The goodness, beauty, and wonder of Life are in its ability to Learn, Adapt, and Apply.
There is so much to learn.
There is no other way than to adapt.
There is no use if we do not apply what is learnt.
So, the essence of Life is Wisdom… Learn, Adapt, and Apply.
When we just deal with learning alone, it is an internal and personal domain. But, when we get to adapt and apply what is learnt, we must work with people, work within the norms of culture and work inside a society. The valor and glory of human life is this transport of the learnt into and for the collective good.
There are infinite concepts to learn from enormous sources of knowledge and skills. In that, there are fundamental, essential, and empirical concepts. Paradigms, Roadmaps, Guideposts, a GPS, or a North Star to guide us in this vast jungle of learning, adapting, and applying.
Here are a few of my favorite concept diodes, that need thorough digestion, such that Life continues to be good, beautiful and wonderful:
1. Problem vs Issue: Solve vs Resolve.
2. Thought vs Idea: Sense vs Reference.
3. Relationship Conflict vs Task Conflict: Music vs. Mathematics.
4. Process vs Event: Patience vs. Passion.
Let us explore these diodes.
1. Solve the Problem and Resolve the issue:
A problem is any condition that is not acceptable to all. An Issue is any situation in which informed and intelligent people disagree to some extent.
Solving the Problem is the quest and process to make it acceptable. Resolving the issue is what belief or viewpoint is the most reasonable.
2. Thought is expressed and is public, whereas Idea is subjective and private:
GottlobFrege, the brilliant analytical philosopher in his famous essay “On Sense and Reference” demystified and defined these fundamental but complex concepts of Language. He elucidates the Name/Sign given to the object/ Reference and coins the collective accepted and respected understanding as “Sense”.
As language is our physiological limit to understanding and expression; this paradigm helps us decode the input, get the gist “sense”, to make concepts/ideas internally, and finally express them back as “sense”.
This interplay of Object/Reference, Name/ Sign, Sense/Proposition, and Idea/ Concepts is the logic and philosophy of Language and communication. Encourage you to read further to explore further as this is the crucial step in evolution from animal existence to Human excellence.
3. Relationship conflicts vs. Task Conflicts
Being social animals, conflicts are inevitable. Any animal can survive because of instincts, that is the foundation. The roof is the Reason/ Rational thought. Emotions and Intuition delve in between the floor and the roof. The extent to which Reason/ Rationale controls the emotions and instincts determines the maturity of that individual; the thriving of that group of people; vitality of the culture and civilization of the society.
Dealing with people is like playing music while handling objects/ instruments/ machines is like mathematics. Human excellence and advancement are possible with team building and management.
In his famous book, Think Again, Adam Grant highlights the results of experiments in the lab and from the corporate world, that the teams with task conflict succeed much more than teams’ relationship conflicts. The contribution of the members is the value; the team demands and that is what will be rewarded in material or authority or recognition.
4. Process vs Event:
Attention is one of the most valuable resources in life. Being a limited resource, the value depends on the demand. As the distractions are ever-increasing, attention spans are shrinking. Thus, the current crisis of dependency on chemicals.
The ability to zoom back and to widen the perspective gives scope for liminal thinking. Physical growth occurs when we sleep, Ideas take fruitful shape while we give time to cook in our subconscious.
Events have short shelf lives. If we only focus on the events, we get discouraged or elated and both are transient. Therefore, focusing on the Process is far superior to focusing on events. This outlook or mindset gives the optimal strength and tenacity to get anyone to any meaningful goal, in the long run.
Infinite patience gives instant results and Transient passion enslaves us to dopamine kick.
Conclusion:
These are some ways to sustain a Life of Good, Beauty, and Wonder.
Resolve the Issues and solve the Problems.
Master the language expression by understanding Sense and reference.
Do not get tangled in relationship conflicts and escape that web at the first exit.
Focus on the process rather than the event.