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**FrereeDoulley** · 09-06-2007, 12:51 PM

Had a think about this.

I have a dragon figurine. Looks more like a puppy with wings and strange colouring and scales, but still. It's a dragon. The name of the sculpture is "Tailchaser" and the dragon has its own tail in its mouth and a somewhat perplexed look in its face.

I got it because at the time I felt like I all I did was chase my own tail. All I did was ask myself over and over and over if what I believed was right or true, if I was crazy, if I was making it up, if blah blah blah blah. I did this to myself for a very long time, constantly questioning my own perceptions and my own inner reality. Chasing my own tail.

Eventually, with the help of a wise person, I realised that the only experiences I can have in life are MY OWN. The only perspective I can have is MY OWN. The only life I have is MY OWN. Therefore, while it may (or may not) be of use to listen to other perspectives sometimes and consider them, the ultimate arbitrator of what is real to ME and in MY LIFE, is... wait for it.... ME!

I do get advice sometimes and ask people's opinions and so forth, and sometimes I take what they say on board and sometimes I just politely say nothing and ignore their input almost entirely (even opposing and irritating opinions can be a catalyst for my own growth, though).

But when push comes to shove, I have to decide for myself what is real to me, what is significant to me, and what is beneficial to me. I'm in charge of my own life, and the opinions of other people... well, they may mean well and be very convinced, but they're not me, they haven't had my life experiences, they haven't seen what I've seen or done what I've done or been where I've been, so how on earth could they possibly know what's real and what isn't in my own inner landscape?

Insanity interferes with your ability to function in the world, with your ability to get on with your life, to do the stuff you need to do (work, school, shopping, whatever). Believing stuff does NOT qualify as insanity. Religious and spiritual beliefs, belief in UFOs, belief in fairies, belief in OBEs, belief in magick, none of that means you're crazy. Holding unorthodox beliefs is not grounds for psychiatric intervention.

09-06-2007, 12:51 PM	#8
FrereeDoulley Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 424 Senior Member	Had a think about this. I have a dragon figurine. Looks more like a puppy with wings and strange colouring and scales, but still. It's a dragon. The name of the sculpture is "Tailchaser" and the dragon has its own tail in its mouth and a somewhat perplexed look in its face. I got it because at the time I felt like I all I did was chase my own tail. All I did was ask myself over and over and over if what I believed was right or true, if I was crazy, if I was making it up, if blah blah blah blah. I did this to myself for a very long time, constantly questioning my own perceptions and my own inner reality. Chasing my own tail. Eventually, with the help of a wise person, I realised that the only experiences I can have in life are MY OWN. The only perspective I can have is MY OWN. The only life I have is MY OWN. Therefore, while it may (or may not) be of use to listen to other perspectives sometimes and consider them, the ultimate arbitrator of what is real to ME and in MY LIFE, is... wait for it.... ME! I do get advice sometimes and ask people's opinions and so forth, and sometimes I take what they say on board and sometimes I just politely say nothing and ignore their input almost entirely (even opposing and irritating opinions can be a catalyst for my own growth, though). But when push comes to shove, I have to decide for myself what is real to me, what is significant to me, and what is beneficial to me. I'm in charge of my own life, and the opinions of other people... well, they may mean well and be very convinced, but they're not me, they haven't had my life experiences, they haven't seen what I've seen or done what I've done or been where I've been, so how on earth could they possibly know what's real and what isn't in my own inner landscape? Insanity interferes with your ability to function in the world, with your ability to get on with your life, to do the stuff you need to do (work, school, shopping, whatever). Believing stuff does NOT qualify as insanity. Religious and spiritual beliefs, belief in UFOs, belief in fairies, belief in OBEs, belief in magick, none of that means you're crazy. Holding unorthodox beliefs is not grounds for psychiatric intervention.
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