers stockpile weapons of mass destruction, contaminate the earth with their feverish industry, release floods of images to trigger insatiable desires, treat animals and humans as commodities and functions of a market, the devil must be grinning from ear to ear."
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Silversoul
Rhizome


Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: fireworks_god]
#5937403 - 08/06/06 03:39 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
fireworks_god said: Also to be noted is that those who profess to care about others first are usually self-righteous themselves, continously seeking attention for themselves and their actions, especially at the expense of others. 
 Peace.
"Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." -- Mt 6:1-6
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MushmanTheManic
Stranger

Registered: 04/21/05
Posts: 4,587
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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: fireworks_god]
#5938021 - 08/06/06 07:01 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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...but what is success?
Could you give an example of a theoretical or real person who is successful vs. a person who is not?
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PhanTomCat
Teh Cat....


Registered: 09/07/04
Posts: 5,908
Loc: My Youniverse....
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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: Fucknuckle]
#5938033 - 08/06/06 07:05 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Fucknuckle said: Attention to people in this thread..I gots FW on ignore so I am not sure if I said the right thing....but based on his many other Sermon threads I think I probley got it right . this should be fun responding to his posts not knowing whta he said becasue it will make no difference anyway what I say to him.he's always right
Childish much....? 
>^;;^<
-------------------- I'll be your midnight French Fry.... "The most important things in life that are often ignored, are the things that one cannot see...." >^;;^<
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fireworks_god
Sexy.Butt.McDanger


Registered: 03/12/02
Posts: 24,855
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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: PhanTomCat]
#5938044 - 08/06/06 07:11 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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It is not childish to love others and to put others first, as you get back what you give. 
 Peace.
--------------------
If I should die this very moment I wouldn't fear For I've never known completeness Like being here Wrapped in the warmth of you Loving every breath of you
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fireworks_god
Sexy.Butt.McDanger


Registered: 03/12/02
Posts: 24,855
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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: MushmanTheManic]
#5938046 - 08/06/06 07:12 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
MushmanTheManic said: ...but what is success?
Could you give an example of a theoretical or real person who is successful vs. a person who is not?
Success is relative and defined by one's preferences. 
 Peace.
--------------------
If I should die this very moment I wouldn't fear For I've never known completeness Like being here Wrapped in the warmth of you Loving every breath of you
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PhanTomCat
Teh Cat....


Registered: 09/07/04
Posts: 5,908
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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: fireworks_god]
#5938061 - 08/06/06 07:18 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Have you put him on ignore, proclaimed it to the community, and then still blindly "addressed" one of his posts....? 
---That being said, I agree with your reply (in theory).... 
>^;;^<
-------------------- I'll be your midnight French Fry.... "The most important things in life that are often ignored, are the things that one cannot see...." >^;;^<
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RRRR
Rapture Ready


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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: fireworks_god]
#5938102 - 08/06/06 07:28 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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That isn't nessecarily true. Collective action problems have haunted history since the begginings of man. They are situations where everyone has a choice between two alternatives and where, if everyone involved acts rationally in relation to their own sucess, the outcome will be worse for everyone involved.
Such examples are freeriders and the Prisoner's Dillema (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner's_dillema)
-------------------- Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:20-21 (New King James Version)
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MarkostheGnostic
Elder


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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: fireworks_god]
#5938218 - 08/06/06 08:17 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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<----Failure-------------------------------------------------Success---->
'Individual Psychology' - the school of Alfred Adler in a nutshell. I have long endeavored to NOT see the 'givens' of my existence placed on the above-illustrated continuum. I am both a failure and a success depending upon how I choose to look at my life, and how others view me.
Call me a 'sophomore' a 'wise fool.'
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fireworks_god
Sexy.Butt.McDanger


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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: RRRR]
#5940129 - 08/07/06 08:46 AM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
RRRR said: They are situations where everyone has a choice between two alternatives and where, if everyone involved acts rationally in relation to their own sucess, the outcome will be worse for everyone involved.
If "everyone involved" includes the person who is seeking to be successful, which it certainly does, then engaging in action that provides a worse outcome for everyone involved would not be successful, now would it? 
Quote:
Such examples are freeriders and the Prisoner's Dillema (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner's_dillema)
Quote:
Wikipedia said: One resolution of the dilemma proposed by Douglas Hofstadter in his Metamagical Themas is to reject the definition of "rational" that led to the "rational" decision to defect. Truly rational (or "superrational") players take into account that the other person is superrational, like them, and thus they cooperate.
That was exactly what I was thinking when I was reading it. I don't have the energy (so unbelievably exhausted that I would not be sitting here if it were not for the fact that I was waiting for some pizza ) to continue reading it, and perhaps the specifics of the situation were such that willingly cooperating with each other wasn't possible... or something...
 Peace.
--------------------
If I should die this very moment I wouldn't fear For I've never known completeness Like being here Wrapped in the warmth of you Loving every breath of you
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fireworks_god
Sexy.Butt.McDanger


Registered: 03/12/02
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Quote:
MarkostheGnostic said: I am both a failure and a success depending upon how I choose to look at my life, and how others view me.
Unless how others view you is an aspect of your preferences that you concern yourself with, then their viewpoint as to whether or not you are personally a success is irrelevant.
Success, to me, simply means living in alignment with one's preferences on how one wishes to live. Well, perhaps more than that, on a different level, as well, referring to living one's life in the most beneficial manner for one's life - providing oneself with the most fufilling, sustainable experience that one can. I feel that this will also benefit all involved, in a general sense, as one effects one's environment. 
It isn't as if I am proposing some concrete thought here, or anything, just general ideas. 
 Peace.
--------------------
If I should die this very moment I wouldn't fear For I've never known completeness Like being here Wrapped in the warmth of you Loving every breath of you
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Fractalated
There's no onehome up there...

Registered: 07/22/06
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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: fireworks_god]
#5940162 - 08/07/06 09:04 AM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Success, to me, simply means living in alignment with one's preferences on how one wishes to live.
I guess the question is if there is any sort of objective definition of success, or whether it is a strictly subjective matter. For example, a person, who happens to be named Adolf Hitler or Josef Stalin, decides that they prefer to live in a world without a certain race of people, so they go about actualizing that wish. Hitler kills six million Jews. Is that success? Certainly not for anyone except for him and perhaps those who he's brainwashed.
Your definition is the most basic definition of success: simply achieving what you want. I think it's necessary to take into account other factors if you want to live life pursuing some degree of wholesome success.
Well, perhaps more than that, on a different level, as well, referring to living one's life in the most beneficial manner for one's life - providing oneself with the most fufilling, sustainable experience that one can.
Again, that seems very subjective. What I consider to be very detrimental another could consider to be very beneficial.
-------------------- "Now that the principalities and the powers stockpile weapons of mass destruction, contaminate the earth with their feverish industry, release floods of images to trigger insatiable desires, treat animals and humans as commodities and functions of a market, the devil must be grinning from ear to ear."
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RRRR
Rapture Ready


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Re: Being Concerned With One's Own Success [Re: fireworks_god]
#5940218 - 08/07/06 09:32 AM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
fireworks_god said:
Quote:
RRRR said: They are situations where everyone has a choice between two alternatives and where, if everyone involved acts rationally in relation to their own success, the outcome will be worse for everyone involved.
If "everyone involved" includes the person who is seeking to be successful, which it certainly does, then engaging in action that provides a worse outcome for everyone involved would not be successful, now would it? 
By seeking to be successful, it refers to each individual being a perfect rational egoist, that is perusing their own ends guided by logic and rational. By following logical, rational premises that dictate behavior in order to maximize one's expected return, one ends up being counter productive.
Quote:
That was exactly what I was thinking when I was reading it. I don't have the energy (so unbelievably exhausted that I would not be sitting here if it were not for the fact that I was waiting for some pizza ) to continue reading it, and perhaps the specifics of the situation were such that willingly cooperating with each other wasn't possible... or something...
The co-operation would be based on trust, since communication would be impossible. Because of the fact that no sort of social contract could be formed, it would be counter intuitive to put faith into the other persons "superrational"
-------------------- Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:20-21 (New King James Version)
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