What we know

We Always Seek What We Know

by Steve Gwisdalla

My friends, in the Tribe of Up, we seek to create, discover, and promote all things up. Sometimes we try and offer encouragement or antidotes to help in times of high stress and worry. This is one of those times.

When times are tough and when things are at their darkest, it is human nature to always seek out what we know and are most comfortable with. Its familiarity is its power. We like to wallow in our own mud. It is warm and inviting. When things are chaotic and we tend to seek chaos, guess what we will ultimately find when things are spinning out of control? Chaos. If we run the risk of a deception or lie getting away from us and that is our normal mode of operating, when we seek solace from the lie, we will turn to more deception to cover up the last. See where I am going with this?

We seek what we know best to comfort us, even if it does not really bring long-term comfort. Get me through this tribulation and I will change. We have all done it. I know I have. How do we break the cycle you may ask? For starters, I refer you back to my article last week titled, "Understanding the Game" (gives references). 

Understanding the Game talks about knowing with whom and when to choose sides and when to simply choose not to play. Acknowledging the issue is indeed the first step to overcoming it. Admitting to ourselves our past ways of dealing with things is not always the best way is the first step in finding other options. My father always told me, "When in doubt, try the truth." It is difficult to break old habits. Another popular phrase I have memorized over the years is this one: "If you want to be where few people are, you have to be willing to do what most people will not do." Looking in the mirror and saying to that person to do better is one the hardest yet most rewarding things we can do to help our current self. If we do not like who we have become, maybe we need different habits. It is this singular ideal that led me to turn off the news, stop watching political debating shows, click off polarizing and conspiracy theory web pages and start seeking other things to 'feed' my brain. I found my old Bible. I started to listen to podcasts that offered self-help and self-healing topics. Over the past several years, much effort has been given in trying to redefine what I seek when trouble forms over the horizon.

My friends, more than you know... (concludes the article)