If you ask most people whether they think themselves free-minded, they will give you a positive answer. But most people are lying. The majority of people live with fixed beliefs about life, and these beliefs are largely based on what we learn from the society in which we live, the family we originate from, or even just the one that most closely matches our comfort zone. Freely thinking people don't form their beliefs solely on the basis of what will make them feel better about themselves and their lives in general. Freemasons are devoted to discovering the truth and accepting it as it is, no matter how unpleasant it may be. Which are the things that freethinking people do differently?
.jpg)
They think by himself
They don't accept anything about truth just because someone else has said it, no matter how great authority this person is. They are thinking about common beliefs, common ideas, and always looking for the cause. That something has been done in a certain way for years is not a good reason for them to continue doing so in the same way, but they find a way to improve it. They struggle against the emotions that make them believe in things that can not be rationally confirmed despite the temptation to submit them. Like Frank Zappa says if you find yourself in a boring and unhappy life because you have listened to your mother, your father, your teacher, your priest, or some kind of television, you deserve it completely. They face with the worrying truths. They know that nothing can do such damage to a person's life and fate as "replacing" of reality. They boldly face the truth, no matter how unpleasant they are; the truth about themselves as individuals and about life as a whole, even if it scares them and brings them negative feelings. The most difficult to accept truths are those that lead us to the understanding that we have done something wrong in our lives and need to change in some way. Most people are reluctant to accept the painful truths and let their mind play a variety of tricks to protect themselves from it. One of the most important habits needed for successful personal development, the ability to take all the truth about yourself, even if you do not like what you see, and even feel that it is not in your power to change it. Facing the unpleasant truths, one often feels strong internal resistance.
Looking for evidence
They never give up to the rumors. For everything they are looking for evidence before they form an opinion. They explore all of the points of view and accept them as true only if there is significant evidence to do so. They do not reiterate the views of others simply because they sound convincing. They never express opinions if they do not feel absolutely sure about what they say. And in the event that new information and evidence emerges which contradicts what they have so far been true, they are changing their minds accordingly. One of the most distressing lessons of history is that we have long been deceived and tend to reject any evidence of deception. We no longer want the truth. The deception has conquered us: it is too ill to acknowledge even to ourselves that we have been so trustworthy.
They believe in themselves
Freethinking people do not communicate their way of thinking to please someone to impress others or to join a group. They are not afraid to be rejected by people who do not care about the truth. Always behave in a manner consistent with their beliefs. They would never betray their self-esteem for people who like to live in illusions. Telling the truth, as John Lennon says, may not have you many friends, but it will win you the right ones. They are not complacent. They realize that new information can transform their perception of life, the world, and everything else. They are never so attached to their beliefs that they can not change them. They set new paths at the forefront of change. They doubt for all. They followings the Kierkegaard's famed maxim, that you have to doubt everything. They even doubt their own perception of themselves and of the world. The love of truth and the need to be honest with oneself requires this from them. They know how easy it is for a person to deceive and look at themselves and their beliefs in a more favorable light than is necessary.
They take the risk of being rejected
They say that devotion to truth may mean that they will often swim against the current in human relationships. Only when a person begins to speak the truth understands how much others are able to bear and how often they actually react to sincerity. But for freelance thinkers, language is a tool of integrity, which must always be used as if it were an oath. oath to conform to reality, respecting human beings. Life is tough and people tend to adhere to illusions to endure it. To take away these illusions can cost you their good attitude. They know themselves. They are able to look at themselves and their actions in the most objective light possible. They understand when they behave in a way that is contrary to reason and their code of ethics, and they always try to do everything consciously, paying attention to their words and actions at all times. Freemasons are a minor minority in human society and have always been. That is why the few cases of true free-minded people remain in history. Many of them have lost their lives, sticking to truth, starting with Socrates, Jordano Bruno, going through Galileo, who, despite all the harassment imposed on him by society, can not deny that she still turns and arrives at Darwin and Freud. But you do not have to be a great philosopher or explorer to train your brain to work this way in the name of truth in the service of reality because only it can exist the true freedom, the freedom to think, to create and to you are developing in the most appropriate way for you
Astute. I was a philosophy major and post about a lot of philosophical matters as well! Following and looking forward to more @godflesh!
Thanks. I will see your article too :)
And ghosts are afraid
:)
I like this! Many times I think that way, thanks for the information.
You are welcome :)
I agree with everything you've said here, except I wouldn't put Freud next to Darwin and other scholars you've mentioned. Here's why: http://skepdic.com/psychoan.html (In short: there's no scientific evidence supporting Freud's ideas or the effectiveness of his approach to therapy.)
Also, I use the more popular term "critical thinking" instead of "freethinking", which covers everything you've mentioned except the last part about the ability to take the risk of rejection.
Nice write!
This post has received gratitude of 0.97 % from @appreciator thanks to: @godflesh.