Foundations i.

One of the most important words of wisdom I've ever heard or thought up, is the concept of "Start at the beginning, finish at the end." It is because of this pseudo-truth that we'll start at the foundation of understanding and work or "grow" our way into wisdom and sense.

The first idea and building block that the human kind needs to embrace is existence.

What is existence?

Well, take a look at the world (because its what we experience, its the closest tangibility and easiest starting point). Existence is not you or me or anyone in particular. Existence is the fact that we're alive and cognitively able to comprehend existence. We live on a planet, in a solar system, in a galaxy, in the universe.  We - is anything that has an influence on something else. People is the first consideration that most people take, but we also includes animals, weather, environment, machinery, etc. Anything that is, exists. Consider dreams and imagination.

Rene Descartes once wrote a revolutionary idea, "I think, therefore I am."  I will venture to make an equivalent analogy. Addis - "I exhibit, whether voluntary or not, influence on something else, therefore I exist." Everything you can ever think of. Everything that you've ever known has or has the potential to influence something else.

Well, define influence?

Influence could be anything that effects anything else! There are examples of physical influence, emotional influence, spiritual influence, visible influence, invisible, tangible, intangible, manipulation (good or bad, phsyical or other), the list is limitless. Easy enough to understand, right? Now, you might be thinking:

"Yes, we know (or now know) what existence is, so what?"

We're left with two questions:

Why do we exist? and/or What does existence have to do with my life?

Well, an important question to consider individually might be, "which question came to your mind first and why?"

You could have asked, "Why do we exist?" first because you're interested in following this style of learning. You want to continue down the rabbit hole of starting at the beginning and defining foundational concepts. OR you may have asked "What does existence have to do with my life?" for two reasons, You're more interested in the personal relation. How does this work? How can this help me change my perspective to become a better person, or a more empathetic one? Or you asked that question because you're impatient and ready to learn more but are a little skeptical.

MANY of you will think defining your reaction to the inital question and the possible reactions and values associated with those reactions are meaningless. I ASSURE you, this is the most effective and simplest way to learn. This is true learning; not necessarily gaining knowledge or understanding, but being able to recognize why you choose or think the way you do. Its relevant to every decision you make. You have to ask the question, why did I ask that question, or why did I have that reaction to this question or this situation. Its how you grow. If you think you did the right thing, you will affirm yourself and grow. If you look back and say, "You know I could have reacted differently," or more importantly, I want to react differently, you will grow. Eventually, you may get to the point that instead of having to ask these reflective questions in hindsight, you'll ask them while making the inital decision or reaction.  Once you've mastered this, the value you truly desire will become a quality of your character.

I can tell, now, you're beginning to understand the value in this study. I hope you continue to find encouragement and balance as we grow together through our study of life.