The Pain of Specifics

“What is the book about?” is a question I am often confronted with. Such a question is surely simple enough, yet oftentimes it proves to be quite difficult to answer. If I answer merely by saying “confidence” I normally receive a rather blank stare in response, which also happens to occur if I say “human potential.” Both terms are technically correct, but in saying them it appears I posit, in substance, absolutely nothing. Both terms are in fact quite general and nonspecific and—because they appear to be more confusing than enlightening—I have thus abandoned them.

But what have I replaced these words with? What can I now say when confronted with such a question? Perhaps the book's description may provide us with an answer. The proposition that “confidence stems for our capacity to acknowledge and understand the reality of human potential” is clearly stated on the back cover of the book. Additionally, it appears as the first sentence in the Introduction, where the semantics of the word “acknowledge” is briefly considered, along with the multifaceted concept of “understanding,” which itself is explored in greater detail. But what exactly is meant by the final concept to which the above proposition refers, specifically the so called reality of human potential?

The reality of human potential refers to the possibilities which are inherent in the human person. Namely, the possibilities underlying mental and physical action, and especially the results such actions produce. When we understand the fundamental truth that things are not fixed, that circumstances do not have to be as they are, but can verily be different than that which is, that we as individuals have the ability to control our actions and thereby produce specific and determined results, that in short, our very actions operate as agents of change, we are better able to understand the reality that our actions may be utilized in order to bring about the change we desire. In other words, because we are able to understand the many ways in which our actions may be used, we are better able to understand the things we can accomplish through our own efforts, and thus understand the potential inherent within ourselves.

Thus, the object of the book becomes clear: to help one better understand the many ways in which their actions may be utilized, so as to afford them a better understanding of their potential, which in turn results in a genuine state of confidence.

Hence, when asked, I simply say the book is about helping a person better understand their potential.

The Critical Finger

I was recently reminded of a past student of mine who would regularly object to various things I taught. The grounds of his objections were as follows: Everything you teach is very simple and easy to understand and doesn't contradict the general experiences of a person. In fact you normally cite life experiences that most people can relate to as evidence of that which you teach. But because of this, the things you teach are basically things that people already know. Therefore, because the things you teach are already known to a person, they cannot possibly be valuable to them.

This reasoning is actually quite hilarious, because it seems to imply that the only person who could potentially learn anything from what I write is the person who is isn't intelligent enough to have learned these things on their own. Thus, if you have learned anything at all from this blog, my student would no doubt label you as one example of such a person.

Still, I believe the student's argument to be naïve at best. My appeal to a person's “general life experience” is, in many ways, a concrete method of relating to them. It definitely helps the reader/student to better grasp whatever it is that I'm talking about. But it does not follow that, because I have appealed to the life experience of a person, and then proceeded to make a connection or observation on the basis of that experience, that the person will have already made that same connection or observation prior to my relating it to them.

As an example, consider the concept of fear. Nearly everyone can perform some action which they were once (but no longer) afraid to do. To borrow from the previous post, during “driver's ed” many people are afraid to drive a car on the road amongst other automobiles, especially if they have no experience driving things. Yet after years of having their drivers license and operating a vehicle, they display no fear whatsoever when driving. Such is an example that many people relate to. But many have not made the connection that in order to overcome a fear, they must do that which they are afraid to do, and when they do that, they expand their comfort zone, and their fear begins to subside. Such an observation is, for many people, a kind of revelation or epiphany which enables them to better face and overcome fears throughout their life, and if that is in fact the case, surely they wouldn't accuse me of “teaching them something they already knew.”

On the other hand, perhaps the said student—albeit at the midpoint of his teenage years—had already figured out everything worth knowing.

How God Fits In, Part 3

This is the third post in a series, the topic of which is “how God fits in” with the content of The Catalyst of Confidence. If you have not read the first and second posts, or the introductory post, I encourage you to do so before continuing.

Up to this point we have discussed some of the more positive aspects of The Catalyst of Confidence as they relate to God. In this post, however, I would like to introduce a somewhat sinister topic to our discourse. Namely, sin. Most every major religion has an understanding of the concept of sin, but for the purpose of this post, we will define sin as simply wrong action. That is, action contrary to the ultimate good of a person. (I realize that this definition is, in many ways, a simplification. While it is true that the concept of sin entails much more than what has been said, a more generalized definition is necessary to fulfill our purpose in this post. After all, we will not be discussing how sin relates to God, but rather, how the concept of sin “fits in” with the content of The Catalyst of Confidence.)

In my opinion the most profound lesson in the book is Lesson VIII: Self-Deception and Learning. It's implications are seemingly limitless and inexhaustible. Self-deception is a concept that no person can honestly “close the book” on, as it is an inherent condition of humanity and must be guarded against at all times with vigilance and determination. The concept of self-deception is defined in two parts. First, as the betrayal of one's ultimate self-interest. Second, as the betrayal of one's true potential. To satisfy the objective of this post, we will concern ourselves with the former definition.

One will quickly notice that the definition “betrayal of one's ultimate self-interest” can easily be used as a definition of sin itself. If we define sin as wrong action or action which is contrary to the ultimate good of a person, we can see very plainly that this is a form of self-deception. In order to betray our ultimate self-interest, we must act contrary to it. In other words, though we may perceive a given action to be right and good, in reality it may not be good for us at all. Hence, the crux of self-deception being “the act of deceiving oneself.”

I would like to propose that sin itself is a course of action that we perceive as being good or necessary (perhaps in the moments we sin?), when in reality such action is neither good nor necessary. Sin, like all wrong action, is something that is damaging to oneself, even though it may not be immediately apparent. Many of those outside the realm of organized religion view the concept of sin as something which God arbitrarily mandates, and that when a person “sins” they are simply disobeying one of God's capricious “rules.” But such conclusions are erroneous because they ignore the fact that sin (irrespective of any supernatural consequences) is detrimental to the individual—as well as those affected by their actions—in this life, here and now. All actions have consequences—some immediate—some forthcoming, and if a person believes that sinful actions are right and good they are simply deceiving themselves.

It is also worth noting that many of the lessons contained in The Catalyst of Confidence may properly be utilized to avoid sinful actions.

How God Fits In, Part 2

This is the second post in a series, the topic of which is “how God fits in” with the content of The Catalyst of Confidence. If you have not read the first post, or the introductory post, I encourage you to do so before continuing.

In this post I will clarify the following specifics, which correspond to their respective lessons:

1. Knowledge of the origin of a belief does not affirm or negate the validity of that belief. (Lesson I: Perception and Belief)
2. The concept of morality can be understood as a goal. (Lesson III: Goals and Dreams)
3. Contemplation of that which is good invariably results in that which is good. (Lesson IV: Thought and Concentration)

1. Knowledge of the origin of a belief does not affirm or negate the validity of that belief.

It's possible that the knowledge of how one has come to believe that which they believe can be alarming. Primarily because it can be perceived that such understanding discredits the validity of a given belief (because a person could have easily came to believe something different through the same process). For example, the reason I am a Christian is because I was raised as a Christian. i.e., I was brought up in an environment which encouraged Christianity. In other words, my belief in Christianity resulted from being exposed to specific information. This information, in turn, underwent the process of perception and repetition in my mind, eventually culminating in my belief in Christianity. However, knowing the origin of my belief neither affirms nor denies the validity of Christianity itself. If Christianity is true, it must be true independent of my belief in it. This is why the responsibility of every individual to carefully consider the reasons they believe that which they believe cannot be overstated. Ultimately, having a mature understanding of how one's beliefs are created enables a person to choose one belief instead of another. See also: Rocks Have Souls?

2. The concept of morality can be understood as a goal.

If a person accepts the existence of God, then they are almost certain to accept the existence of objective moral values as well. Morality itself can be understood as a standard which mankind ought emulate to the greatest extent possible. Knowledge of this standard can easily be understood as a goal, in the sense that it directs one's thoughts and actions toward a defined end (the standard itself). However, such a goal cannot be attained temporally, but rather must be pursued ceaselessly by mankind. Having knowledge of this standard coupled with it being a point of consistent concentration (or focus) enables a person to better discern the methods of how they can adhere to the standards of morality. In short, the methods of achieving a goal or dream may also be used to better maintain a moral life. See also: Lesson III: Goals and Dreams in The Catalyst of Confidence.

3. Contemplation of that which is good invariably results in that which is good.

In the Selected Quotes section of Lesson IV: Thought and Concentration we find the following quote from Philippians 4:8: “Fill your minds with those things that are good, and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.” As explained in the lesson, the information one concentrates upon determines their dominating thoughts. Dominating thoughts, in turn, largely affect one's actions and behavior. Hence, the contemplation of good things (things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable) will invariably result in good actions, which are more likely to produce external results which are also good.

How God Fits In, Part 1

This post is the first in a series, the topic of which is “how God fits in” with the content of The Catalyst of Confidence. If you have not read the introductory post, Does God Fit In?, I encourage you to do so before continuing.

Question: "How does God fit in with the things you talk about in The Catalyst of Confidence?"

Upon being asked this question I am always reminded of a story I once heard. It tells of an elderly man of God, who lived in a city by the sea. Although the area was known for hurricanes, the man was never frightened. “God will protect us” was his motto and he had lived through many storms. One day, the makings of a massive hurricane were spotted on radar off the coast of the city where the old man lived. The population of the city held their breath, waiting in angst for the news of it's status. It was soon reported that an enormous hurricane had formed, perhaps the largest the area had ever known, and consequently the entire area was ordered to be evacuated by the authorities. The city where the old man lived would surely be destroyed. But the old man was a man of God, and holding fast to his belief that “God will protect us,” he vowed to stay in his home. It wasn't long before the old man's family arrived at his house, pleading with him to come away with them, where they would all be safe. But the old man refused, stating that he would never abandon his home and that “God will protect him.” The winds soon began howling, the clouds darkening, and the hurricane was closing the distance to the coastline, when word reached the rescue squads that the old man was still in his home. Desperate to rescue him, they made their attempt in the face of the incoming tempest, and as luck would have it they arrived in time. But again the old man, becoming quite agitated, refused. “God will protect me!” he said. “Have you no faith at all!” Time was running out, and the rescue squad was forced to abandon the old man. When the storm finally hit the coastline, it did so with a fury never known to the population of the area, laying waste to all in it's path. When the old man saw the face of God, he knew that he had died in the storm. But he was puzzled: “God! I put my faith in you—I trusted you—I thought you would protect me!” In response, God said: “I made sure you saw the news report about the largest storm in your city's history where they warned you to evacuate the area; I made sure your family came to take you with them to safety; I even sent a rescue squad to come save you before it was too late—what did you do?”

This simple story illustrates the point I wish to begin with. Namely, that humans have a part to play in the world. Though God sustains the contingent existence of mankind, man still holds an active role in the drama of creation: man must act. More than any other characteristic of being human, the proposition that “man acts” is an ultimate given. For it is only through the process of acting that man can do God's will. As mentioned in the previous post, Rah-Rah-Rah, The Catalyst of Confidence explains and analyzes the facts of being human. Just as God has created the universe, which is subject to certain laws (such as the laws of physics), so did God create mankind, which is not only subject to the laws of nature, but also to certain conditions which are inherent to the human person.

That being said, at it's most basic and fundamental level, The Catalyst of Confidence explains to the average person the “inherent conditions of being human” which radically influence their ability to act. Some examples from the book itself have been listed below:

• A person always acts in accordance with what they believe.
• A person has the ability to choose something rather than something-else.
• A person's life is directed by their goals and dreams.
• A person's dominating thoughts determine their attitude and behavior.
• A person's actions, when performed consistently over time, become habits.
• A person's fears can paralyze them or help them grow.
• A person's failures provide them with feedback to learn and succeed.
• A person's deceptions limit their potential.
• A person's emotions are powerful forces in influencing their behavior.
• A person's actions have consequences.

The aforementioned statements reveal some of the “inherent conditions of being human.” Conditions which, whether we acknowledge them or not, affect our lives all the same. I would like to submit to the reader that these conditions are a definite part of who we are as human beings, and that the better we understand these conditions, the better we are able to do that which we ought.

Does God Fit In?

I have noticed a trend among those asking questions which pertain to the content of The Catalyst of Confidence. Specifically, the question “how does God fit in with all this?”

Many may assume, perhaps because God is not the central theme of the book, that The Catalyst of Confidence indirectly posits that one does not need God in order to better oneself, solve problems, or accomplish something. I would like to clarify that this assumption is unwarranted. Other books may assert such things, but in terms of the content espoused in The Catalyst of Confidence, there is no reason to assume this is true.

This post serves to announce that, in the near future, I will begin releasing a series of articles which explain my perspective on “how God fits in” with the content of the book. I will not be detailing arguments for the existence of God at this time. That is a task beyond the scope and intention of this blog as it currently exists. Therefore, for the purpose of these articles, I will assume that God exists and that the reader already believes in Him. For those who may not be in this category, I believe you will find the articles stimulating nonetheless.

As always, your feedback is welcome and encouraged.

Rah-Rah-Rah

Many may be surprised to learn that I'm not a fan of the term “self-help.”

Unfortunately, there is no way (that I have found) to get around it. If you write a book, teach a course, or develop a workshop involving something like human potential, people seem to naturally lump you in with the so-called “self-help” crowd. In other words, a lot of work I do gets mistaken for something like “five easy steps to ultimate success and happiness” or “you can be the undisputed master of the universe” or perhaps even “change your life and reduce your problems to an over generalized meaningless formula.” Maybe I'm being a tad overly dramatic, but it can be very difficult to explain to someone that a book, course, or workshop is about human potential (or confidence for that matter) without having such “overly dramatic” cliché phrases instantly appear in their mind.

But if The Catalyst of Confidence isn't a self-help book—what is it?

According to the Book Industry Standards and Communications (BISAC) category system—which is used by the industry to help identify and group books by their subject matter—The Catalyst of Confidence is listed as a self-help book, and falls specifically in the category of personal growth.

Let me explain.

I have no problem with the classifications “self-help” or “personal growth” per se. My issue is with many of the popular perceptions associated with these terms, such as those outlined above. Many people may assume that a book about “human potential” is really about convincing people they are better than they actually are; perhaps a kind of “rah-rah-rah” you're awesome! you-can-do-it-baby! kind of thing; or maybe a collection of stories about people who changed their lives with a standard “and you can do it too” moral.

This is definitely not the case.

Far be it from postulating a universal grandiose-like potential, the book is, on the contrary, about identifying and understanding one's true potential—the most important component of which being the understanding of one's limits and deceptions. It is not a book about over-inflating your perception of self in order to believe you're some kind of demigod. It is a book about analyzing the facts of being human and what that implies in terms of your capabilities. Confidence itself is simply the natural by-product of understanding your potential.