REASONS

Did you ever wonder why people always seem to have a reason for whatever they do, no matter how odd their actions might appear? Society likes reasonable men. In law there is a “reasonable man test” that is used to determine the validity of actions. There was even an Age of Reason. A person who acts reasonably is considered to be sane. With all this importance put on the subject of reason, perhaps it would be worthwhile to examine the source of many of these reasons.

If a person has a reason for doing something, this means that he can relate his actions to something else that already exists. For example, the reason Bill went to the store was because he needed food. Once Bill agrees that he needs food to live it becomes reasonable to go out and obtain food. The reason Kelly turned down Sam when he asked her for a date was that she didn’t like the way he looked. Once Kelly agrees that there is a certain type of look that she likes, she now has reason for selecting with whom she will go on dates. Most reasons that a person comes up with to explain his actions is based on previously made agreements. All of this world would be pretty straightforward except that people have forgotten about some of the agreements that they have made, although they may still be acting in certain ways and thinking in patterns based on these agreements.

A person agrees with those things that can control him because he thinks he has no choice. Throughout time beings have agreed with the more powerful in order to continue their survival. This application of survival of the greater force has brought along with it agreement. This appears to be such a natural chain of events that it has long gone unexamined. This is why children, even when grown, usually stay with the religion of their parents. It also explains why religious persuasion was changed and affirmed by the use of the sword in the Middle Ages. There is nothing wrong with following along in the footsteps of previous activities and thoughts as long as one has made that decision awarely after inspection and examination. It is very easy, however, to agree with concepts, ideas, and activities without ever really being fully aware that one has done so. The things that everybody does and that everybody knows are right are very easy to assimilate without ever really examining their validity.

People can become slaves to their own agreements because the agreements give them reasons for deciding how to approach everything they face in life. When you ask someone why he has chosen to do what he is doing, his reason will often be based on his previous agreement. In this way, all people are prisoners to their un-inspected agreements. Creativity is stifled when one is only willing to consider a repetition of the past. In fact, the only thing that limits creativity is being locked into one’s own past. Those who are not aware of where and what they have experienced are unknowingly carrying agreements that are determining the future for them.

These unexamined reasons are not always to the benefit of a being in a later occurring situation. The fact that someone can give you a reason for what he does, does not really mean that his choice is necessarily sane or rational. When a salesman gives you reasons why you should buy his product, his reasons are simply those ideas which he believes match up to your agreements. Because something has gone before does not make it right or wrong per se’.

Each moment of living should be a new decision, based on facts at hand. To the degree that an individual is not fully aware of the entirety of his existence, his future will be locked and limited to his past. We are repeating history much more than previously realized. Too much agreement is the only thing that can destroy creativity and imagination. Awareness of oneself is the key.

The Guide To Unconditional Personal Freedom has drills addressing this subject.

© 2008 SEEKERS LLC