Such is Life

We celebrated the fact that we always have choices. The more there is freedom, the more options we have. Now freedom doesn't mean the ability to do whatever we please. A marksman with plenty of ammo is free to practice to get better, but he doesn't take the ammo and shoot it randomly into the air. That would be a waste; in the same way freedom used randomly is wasted. Choice has to do with deliberation and choosing among options to achieve our goals. The more freedom we have the more options are available. We can have a dream, make a goal, deliberate about the means, choose the best options and take deliberate action to accomplish each objective. But the flip side of choice is that we can also choose to take actions that make our lives miserable. It can be said that wickedness is the opposite of happiness. In the context of this study, evil consists of things such as disgrace, poverty, disease, friendlessness and death. We will go over them in detail later but the point is that this isn't a study about “spiritual” issues. Things that are evil are those that sabotage our potential, our choices and ability to act.

The irrational part of our soul is a study in itself and psychologists have conflicting views on how to deal with it. When we are talking about getting along with others and enjoying life, it has to be assumed that the irrational part is working properly: That it is being used creatively and for the random fun things we enjoy about each other.  A person is of sound mind when these things are functioning normally. Of course if someone isn't like minded he would consider these expressions goofiness, but such is life. Certain artists like certain kinds of art etc. What we are entering into next is a study about choices and how to deal with ourselves and our associates when choices are made. Why do we make them in the first place? There are ramifications for the actions that accompany these choices; they can bring us misery or happiness.