RE: Psychology Addict # 50 | Why Good People Do Evil Things?
I'm always surprised when you apologize for writing a "long post". They end too soon for me!
Thank you for delving into my musing. I'm certainly aware of my dark side...over the years, I've accumulated so many regrets because I've given vent to the worst in me. Taoism has it right: we have to acknowledge that both light and dark reside in us. If we don't acknowledge the weakness, we can't control it.
At the time of Eichmann's trial, my community, my school (I was an adolescent), lived in the shadow the Holocaust. Every child read The Diary of Ann Frank. It was almost impossible to accept that the ordinary man we saw in the dock had plotted and carried out such horrors. Arendt's phrase perfectly captured the moment.
Thank you @abigail-dantes for this rich post, which will send me scurrying to look up sources and certainly watch the Acali Experiment. I hope you have the most wonderful summer.
With great affection,
Your friend from steamy New York,
AG
When the comment section is as interesting as the original post - and the seven-day upvote/resteem window has passed - Steemit, we need more ways to "Like" and Re-blog!
This is great stuff. Dogs summoned me, and I haven't read past this yet: I would be surprised to hear you denying that you have a dark side. In fact, more than surprised, I would be concerned. For, the very acknowledgement of its existence is already a good start to keep it in check. Nevertheless, just in case you have a higher opinion of yourself than you should, just stop and try to think about the time(s) you behaved in a reprehensible manner. You know … put a person down when they were already upset, took advantage of someone’s generosity or, who knows, betrayed a loved one. #Loveit
And, yes, I often skip ahead to the comment section, then come back!
@abigail-dantes has another humdinger of a post out today. I think you'd enjoy it: https://steemit.com/psychology/@abigail-dantes/metacognition-neuroplasticity-and-pr-s-incredible-brain
Hello my dearest @agmoore 😊 ❤
The positive aspect of regrets is that they give room for self-forgiveness. Accepting our faults as part of who we are just as we accept our strengths creates a solid sense of well-being. But, of course, it requires one to be able to look at one self non-judgmentally. This is no easy feat. However, whoever has the ability to be kind towards others, has the potential to be kind towards oneself. And that is the very starting point of a non-judgmental stance :)
Shivers run down my spine upon thinking that you actually lived through Eichman's trial 😳 what an event in history to witness (even if through the media)!
Well, thank you for (unintentionally) bringing me ideas of what to write about here on the platform. Your feedback means a lot to me. I am confident you will find The Raft something worth watching. It fascinated me.
Finally, thank you for your kind words. I am aware people don't have the time to read 1.500 word posts 😅 and I keep this in mind during my writing process. So, you are not really helping me by spoiling me through saying 'They end too soon for me!' 😝
Much, much love to you from hot, but very breezy Portugal.
❤ ❤ ❤
My dear @abigail-dantes,
As usual, your comment is full of wisdom.
That is key, I think, to compassion. As long as we allow ourselves to be driven by guilt and recrimination--toward ourselves or others--we cannot be driven by love. I do fight the guilt. It may be my Catholic upbringing, although guilt is a useful tool employed by many theologies and cultures. You're right...regret is only useful going forward if it alters behavior. I try not to repeat past errors, but still have clay feet 🙂
It was chilling to be witness to history. In 1958 I moved to New York City. My next-door neighbor was a schule. Grief over the holocaust in the community was palpable and personal. This gave me a kind of visceral insight into evil, and its consequences.
Thank you for taking the time to write for us during your summer. Always a treat when I see a new post from @abigail-dantes. 😇 Each and every post adds to my understanding of self, and others.
So glad you have breezes in sunny Portugal. No breezes here...just oppressive heat and humidity. Still, it's not snowing :))
With great affection and respect,
Your New York friend, ❤ ❤
AG