Monsters

Which image more relates to your definition of a monster?

This?

Or this?

In reality, there are monsters inside all of us.                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There all kinds of monsters, most even motivated by perceived virtues - like happiness, justice, faith, etc. Monsters arise however when one takes the pursuit of these virtues to extremes.

The power in the knowledge of this is twofold. One, that the identification and understanding of your own monster is important in making your life successful and balanced, and two, that other people have their own.

Understanding, accepting, and managing one's internal monster is a journey for all.

Many fall victim and become their monster. It is an understandable fate. 

Everyone is on their journey into internal and external monster discovery. 

Now, importantly it is okay to have a monster inside you. Admission is the only first step to temperance. Don't allow your disgust at the idea of a monster within to create a barrier to your understanding it. Admitting your struggle, if just to yourself, is a key step in gaining some control. Ultimately, understanding your triggers and thoroughly managing the monsters' desires will mean  growth.

As relationships become more and more intimate - that is to become closer to their monsters. The knowledge of their monster may or may not be enough to break the relationship. Understanding their motives and especially how to collectively avoid their triggers is more important than the forecasted disaster of an unleashed monster. 

Caution though, as the devoured (those consumed by their monster) do exist. Devoured can still use others and appear in control. They can manipulative, deceiving, and disarming.

Children do not have monsters. Monsters are grown. Extremist monsters are destructive due to their pursuits at all costs.

Masked Discourse

Electronic conversations more common in the stay at home future-state we love in [I'm keeping that typo]. Electronic conversations become relationships - relationships that are given definition and context only fueled by conversation and discourse. 

Discourse

verb

to communicate thoughts orally; talk; converse. 

 

Consider the groundwork: 

The human mind has been strictly built and evolved for in-person discourse. When one tries to convey abstract thoughts into language there is a clumsy filtering – a great distilling from imagination into clumsy words.

Electronic discourse isn't strictly different from in-person discourse. But, what does give electronic conversations definition?

• What gives clumsy words power and definition is the entire conversation. In text conversation every statement is a conclusion. In person only last statements in a conversation are so final, so conclusive. It's exhausting when every statement is a conclusion. 

• There is no forgiveness. In-person discourse has many side conversations that are laughed off - there is only one thread. Does a “lol” diffuse all tension – does it ask for all forgiveness? Is that "request for forgiveness" given or even able to be conveyed? There is no opportunity for apology for clumsy or dated language.

• It now eternally recorded. Consider an eternally researchable relationship now accessible through key search terms, it can be scrolled back through till whichever first party pleases. That subconscious understanding influences first point of view choices. Limited by first person subconscious guilt of what they say without inflection and body language. 

• Consider the pitfall: Text conversations can be viewed by the second party in the conversation with an enormous and thick veil of cynicism. It's understandable if you are taught this defense mechanism by a constant barrage of self inflicted or background overload of textual or otherwise electronic information. You are in a golden age and therefore gluttony of information.

Any one of these handcuffs can mask your relationship with someone. 

Consider:

• Remember the good times you had together with someone? None of those times were when you were texting.

• Don't text your other friends when you are with your other friends.