Fools, risks and what it is to be human

This piece is actually about something or someone however I've self-censored in case the openness created unintended impact.

Its hard taking risks. Forseen and unforseen consquences are usually suffered by those who take risks. Those who don't live in safety and stability. Those that do live, but its a harder path.

But I contemplate if this is the definition of foolishness. To know the consequences of a mistake and to make it again. To make the risk/reward rationalisation and then to act with disregard to it. To weigh one thing above all else in a logical decision-making process, and one which only has value to an idealist: the present feeling of the ignobility of silence. I'm far, far from a noble creature as any reader may have already gathered so why at that time I felt like that was the valuable thing that made me express how I felt rather than internalising it or doing as I'd been ordered to do by her friend is something I have no good answer to.

This is my foolishness though. I'm not one of those fools who never takes a risk because they're afraid of looking like a fool. I'm not one of those fools that doesn't learn from their mistakes. I'm one of those fools who believes that there are some things in life that are about knowing the consequences and understanding the negative - and in this case futile - impact of an action but doing it anyway because of the foolish belief that to do that is more a human being being what they truly are.

Our essence is more than the logical mind and the capability to weigh up our choices. The capability to act with 'soul' or driven by things other than tangible rewards is what defines an individual from a computer. The soul truly expresses itself in the mistakes that are learnt from but subsequently consciously redone.

And this is life, not some computer game. Results are always unpredictable. Right now though that logic doesn't appease my feelings of regret, but I accept that that too is so very human.

I contemplate the definition of foolishness. To know the consequences of a mistake and to make it again. To make the risk/reward rationalisation and then to act with disregard to it. To weigh one thing above all else in a logical decision-making process, and one which only has value to an idealist: the present feeling of the ignobility of silence. I'm far, far from a noble creature as any reader may have already gathered so why at that time I felt like that was the valuable thing that made me express how I felt rather than internalising it or doing as I'd been ordered to do by her friend is something I have no good answer to.

This is my foolishness though. I'm not one of those fools who never takes a risk because they're afraid of looking like a fool. I'm not one of those fools that doesn't learn from their mistakes. I'm one of those fools who believes that there are some things in life that are about knowing the consequences and understanding the negative - and in this case futile - impact of an action but doing it anyway because of the foolish belief that to do that is more a human being being what they truly are.

Our essence is more than the logical mind and the capability to weigh up our choices. The capability to act with 'soul' or driven by things other than tangible rewards is what defines an individual from a computer. The soul truly expresses itself in the mistakes that are learnt from but subsequently consciously redone.

And this is life, not some computer game. Results are always unpredictable. Right now though those words don't appease my feelings of regret about the thing that I'm not talking about, but I accept that that too is so very human.

"That line could be about so many things in life but at the moment I'm taking about the risk I took telling someone that I loved them when there was no hope of a positive outcome. I'm feeling a mixed set of negative emotions. There's a small element of "why do I do it to myself" and my personal answer to that is: because its "me." There's the low feeling where I just want to crawl into bed and there feels like there's no rational or conscious thought to it. Its just a feeling that I don't given into too much. Its the bank holiday weekend and had I not said anything then we'd probably be hanging out right now. I regret what I did right now on an emotional level because I miss this person in my life. But even with foreknowledge I would do the same and lose my
rainbow again."

Depression could be useful

Here's a theory that fits the idea that mental illness can have a point, a purpose and a positive.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/magazine/28depression-t.html?em=&pagewanted=all

Here's a summary from a blog post I found the article from.

http://smarterware.org/5371/the-evolutionary-reason-for-depression

Here's a great quote as well.

"The greatest happiness you can have is knowing that you do not necessarily require happiness." ~William Saroyanb

Psychosanology, psychopathology and genius

Geniuses are invaluable to society. They are the diamonds amongst the mass of coal. They stand out in history because their achievements significantly impact the consensus. They are always different and original, though this may be a factor of recognition as much as difference (geniuses that work within the construct and impact it significantly but within the paradigm of consensus thought, systems and methods may be less likely to be recognised in history). Their value to society is without measure.

But they are usually mentally ill. Geniuses show the traits of a number of psychiatry disorders. Different ones in different catgories and to different levels of severity. It may be that their eccentric behaviours are allowable because of their talent but it is probably that their eccentric behaviours are part of their talent.

The loneliness of genius may be a factor. It takes a lot of time working and usually working alone for the work of genius. Perfectionism can lead to depression, anxiety and low self esteem however it is a necessary trait for certain areas where genius is expressed, for example in art. The dogged pursuit of their own ideas in the face of the consensus truth is almost a personality disorder in itself.

Upon diagnosis using the cluster of symptoms approach of modern psychiatry the behaviours, thoughts and moods become treated. This is the paradigm of physical medicine. An individual might therefore recieve medication or psychotherapy or another form of therapy. These will solve the illness, but will they spoil the good.

Very simply put the question we are discussing here is whether good things comes from bad things or bad things have a purpose.

Can the experiences that are pathologised by psychiatry have importance and value. Could treatment of the experiences observed by psychiatry to be illness and unwantd be part of genius? Could treating these experiences, changing them and reducing their intensity, without understand of their purpose and potential be detrimental and inhibit the development of indivudals, society and civilisation? Could psychiatry be reducing the production of better people through life's experiences? And is that also true of human compassion in general?