hello Rose, hope you are well in spite of this age of decay. CB directed me to your blog.
i've spent the past few years travelling the US, living also with an Amish family for a time. the absence of sincerity seems to me a largely an urban problem, though it can be found everywhere.
Tolstoy says, "if a man does not work at necessary and good things, then he will work at unnecessary and stupid things."
this makes sense to me. the more we seek to avoid the struggle with nature and cover over our passivity with diversion and leisure, the meaning of life will evade us, and disillusionment and nihilism will reign.
but when we cease fighting over table scraps, embrace suffering and learn to support ourselves by our own labor, sincerity and meaning is sure to follow.
Hi, Frank! It’s so good hear from you on here. Thank you for reading & subscribing. The Tolstoy quote is an excellent complement to the message I was trying to get across. In the absence of “necessary and good” pursuits, we lose a sincere connection to ourselves and other people.
I agree, we are experiencing a true shortage of sincerity and a complete overload of apathy. I know I’m guilty of that apathy. Because sincerity seemed like something that was too expensive emotionally. Living in apathy ends up costing less up front and more later.
Thank you for keeping me company with the audio and reminding me to live from a place of sincerity ✨.
Perhaps I’m just older and more jaded, but I do not get apathy from insincerity. I only expect sincerity from those who have earned that expectation. And I presume others only expect it of me when I’ve earned it from them. Furthermore when someone is paid to sell me something, I naturally expect insincerity — the most successful sales people become that way because they’re able to seem sincere rather than to be sincere. In the end I consider us all self interested products of our circumstances, so I don’t take the offenses of others against me quite as personally as I otherwise might. Instead I try to protect myself from the naturally conflicting interests of others, and this gives me no apathy. Effective strategies bring me hope, and I consider this to be one.
hello Rose, hope you are well in spite of this age of decay. CB directed me to your blog.
i've spent the past few years travelling the US, living also with an Amish family for a time. the absence of sincerity seems to me a largely an urban problem, though it can be found everywhere.
Tolstoy says, "if a man does not work at necessary and good things, then he will work at unnecessary and stupid things."
this makes sense to me. the more we seek to avoid the struggle with nature and cover over our passivity with diversion and leisure, the meaning of life will evade us, and disillusionment and nihilism will reign.
but when we cease fighting over table scraps, embrace suffering and learn to support ourselves by our own labor, sincerity and meaning is sure to follow.
Frank Isabelle
Hi, Frank! It’s so good hear from you on here. Thank you for reading & subscribing. The Tolstoy quote is an excellent complement to the message I was trying to get across. In the absence of “necessary and good” pursuits, we lose a sincere connection to ourselves and other people.
I agree, we are experiencing a true shortage of sincerity and a complete overload of apathy. I know I’m guilty of that apathy. Because sincerity seemed like something that was too expensive emotionally. Living in apathy ends up costing less up front and more later.
Thank you for keeping me company with the audio and reminding me to live from a place of sincerity ✨.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the article — and the voiceover. I love to hear that it’s inspired you to cultivate a bit more sincerity 🤍
Perhaps I’m just older and more jaded, but I do not get apathy from insincerity. I only expect sincerity from those who have earned that expectation. And I presume others only expect it of me when I’ve earned it from them. Furthermore when someone is paid to sell me something, I naturally expect insincerity — the most successful sales people become that way because they’re able to seem sincere rather than to be sincere. In the end I consider us all self interested products of our circumstances, so I don’t take the offenses of others against me quite as personally as I otherwise might. Instead I try to protect myself from the naturally conflicting interests of others, and this gives me no apathy. Effective strategies bring me hope, and I consider this to be one.
If it's really disillusionment, and not some level of sadness or depression, then it's a good thing. Disillusionment is required to evolve.