Insanity is our Default State - Copy

This is one of my most useful beliefs, as it helps me let go of anger and forgive, and this supports my peace of mind.

Let me explain how it works both on an individual and on a group level, and you might find that it can help you too.

Insanity, in the Individual

It's almost universally accepted that we each have an ego and a soul. We spend our lifetimes developing self-awareness - understanding which of these two is driving our thoughts and behaviour at any one time. What makes this challenging is that we are, by default, blind to our own ego. This is the human condition. It explains many of the mysteries of our psychology - it explains why we sometimes do things that conflict with our own values. We sometimes behave in ways that we would judge negatively in others. Our journey of a lifetime, the journey from head to heart, is the gradual process of discerning ego from soul.

Try this. Write a list of three people you dislike. Write the three traits you dislike the most about these three people. (eg: submissive, controlling, lazy, selfish..). Now look at what you have written and ask yourself honestly if they could be said about your own behaviour. Very often, the traits we dislike in other people's behaviour are the exact traits we dislike most about our own behaviour. We naturally overlook some aspects of our own behaviour, yet see them much more quickly in others.

My rationale for this is that "the default state of the human condition is insanity (as in, delusion) because we are blind to our own egos". We mistake our ego-shaped views for reality. I cannot explain this. Rather, it has helped me to accept it. I have adopted this as a "useful belief", and I use it often to forgive people when I need to. We each have the ability to choose our own useful beliefs, so you also have the opportunity to choose this as a useful belief. "The default state of the human condition is insanity (delusion), because we are blind to our own ego."

Insanity, in Group Behaviour

Human social behaviour is something else again! This was portrayed by William Golding in his book "Lord of the Flies". It tells the story of a group of boys stranded on an island with no adults. Initially, they find a good system that works well, but inevitably the group falls into dysfunctional behaviour, with many of the boys behaving in ways contrary to their own fundamental values of fairness and respect. The presence of "fear" leads them to turn away from the good system that worked. This book is a commentary on human social behaviour that can explain war, politics, and workplace bullying. I invite you to chat with your AI about this phenomenon of human social behaviour and find examples of it in your own life experience. Have you seen a group of people turn against one of their own? Perhaps even within a family? Or has a group of people made decisions that surprised you?

While selling real estate, particularly farms, I noticed that family members can treat each other far worse than they would ever treat a stranger.

If you happen to resonate with the boy in the story who is treated badly, then understanding and accepting this aspect of human behaviour as "a default state of the human condition" may help you process and forgive those involved. I'm not saying that you need to give it space in your life. However, it is universal and can be seen throughout history. There is no escaping this without escaping people, and the best way to find peace is to learn to recognise it quickly.

I wish you all the best in finding peace of mind through acceptance and forgiveness of the human condition.