A Brief History of Cycles and Time

[Sparky]

Part 1 of this 2-part essay talks technically about the timing of cycles. But Part 2 is a bit more philosophical about anticipating the future. There are a couple of excerpts that remind me of GSUS:

"To me, this the cardinal sin of the blogosphere, or indeed of the times: that we know what is best for everyone, as writers, pundits, politicians. That we need to make the other guy "wake up." We need to make them see as we do, act as ourselves, obey our will. Isn’t this the very defect we attribute to our enemies? That they’re always galumping around telling everybody what to do and how to live?

"They"—your family, your neighbors, your country--need to wake up? Let me ask you: "How did YOU wake up?" I can answer that without knowing you: a little at first, then all at once, in your own time. Neither is the journey for any of our "waking up" complete."

And here are the concluding remarks:

"What we as bloggers and far-seers have been trying to do is to change the aggregate, which cannot be done. The aggregate WILL change, but it can only change in its own schedule. We can continue to tell the truth, but after decades of status quo, we should not expect our words to change the world, our nation, or to some extent even our community. The only thing we can realistically change is ourselves with our own actions, and that is where all real change comes from, one person: one action at a time. 6 billion tiny events, tiny tipping points, changing minds who realize themselves one by one.

So what revolutionary act can you make today? If you read OfTwoMinds.com, PeakProsperity.com or similar sites, you already know the direction of history and what may be needed by you and the nation in the years ahead. What can you do to fill those gaps and prepare in your own life? Because the Wheels of History, although grinding exceeding slow, do get there in the end, made up of the decisions of billions of human actors. You may not be able to change your nation or the desperate situation we find ourselves in, but each of you can change yourself. You can make your own lifeboat in the midst of our own national challenge or "collapse." Only through that individual preparation could we find a million safety nets which prevent collapse.

And if that is all that’s asked of you, it’s good, for that’s all that’s possible.

Start today. It’s time."

A Brief History of Cycles and Time, Part 1 (http://www.oftwominds.com/blogmay13/EricA-pt1-5-13.html)
A Brief History of Cycles and Time, Part 2 (http://www.oftwominds.com/blogmay13/EricA-pt2-5-13.html)

[Glass]

This is what I do. I have a list of things I support and I don't support and I make my decisions in accordance with that. I tell people what I know to be the truth I can't MAKE people believe the truth. I can only act for myself according to this truth. I also realize that unless I pointed out to people the reasons why I don't do this, or watch that, or eat the other, or buy from that company, or participate in that belief, people would have no idea that I live very strictly according to my principles. I generally don't tell that because it makes no difference.

You can either shape the world according to your beliefs AND very few people in history do that OR you can just live your life according to them and ignore as much as possible the world situation.

[vacuum]

I think this is the best picture for how things actually work. Trying to change others and make 'impact' just produces friction. Maybe it's a component that helps keep things ticking along, but it's mostly wasted energy and sometimes harmful.

Humanity will keep moving at it's own pace; it follows the same stages as a person, we're the microcosm and it's the macrocosm in this instance. The individual is always capable of much greater growth than the group. If you want to see real transcendence and change in your lifetime, then go down the path of self-observation and self-improvement. Otherwise, turn outwards and 'fight the good fight' to 'wake people up'. You're still helping, but at a lower-grade and less productive level. And you won't live to see the final results of your work.

[singular_me]

remaining flexible, delving into whatever we can to stretch our vision is essential to make up our own minds about things... and ultimately impact the group willingly or not


I think this is the best picture for how things actually work. Trying to change others and make 'impact' just produces friction. Maybe it's a component that helps keep things ticking along, but it's mostly wasted energy and sometimes harmful.

Humanity will keep moving at it's own pace; it follows the same stages as a person, we're the microcosm and it's the macrocosm in this instance. The individual is always capable of much greater growth than the group. If you want to see real transcendence and change in your lifetime, then go down the path of self-observation and self-improvement. Otherwise, turn outwards and 'fight the good fight' to 'wake people up'. You're still helping, but at a lower-grade and less productive level. And you won't live to see the final results of your work.

[Sparky]

I think another important takeaway from this is to stop thinking that some type of collapse is imminent. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. When people brace for an anticipated physical impact, they lower their shoulders and raise their knees, they tighten their muscles, and they hold their breath. But one can only do this for so long without it taking a toll. I think that's why some here have had to "take a break" from doom talk or prepping, because they have been too long in a braced position. I like the analogy of "making a lifeboat". You make a lifeboat methodically at a deliberate pace. Today you are a little bit more prepared than you were yesterday, but not as much as you will be tomorrow.