Are envy and jealousy inherent in human character? Or is it a learned human emotion? Maybe it can be a little bit of both. Where does envy come from? How can we suppress or better yet address these feelings of envy? What is the distinction between jealousy and envy?
My theory is that envy is a nascent human emotion that lies dormant in the human being's psyche. This emotion can be benign but once they surface they can become detrimental to the person with feelings of envy and the one he/she is envious of. Envy causes you to focus on qualities you may lack and drains your emotional and psychological energy. Envy also causes you to focus on others rather than yourself.
There is a clear distinction between envy and jealousy. Envy is exhibited when you admire somebody's trait and desire to possess it. Jealousy is an emotion that is exhibited when somebody feels excessive admiration but does not necessarily covet somebody else's trait.
As psychological beings it is only intuitive to assume that envy is an emotion that emanates from a disrupted psyche. Although human traits vary from person to person one universal human trait is insecurity. Inner feelings of insufficiency or deficiency may drive somebody to be envious. Envy is a strong human emotion that festers in the human soul and can cause you to act irrationally in order to obtain a quality that you may covet.
There is a simple solution to being envious; it is a multi-factored approach. First you have to realize what you are jealous of. Secondly we have to come to terms with the fact that everybody is unique. Most people will differ in certain characteristics and be in accordance with others. Lastly you have to figure out how to ameliorate yourself in that area of your characteristics. The person you envy may possess qualities that you may lack but you may possess certain qualities that the other individual lacks.
Despite the feelings of insufficiency once we learn how to value ourselves we can reduce the envy and maybe even eradicate it!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
MCAT and Life
I DID IT. I FINALLY CONQUERED THE BEAST! I am in utter disbelief of this accomplishment. While most wouldn't dare take this exam I was valiant enough to take on the task! The exam is definitely not for the faint of heart it is for those who have the desire to embark on this journey. Although many will attempt and prove futile few will attempt and claim victor. Pyschological strength and intellect is necessary in order to face this monster! In addition months of training and devising strategies on how to defeat this beast is required. While training is imperative your fate shall be determined by stamina, perseverance, wisdom, and faith. Many will enter this valley but few will survive. During this trek it takes a certain caliber of human being to undergo this ordeal. The completion of this journey is only possible through a higher power! Your destiny is decided by your creator, only then you shall be set free and your soul be liberated!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Train Ride
A train ride through the epochs of time
As I sit here I observe the scenery of past events
A train ride through the mountains of success and hills of glory
The train ride is smooth at times but can get bumpy and tumultuous.
All in all though it is the conductor's responsibility to hold steady.
It is crucial for him to maintain his focus, pace, diligence, and stability
The conductor must navigate the course beforehand in order to anticipate the challenges that awaits him.
He also needs to leave room for error
As the itinerary progresses they pass through the valley of despair and the oceans of serenity, right by the fields of prosperity and the volcanoes of peril
This same train ride has been down the abyss of debacle and right up the waterfalls of victory.
The conductor became sidetracked by all the scenery and lost focus
The train was derailed but he was able to regain control and keep the engine pushing.
When the destination was in sight he began to celebrate,
In the midst of his euphoria he lost his vision until there was a malfunction on the track and the train stopped. But then he woke up.
He was despondent and found no alternative but to shut down the train.
But they fixed the problem and stayed the course to complete his excursion.
Despite all the challenges and hardships, he sought out his destination.
CHOO CHOOO The train has arrived to its destination.
As I sit here I observe the scenery of past events
A train ride through the mountains of success and hills of glory
The train ride is smooth at times but can get bumpy and tumultuous.
All in all though it is the conductor's responsibility to hold steady.
It is crucial for him to maintain his focus, pace, diligence, and stability
The conductor must navigate the course beforehand in order to anticipate the challenges that awaits him.
He also needs to leave room for error
As the itinerary progresses they pass through the valley of despair and the oceans of serenity, right by the fields of prosperity and the volcanoes of peril
This same train ride has been down the abyss of debacle and right up the waterfalls of victory.
The conductor became sidetracked by all the scenery and lost focus
The train was derailed but he was able to regain control and keep the engine pushing.
When the destination was in sight he began to celebrate,
In the midst of his euphoria he lost his vision until there was a malfunction on the track and the train stopped. But then he woke up.
He was despondent and found no alternative but to shut down the train.
But they fixed the problem and stayed the course to complete his excursion.
Despite all the challenges and hardships, he sought out his destination.
CHOO CHOOO The train has arrived to its destination.
Urban Paradise
Urban youth cry a distinct cry not one of anguish or grief or not the cry of a five year old throwing a temper tantrum
They cry because they are searching for mentorship, guidance, attention, love, and someone who believes in them.
Although their cry is manifested in an unconventional fashion it is still there screaming at the top of its lungs
HELP ME Please HELP ME if no one lends me a hand I might get devoured by these cold, unapologetic, vociferous streets.
I might vanish either under the ground or in the depths of confinement
For this is something I am too familiar with.
A young guy at at the rehabilitation center where I work told me he used to be a fit guy before he became paralyzed.
I apprehensively asked him how he became paralyzed. When he told me "I got shot" I did not know whether to cry or laugh!
I wanted to laugh because I thought his statement was a joke but I wanted to cry because I also had a feeling it could be true.
Unfortunately he was not joking....a stray hit him one day when he was 16 outside playing with the rest of his friends from the neighborhood
Many are born into this beautiful yet ugly realm but very few make it out!
They cry because they are searching for mentorship, guidance, attention, love, and someone who believes in them.
Although their cry is manifested in an unconventional fashion it is still there screaming at the top of its lungs
HELP ME Please HELP ME if no one lends me a hand I might get devoured by these cold, unapologetic, vociferous streets.
I might vanish either under the ground or in the depths of confinement
For this is something I am too familiar with.
A young guy at at the rehabilitation center where I work told me he used to be a fit guy before he became paralyzed.
I apprehensively asked him how he became paralyzed. When he told me "I got shot" I did not know whether to cry or laugh!
I wanted to laugh because I thought his statement was a joke but I wanted to cry because I also had a feeling it could be true.
Unfortunately he was not joking....a stray hit him one day when he was 16 outside playing with the rest of his friends from the neighborhood
Many are born into this beautiful yet ugly realm but very few make it out!
Trustafarians
I wanted to share some of my poetry. I want to thank my forum followers and let them know they are special because I do not share my poetry often. I hope that none of my poems offend anybody as it is just my self expression and what I was feeling at that specific place and time. Also I wanted to say that this poem does not speak to the whole white population just a particular group of people!
Trustafarians
Rich white kids with emo hair cuts acting like they down for the cause...sporting the latest urban outfitter outfit, dreads, and rasta hat.
They are not really revolutionaries more like faketionaries( fake meanings to who they truely are)
Go ahead talk about how you fight the power
But when the hour arrives to battle a flawed and discriminatory system do not pause, vehemently engage in combat for dignity and demonstrate you really down for the cause
Manifest to us and prove to us your sociopolitical consciousness
Cuz believe it or not whether you are poor or affluent you remain exempt from the heinous subjugation of racism and discrimination that dwells on the color of your skin and attempts to deteriorate your well being
This evil force with a legion of demons ready to besiege us at any given moment
What you do not realize is that ignorance is vulnerable and just like us your place in this world is borrowed
You are not invincible and life does not last forever
We are all mortals taking this world for granted
The difference between me and you is that I have an inner being...what some may call a soul. This transcends the physical, mental, emotional, aspects of our being!
My soul is my creator's gift to me and it can never be replaced because it forces me to stay true to myself
Trustafarians
Rich white kids with emo hair cuts acting like they down for the cause...sporting the latest urban outfitter outfit, dreads, and rasta hat.
They are not really revolutionaries more like faketionaries( fake meanings to who they truely are)
Go ahead talk about how you fight the power
But when the hour arrives to battle a flawed and discriminatory system do not pause, vehemently engage in combat for dignity and demonstrate you really down for the cause
Manifest to us and prove to us your sociopolitical consciousness
Cuz believe it or not whether you are poor or affluent you remain exempt from the heinous subjugation of racism and discrimination that dwells on the color of your skin and attempts to deteriorate your well being
This evil force with a legion of demons ready to besiege us at any given moment
What you do not realize is that ignorance is vulnerable and just like us your place in this world is borrowed
You are not invincible and life does not last forever
We are all mortals taking this world for granted
The difference between me and you is that I have an inner being...what some may call a soul. This transcends the physical, mental, emotional, aspects of our being!
My soul is my creator's gift to me and it can never be replaced because it forces me to stay true to myself
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Being Unique
I have always been amazed at the fact that very few people in this world are truly unique individuals. Is it some divine authority that decides our fate in regards to our uniqueness or do we become unique out of our own volition and effort? I do not know the answer to that neither can I say that I strive to be unique but I try my best to resist the external forces of peer pressure. I do not know if being a leader and unique are synonymous but for the sake of illustrating my point they will be.
I am the type of person who does not like to follow trends if I am not in agreement with it. I will only follow a trend if it suits my interests and if I find it particularly fascinating! Modern society is constructed in such a way that the ethos of a particular culture causes the majority of that population to follow a certain movement. I am an anarchist at heart; if a group of people are crossing the street going towards the right I will go left. On the other hand, most people have become so complacent with society's norms that a counter culture is obsolete. I have one simple theory that explains this: people are fearful of being different or being branded with the title of "weird". Additionally most people prefer to stay in their comfort zone and refuse to think outside the box!!!!! Since when does having your own style and opinion become weird? The single most important part of being humans is that we are INDIVIDUALS NOT CLONES! The idiosyncrasies that each person possesses makes life interesting. This is what makes the world revolve. Doesn't individuality and personal opinion count anymore? In general people in this world have a hard time challenging peer pressure. Conversely they will take extreme measures in order to fit in and be part of the crowd!
If we lived in a homogeneous population life would be so blaze. You would think that participating in a popular trend that we don't particularly like would unite us as human beings. Paradoxically so, it creates a larger gap between us and the world. By following trends that we aren't in accordance with, we are alienating ourselves from our intrinsic qualities and values. By alienating ourselves from our true inner beings we increase the distance between us and the rest of society. The logic behind this theory is by masking who we are, people don't have the opportunity to get to know the true us, reducing the level of intimacy between humanity. This phenomenon culminates in a large group with weak ties.
Fitting in is high on the level of importance of the human agenda. I ask myself why? Every individual that is different brings something new to the table. A collective group of workers with different talents, strengths, qualities, and opinions makes a more successful company. By abandoning our inherent traits and convictions we are abolishing any effort at the betterment of mankind. Being your own person only contributes to the greater good of society. A mosaic of viewpoints, styles, cultures, and personalities makes the world a beautiful place!
I am the type of person who does not like to follow trends if I am not in agreement with it. I will only follow a trend if it suits my interests and if I find it particularly fascinating! Modern society is constructed in such a way that the ethos of a particular culture causes the majority of that population to follow a certain movement. I am an anarchist at heart; if a group of people are crossing the street going towards the right I will go left. On the other hand, most people have become so complacent with society's norms that a counter culture is obsolete. I have one simple theory that explains this: people are fearful of being different or being branded with the title of "weird". Additionally most people prefer to stay in their comfort zone and refuse to think outside the box!!!!! Since when does having your own style and opinion become weird? The single most important part of being humans is that we are INDIVIDUALS NOT CLONES! The idiosyncrasies that each person possesses makes life interesting. This is what makes the world revolve. Doesn't individuality and personal opinion count anymore? In general people in this world have a hard time challenging peer pressure. Conversely they will take extreme measures in order to fit in and be part of the crowd!
If we lived in a homogeneous population life would be so blaze. You would think that participating in a popular trend that we don't particularly like would unite us as human beings. Paradoxically so, it creates a larger gap between us and the world. By following trends that we aren't in accordance with, we are alienating ourselves from our intrinsic qualities and values. By alienating ourselves from our true inner beings we increase the distance between us and the rest of society. The logic behind this theory is by masking who we are, people don't have the opportunity to get to know the true us, reducing the level of intimacy between humanity. This phenomenon culminates in a large group with weak ties.
Fitting in is high on the level of importance of the human agenda. I ask myself why? Every individual that is different brings something new to the table. A collective group of workers with different talents, strengths, qualities, and opinions makes a more successful company. By abandoning our inherent traits and convictions we are abolishing any effort at the betterment of mankind. Being your own person only contributes to the greater good of society. A mosaic of viewpoints, styles, cultures, and personalities makes the world a beautiful place!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Attention Part 2
I see fame as a major way of seeking attention on the mental, psychological physical, and emotional level. From my personal experience when I performed on stage I watched the world stop and zoom in on me. Although I performed because I loved to dance maybe there was a more subconscious reason which was the search for glory and attention. The fact that everybody was hanging off my every move was breathtaking and enticing. It is quite an addictive feeling that consumes you once you are on that stage!
I want to explore a concept that I mentioned earlier. I think the root for that attention could also be low self esteem or insecurity. Why do we have to be acknowledged for the things we do, is it because we have the need to be valued and told that we are important? There are two possible outcomes that can occur as a result of other people's perceptions of us. One of the outcomes is that you can thrive off other people's positive perceptions. Another outcome is that you can wither off of other people's negative perceptions. Ultimately our self esteem is affected by the comments that other people direct towards us and how people view us. If people give us attention and view us in a positive light we feel good about ourselves. If people view us in a negative light then we do not feel so good about ourselves.
Any attention that we can get is a psychological signal telling us that people like us and that we are significant figures in society. If we receive awards and trophies for athletic and scholastic achievement society perceives us as prominent people. These are all forms of attention. But why do we need it? Ultimately I believe we need it for the sake of superficially building our self esteem, filling some type of void, and covering up any insecurities. Attention temporarily heals any wounds from our past. But attention seeking is ubiquitous and it cannot be escaped. It can only go so far in making ourselves feel better about ourselves. In the end it is who we are inside and how we realistically feel about ourselves despite the negative perceptions, ridicule and name-calling that will help us grow. This genuinely autonomous feeling of being important will carry us to a higher state of inner being and higher plateau of self esteem! I am going to leave you with words from one the greatest artists of the century, Hector Lavoe.
Yo, soy el cantante
muy popular donde quiera;
pero cuando el show se acaba
soy otro humano cualquiera.
Y sigo mi vida
con risas y penas
con ratos amargos
y con cosas buena
Translation: I am the singer, very popular wherever I go
but when the show is over I am just a regular guy.
And I still live my life with cries and laughs
Through the good times and the bad
Clearly Hector Lavoe got the attention he wanted and the one that everybody else craved. As the lyrics depicted, he realized that he was a regular guy but his inner state wasn't stable and he wasn't happy. Attention at the most extreme level does not make you happy. Attention is essentially unnecessary. You have to be in control of your emotions and have an inner sense of value and self esteem in order to know you are special!
I want to explore a concept that I mentioned earlier. I think the root for that attention could also be low self esteem or insecurity. Why do we have to be acknowledged for the things we do, is it because we have the need to be valued and told that we are important? There are two possible outcomes that can occur as a result of other people's perceptions of us. One of the outcomes is that you can thrive off other people's positive perceptions. Another outcome is that you can wither off of other people's negative perceptions. Ultimately our self esteem is affected by the comments that other people direct towards us and how people view us. If people give us attention and view us in a positive light we feel good about ourselves. If people view us in a negative light then we do not feel so good about ourselves.
Any attention that we can get is a psychological signal telling us that people like us and that we are significant figures in society. If we receive awards and trophies for athletic and scholastic achievement society perceives us as prominent people. These are all forms of attention. But why do we need it? Ultimately I believe we need it for the sake of superficially building our self esteem, filling some type of void, and covering up any insecurities. Attention temporarily heals any wounds from our past. But attention seeking is ubiquitous and it cannot be escaped. It can only go so far in making ourselves feel better about ourselves. In the end it is who we are inside and how we realistically feel about ourselves despite the negative perceptions, ridicule and name-calling that will help us grow. This genuinely autonomous feeling of being important will carry us to a higher state of inner being and higher plateau of self esteem! I am going to leave you with words from one the greatest artists of the century, Hector Lavoe.
Yo, soy el cantante
muy popular donde quiera;
pero cuando el show se acaba
soy otro humano cualquiera.
Y sigo mi vida
con risas y penas
con ratos amargos
y con cosas buena
Translation: I am the singer, very popular wherever I go
but when the show is over I am just a regular guy.
And I still live my life with cries and laughs
Through the good times and the bad
Clearly Hector Lavoe got the attention he wanted and the one that everybody else craved. As the lyrics depicted, he realized that he was a regular guy but his inner state wasn't stable and he wasn't happy. Attention at the most extreme level does not make you happy. Attention is essentially unnecessary. You have to be in control of your emotions and have an inner sense of value and self esteem in order to know you are special!
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