Because Image is Everything

Driving into the city the other day, I saw an advertisement slogan on the side of a truck that read, "Because Image is Everything!" Initially, I didn't give it a thought, but when the guy drove past me again, I thought, "Really?" Is image really everything? Is this what we think? Believe? I suppose, if image was based on the truth and better good of all, then, that would be wonderful. So what does the word 'image' mean to us?

A photography image is a permenant state of being. Meaning that the image never changes, always stays as it is, the same. It is only with individual perspective that it changes.  An old friend of mine, a photgrapher, and I used to discuss this continueally. That was because he HATED having his picture taken. It was the permanent state of being. And this was a false state.

By definition:

1. An Image is a physical likeness or representation of a person, animal, or thing, photographed, painted, sculptured, or otherwise made visible. The key word here is likeness.  

2. An Image is an optical counterpart or appearance of an object, as is produced by reflection from a mirror, refraction by a lens, or the passage of luminous rays through a small aperture and their reception on a surface.

3. An image is a mental representation; idea; conception.

4. Psychology . a mental representation of something previously perceived, in the absence of the original stimulus.

A mental image exists in an individual's mind: something one remembers or imagines. The subject of an image need not be real; it may be an abstract concept. So, is image really everything? If so, Why is image everything? Something that need be explored.

If, on the other hand, we excepted that image was based on the truth and we furthermore, strove to remain true to this, then, absolutely, image would be the most important thing.  But, in actuality, image is based on perspective and perception, both of which a variables.

Inner Peace. I believe that Inner Peace IS everything. I like that! 

Happiness & Money

They say money can't buy happiness. On the flip side... Can happiness buy money? I have long believed this to be true. Not the money can't buy happiness part, because I am not sure if that is a truth or not. It would have to be based on individual perspective. If a person makes alot of money and spends that money soley on things that made him/her/others happy, then this would say to me that, yes, money, can indeed buy happiness. 
  
On the other hand, as I said, I have long believed that if a person chooses a career/ hobby/ profession/ lifestyle that engages what he/she truly loves and feels pationate about, then this will lead to a greater abundance.  

I think that the problem with the "Money doesn't buy happiness," is that, like everything in life, there is a fine line, there is an extreme. I know of plenty of people that have an above-average amount of wealth and they seems pretty darned happy. At what point does that that happiness resognates to become like a 'drug' and a need to want more and more, not for the sake of ones happiness, but for the sake of something else. Usually greed. Another term I grew up with is 'more is not always better.'

Maybe I just hit on a better understanding for myself. If somehow, we were able to see or be aware of these 'fine lines.' Perhaps we are. In counselling we teach those with anger issues to become aware of their 'triggers.' Could we not do the same in other aspects of our lives. As I type this, it is becoming very clear that this greed or hunger for money is an addiction. Perhaps this has long been known or understood, but not by me. 

The collective pursuit of happiness. The elusive pursuit of happiness. What is your happiness? Where is your heart? Your focus? Your connection? For Today remember that your home is love, not ambition, faith, not fear.  Perhaps this is a starting point to knowing what true happiness means to you.

In order to achieve happiness, from here, I would challenge, one would have to define what happiness is to oneself, individually. The Big Picture. What does that look like? What does that feel like? Would we determine how our happiness effects those around us? I say this because, if those around us are happy, does this not make us happier? I think then that would defeat the meaning of inner peace or happiness, it would then be based on another's perception.


What is the difference between Happiness and Inner Peace.
"Happiness is a mental state of well-being characterized by positive emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy."

"Inner Peace refers to a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of discord or stress. 

If, with every single thought, we asked ourselves, "is this going to bring me closer to my happiness?" and answered this with total honesty, would this change us? How would this change us?

Given all of this, is happiness a permanent state of being. I think that we go back and forward through different state of happiness, which is why we should define our own happiness.

I would challenge that perhaps Inner Peace is the best state of being.

Thought Challenge - My Journey

The search for Truth. There has long been a 'Thought Challenge' that I have wanted to share. For one day, one  day only, no lies. What this means is no lying to others and no lying to oneself, no little white lies, and no lies to defend our beliefs. If we had to teach ourself how to re-think, than, this would do it. Ok, then, try it for five minutes. Try it as you reach for something to eat. Why did you make that choice? Did you tell yourself that it was just not that bad for yourself? Did you tell yourself that it was ok because you were in a hurry? Did you tell yourself it was ok, just this once? We lie to ourselves many many times a day. We have learned to convince ourselves that this is either alright or that it just doesn't matter. Then we lie to each other. Probably, we have just learned to adjust our morals of acceptance. In the challenge, use this as a tool throughout the day. Consciously respond to your thought process. I believe that you will learn much about who you are and judgements.

Another form of lying that we have made acceptable, with withholding. Withholding something in order manipulate and control. This is a manipulation of self-esteem. Giiving to others with the idea of getting something in return is not does so from a place of happiness or inner peace. It's a 'trade.' The best way to give is with honesty and an open heart ~ without expectation. Be generous and compassionate when you give.

How much of the thought process is behavioral? Learned? Aquired?

I began this new journey about a year and a half ago, when I reaquainted myself with a high-school friend. He sent me a video entitled, "What's right with the world." It was an amazing and incredible look at our world. From this point forward, I made a conscious effort to work at seeing the best in everything, or at least the good. To find the lesson.  I re-focused my goals and rewards, objectivity, thoughts and ideas.

Having said this and backing up, I cannot remember a time in my life when I did not want to be a journalist. A candid fact about myself is that growing up, something my mother refers to as 'my lack of self-esteem' prevented me from remotely embracing this.  So with this, I have worked on this 'lack of self-esteem' throughout the years. It has been quite a journey. It has been a challenge. It has been rewarding. I have learned many a lesson.

So from here and the reason for the Thought Challenge is that I am really wondering if bad is not winning over good. If we have just altered the state of our truth. The next question from here, well, is exactly, where, then, do we go from here?

If reality is based on an individual perception and what we make ourselves believe in order to survive, is there a true reality? And the more people that we can bring along with us on our ride, does this make that reality more sustainable? More true?

Disservice

I believe that the biggest disservice to our society, that being the North American society, began with the words, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman."  These words spoken, no less, from the man that was running the 'most powerful country in the world.' This statement has set the tone on so many levels. My greatest concern is that the undertone is a stripping away of accountability   On so many levels, so much of this society feels the need to be accountable. And why should they? The most powerful man in the world do not feel the need to be, nor has to be.

My belief is that the legal system was set up to right wrongs. As I see it now, the law is neither based on what is legal nor what is just.

The event that preceded this one, was the O.J. Simpson trial.  In fact, the major difference was that O.J. went to trial.  The similarities are obvious.  The sadness remains the outcome.  I do not pretend to know if he was guilty or not guilty, nor is it for me to judge. What seems obvious are the cover-ups, the lies, the deception. As I write this, my thoughts are drawn to the judgement, where does judgement play a role, who am I to judge? I believe that accountability and judgement are 2 of the most pressing issues today.

We all live our own paths, our own lessons and our own judgement. Are judgement based on a preconceived notion? Are they based on our own level of accountability  Are they based on our level of growth in this world? Are they based on our level of acceptance? How do we judge? Judgement must be based on  personal circumstances.

I have always thought the Nancy Grace (CNNnews) is one of the most dangerous women in the world.  My understanding and knowledge of her, is that her husband was murdered. That has been and remains her platform. Her platform seems , from that point forward, seems to be that everyone, and I do mean everyone, is guilty. Not until proven innocent, just guilty. This must be a heavy burden for her. First to carry such judgement and second to carry such hatred. Another such person is Dr. Laura Schlesinger. 

I don't always know where I am going with these conversations, they usually take on a life of their own, I have little control over the course.  That has been my burden, perhaps a gift.  It's all in the way that you choose to see it.  I love to explore the human mind, the way one thinks.

O.J. Simpson and the Princess Diana crash opened our eyes to deceit  We did not know it at the time, but it paved a path to where we are now as a society. It unlocked the door to acceptance. Bill Clinton slammed it open wide, with arrogance and a total lack of accountability.

In the past 2 years, we have been shocked by events that have unfolded before our eyes. We have been blinded and our sense of judgement and accountability have been knocked to the ground. This, I feel, is largely due to the fact that, we, the general, ordinary person, feels a sense of be-belittlement, that we are not as good as those rich and famous. Modern technology has brought these people into our homes on, for some people, a minute to minute relationship.  But what is this relationship essentially based on?  So many pursue and envy those who achieve a grandiose level of success.

I honestly believe that from somewhere, perhaps with the new level of technology, we have become unable to separate reality from fantasy. Fantasy, that being portraits of television characters. Somehow, we have convinced ourselves that these characters are our friends. Perhaps this is because we have formed a personal, up and close relationship with them. We do this, not only through television, but through magazines, newspapers  the internet, tweeting, you-tube, and of course, Facebook  There seems to be no separation