Belly Button Lint

Feeling Lint-y?

Tag: paradox

  • Theme:

    Purchasing Identity

    , , ,

    °

    1–2 minutes

    We are admonished to “Find yourself, find your purpose, and be authentic.”
    In a consumer society, ready-made identities are easy to adopt but come at a higher overall cost.

    While it seems harmful, if not impossible, to deprogram yourself completely from societal norms and identity, any attempt to desist consumptive gluttony is laudable because it provides a space to allow your natural desires to displace mimetic striving.

    related idea: perhaps the “authentic you” is an impossible dream and an excellent marketing ploy?

  • Theme:

    Channeling Excess

    , , ,

    °

    1–2 minutes

    Society produces excess and then must channel it, either into conquest or religion, or conspicuous wealth. This frivolous expenditure, this blatant waste, undermines society’s stability. (The “peasants” become angry.)

    In the face of revolt, society must find a new collective means to channel its excess, perhaps a means that decries violence and lot in the name of peace.

    Those busy making peace would consume the surplus.

  • Theme:

    Abundance of Life

    , , ,

    °

    1–2 minutes

    Bataille discusses the excessiveness of the general (solar) economy in nature, yet we often apply a scarcity mindset: "I only have so much love to give."

    Instead of rationing out your life as a precious commodity, slowly squeezing yourself dry, realize life is infinite and wasteful.
    Paradoxically, you have more energy through excessive spending.

  • Theme:

    The paradox of purpose

    , , ,

    °

    1–2 minutes

    Everyone is supposed to find their purpose for happiness, fulfillment, or well-being.

    Most are Judeo-Christian ethics, which means our purpose aligns with societal influence: we want to be “good” people. Your purpose is commendable but is it yours?

    Give up on being a good person, and accept yourself as a person. By shedding as much of the societal pressure as possible and following your passions, you stand a chance to find your purpose.

    It is odd that you must give up trying and drift into your purpose: seeking it leads to mimicking other people’s purpose.

  • Theme:

    Strong pawns

    , , ,

    °

    1–2 minutes

    There are pawns who appear to be strong opinionated and competitive advocates for their side.

    Some people are malleable to authority and power, aligning with their best interests, which is the party line.

    For unique insights we should look to those who have broken with their team in favor of truth seeking over sustaining loyalty. If they risk betrayal their findings must be worth considering.

  • Theme:

    Getting lost to find yourself

    , , ,

    °

    1–2 minutes

    The only way to find your purpose or true self is to shed your social conditioning to look to others for affirmation.
    Once you enjoy something without needing to share it, you are on the right track.
    It is a paradox of giving up trying and getting lost, which allows you to find.

  • Theme:

    your choice to care is the love you seek

    , , ,

    °

    1–2 minutes

    We seek to receive love. Instead, choose to care deeply and prioritize another: in giving love, you have the love you desire without demanding anything in return.

  • Theme:

    if uniqueness is penultimate, then…

    , , ,

    °

    1–2 minutes

    We assume more liberty will allow unique individuality to flourish.
    But what if freedom primarily promotes libidinal fulfillment, which is entirely predictable and unoriginal?
    What if, instead, uniqueness comes from neuroticism? What if repressive constriction, inane repetition, and no-win contradictions lead to novel differences?
    Then liberal progress may not be the path to originality.

  • Theme:

    The hidden third party

    , , ,

    °

    1–2 minutes

    We see things dualistically: us v them.
    Our interests (goals) are disrupted (blocked) by another, creating a conflict. This friction creates an invisible but powerful third object: the problem.
    We can choose to fight each other and empower "the problem" or ally against the problem by collaborating.

  • Theme:

    the false appearance of life-affirming activities

    , , ,

    °

    1–2 minutes

    What if the model (image) for life-affirming acts is life-negating?
    The vacation pictures on social media, the concerts, and the active lifestyle: when you need an escape from living, they orient you away from the reality of life into the unsustainable emotional image of fulfillment. The "image of life" is a peak placebo that, though fun, can capture and invert priorities even when you are aware of the seduction.