ESCAPING FROM THE TRAP OF THE ECHO CHAMBER

SOME MIGHT ASK, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS BLOG? "tHE MAGNETIC MODEL" PROVIDES A PATTERN, A WAY OR A MODEL FOR ORGANIZING AND LIVING OUR LIVES TO THE FULLEST. IT DELIVERS SPIRITUALLY DERIVED PERSPECTIVES AND PRACTICES APPLICABLE TO EVERY WALK OF LIFE. IT CONTAINS BIBLICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL CONCEPTS CONSTANTLY BEING REALIZED AND DISCOVERED. WE EXAMINE EVERYTHING FROM A PRACTICAL AND FACTUALLY BASED SPIRITUAL POINT OF VIEW. We don't believe in spirituality because it can be visibly seen. We look at things spiritually because through THAT LENS EVERYTHING else CAN THEN BE seen more clearly. Rather THAN envisioning ourselves as givers of truth, we prefer to be seen as pointers towards truth. Nothing here is written in stone. We take no credit for the source, only the synthesis. OUR GOAL IS TO POINT OTHERS TOWARDS THEIR VERY OWN EPIPHANY. THE perspectives WE DERIVE FROM DISCOVERED PRINCIPLES WILL ALWAYS BE applicable, but THE conclusions SHOULD not BE considered AS all encompassing or complete. THE ONLY ADVICE WE OFFER IS BASED ON WHAT WE THINK WE WOULD DO OURSELVES WHEN FACED WITH HAVING TO ACT. THESE PERSPECTIVES ARE TIED TO SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES. WE KNOW THAT "THE SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY OF OUR ADVICE" COMES WITH THE CAVEAT THAT THOSE WHO GIVE IT, MUST ALSO LIVE IT.  

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There's are certain guarantees in life. One of them is that we will have problems. Problems require us to make decisions. How we make the decisions that deal with our problems will occur within or outside of an echo chamber. This phenomenon also known as "cognitive" and "confirmation" bias continually affects us and our entire world. Cognitive bias, irrational thinking, refers to various systematic patterns of deviation from sensible judgment. Individuals that make decisions or draw conclusions in ways that are illogical or distorted demonstrate this. Confirmation bias is a specific type of cognitive bias. It occurs when we actively and purposely seek, interpret, and remember information that confirms our preexisting beliefs or hypotheses, all while simultaneously ignoring or undervaluing contradictory evidence. These are conditions we are all subject to. As a matter of fact, anyone unaware that they are subject to falling victim to bias should not work in any career dealing with others. This includes counsellors, doctors, historians, judges, leaders, pastors, police officer's preachers, researchers, scientists, teachers and more. This is the crisis affecting today's leadership. Today our leaders are having trouble agreeing to disagree. Let's look at the facts. A pandemic is defined as an outbreak of a prevalent disease over a large defined area or region. The area or region affected today is our planet. Presently we have one common disease causing one common problem, with known common means of transmission across one common species that we all agree has one common diagnosis. Our self-destructive policies create imbalances that corrupt our ecosystems and destroy our environment. We have encouraged our readers to "prepare their minds for a formidable future." Tomorrow's problems will not be resolved with yesterday's thinking and behaviors. The cat is out of the bag, the bull is in the China shop, and we are all responsible for "letting the dogs out" of "Pandora's Box." Although we published "the exclusive manual on "the only ways to skin a cat;" it appears that our advice went unheeded. We have reached another "prediction point" in our posts that we now see coming to pass. Our "real weather predictions: foresight, hindsight and insight," was a forecast of the prevailing conditions we are experiencing now. Living on a prayer is not an ideal way to live but it keeps us alive.

"BREAKING UP" WITH OTHERS IS HARD "BREAKING UP" WITH OURSELVES IS HARDER

Our biggest disappointments are generally in others. Our greatest struggles in life will always be with ourselves! After all everyone in their right mind loves themselves. There's generally not too much conflict within us when it comes to us. Looking out for number one is easy because we are our greatest lovers. Getting past our own internal biases may require a difficult breakup with the spirits (behaviors) causing us to act the ways we do. Yes, personal choice should end right where public health begins. Self-love disguised as Individual rights is a tough "lover" to leave. There are at least 50 ways to get rid of or leave any of the "familiar spirits" we've embraced as "lovers." Sometimes we simply need to think and behave in a Taoist tradition by UNLEARNING something new every day. The idea may sound simple, but the execution is not that easy. Anyone questioning masks and vaccines should understand that masks should serve as a barrier similar to the laws that protect us from secondhand cigarette smoke. Vaccines are "supposed" to be like seat belts in cars. Seat belts may not keep us from getting in a car accident but in the event of a crash we have a much higher probability of surviving. Remember, our minds are like parachutes, they work best when they're open. However, "critical thinking" is like a life preserver, we keep them ready and close at all times. How many of us take note of where emergency exits are located whenever we enter a building? Experience may be known as the best teacher, but it is not the only one. The age old saying that: "You live and you learn," is NOT the full quote from Douglas Adams. The full saying is: “You live and learn. At any rate, you live.” This implies that living is a learning experience, but it is possible to miss the lessons life teaches us. This is how confirmation bias works! We often say that there are four types of people in this world. There are those that learn the easy way (the smallest minority). There are those that learn the not so easy way (a larger minority). There are those that learn the hard way (a notable majority). There are those who never learn (the remaining majority). ​A little learning is a dangerous thing.

THE ROAD TO PERDITION IS FILLED WITH TRADITIONS AND ARGUMENTS AGAINST CHANGE

Change is as inevitable as developing, growing and maturing. It should be obvious to everyone by now that between our declining climate, divisive politics, exploitative economics, inadequate healthcare, racism, street violence and wars there's a lot to be concerned about. We've denied the existence of global warming and chosen sides on everything from the depiction of history to the policies for the future. We've created the greatest wealth gap in history and throw food away in many places while people starve in other places. This pandemic has exposed how fragile both our physical and mental health are. Our history of racism, which has never been properly addressed has helped to perpetuate the hatred we are expressing towards one another. We are reinforcing one another's lies to the level where we are losing the ability to recognize our own deceptive words and practices. Spiraling down this rabbit hole means that we'll be playing "Whack-a-mole" for some time to come. We've already written and posted what we expect to happen and the power we possess to influence it." The "zeitgeist," which is defined as the "spirit of the age and day," embraces and promotes an escalating degree of spiritual apathy and natural indifference. ​Spirit can be described as "will of attitude, behavior and being." These are basic descriptions of the energy within our motivations and actions. However, spirits are not behaviors! Spirits work through our behaviors to manifest and/or disguise themselves. Our own spirit is not immune to the influence of many other spirits around us. This is why it is important to evaluate situations from a holistic perspective to properly minister to people. Dealing with our issues often entails us addressing the physical, psychological and spiritual components of a personal experience. The psyche can be considered as the spiritual side of our existence. Spirits are always influencing us and everybody else everywhere! We often feed off of the energy of others through a spiritual connection to them. When we break a horse or train a dog we are actually interrupting or subduing that spirit. Momentum is one measure of spiritual force, influence and attitude. Whenever we impose our will, we are subduing some aspect of spirit. Energy is a force that can be manipulated, used and molded to our liking. Spirit personifies the manifestations of these attributes. Spirit is like the "mo-jo" of our individual existence. If we control spirits, their influence can be beneficial. If we allow a spirit to control us, susceptibility to it influences feelings and whims that can overwhelm us. Spirits may be regarded as possessions. We can possess them, but they should never possess us. The spirit of something, like a personality, describes its intangible attributes. A person with a helpful or giving spirit is easier to approach and entreat then a person with a selfish and greedy spirit. Spirit has some correlation or involvement in every aspect of our existence. Unfortunately, many people are unaware and ignorant of spiritual effects. "Spirit" in many respects, represents the personification of our way of doing things. Like air and atmosphere, spirits are everywhere. We walk through and among them. We cannot physically see spirits, but if we sensitize ourselves to their presence we will sense and feel them!

WHAT TIME IS IT AND WHAT TIME ARE WE IN?

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 kjv

MAYBE ITS TIME TO LEAVE OUR OLD LOVERS FOR A NEW BIRTH AND AN AWAKENING OF LOVE & HEALING.

TRAPPED IN THE CHAMBER

I have gathered the proof
and I'm winning the fight
Your opinion is wrong
and I'm sure mine is right.

Yes myself, me and I
all seem to agree
our perspectives are sound  
and they always will be.

We're not trapped in the past 
and can say there's no doubt
that the issues we face
​will all work themselves out.

When the spirit of fear
brings alarm and we fret
we've all been there before
so then why get upset?

It's quite obvious now
and we all should agree
with the thoughts in my head
cause it's so plain to see.

It's okay just relax
there is really no danger
Can't you hear what I hear
in my own echo chamber.

​Some might call it a trap
but I'll call it my source
it's the way that I see it
And it's right, But of course.

Is it possible that feelings
so ingrained and so strong
could be off or deceitful
and that somehow I'm wrong?

I must trust in my instincts
I believe what "they" say
things will surely get better
If you see things my way!