Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Persecution Mania

In chapter eight, Russel considers the milder forms of "persecution mania" and its adverse effects on one's happiness. i can say that i fit into one or more of these categories at different times, and i can honestly say, that when i have succumbed to self absorption it doesn't translate to me having a better day. when i returned to TN to go back to school i had "fits" of irrational panic when i was in large crowds of people. Going to a large school like MTSU was a new and nerve racking experience for me. If i was in the library at a peek time of day and couldn't find a computer or a quiet place to sit because of hoard of students in the library at that particular time i would think that i was being scrutinized from every side. in my mind i would tell myself that this was irrational but i would leave immediately none the less. Eventually i got over this Tick and settled into a normal routine and these terrifying thoughts ceased. i cant imagine anyone feeling this way 24 hours a day, and can attest that it is NOT conducive to one's happiness. anyone else ever have these "fits" of irrationality.....or any of Russel's examples from chapter 8?

2 comments:

PhilOctober 11, 2011 at 12:12 PM
As Douglas Adams says in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, we all have some of that. And as someone else said, just because you're paranoid doesn't follow that someone's NOT after you.

But I don't mean to make light of this, the feeling of being over-scrutinized and judged really is debilitating. It's one of the things the Buddhists really address by displacing egocentrism.
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Rebekah48October 11, 2011 at 12:46 PM
I found it particularly ironic (but true) where Russell describes gossip - we talk about others but are appalled that they also talk about us. I tend to think people dislike me without even having met them. It's strange how we strive to be individuals but at the same time want and need those friendships/community.

I think Russell's 44 Maxims are particularly important :
1) remember that your motives are not always as altruistic as they seem to yourself
2)don't overestimate your own merits
3) don't expect others to take as much interest in you as you do yourself
4) don't imagine that most people give enough thought to you to have any desire to persecute you

I need to remember #4!
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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Persecution Mania

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