Power Trips
It’s not my usual style to be a ranting blogger. Yes, I’ve done it in the past, but I typically like to keep to the style of just letting you know what I’m up to. However, after reading some of my friends blogs which delve a little deeper than mine, I thought I could try to use this space to rant, talk, and just let everyone in on me a little more. I’m brave! 🙂
Well, this blog isn’t really about me so much, but it’s on my mind. I was talking with Bryan tonight about a little of this and that, and we got on the topic of power trips. This might be one of the most annoying things to experience especially when it’s someone you normally like. I don’t understand what people get out of it. Can someone fill me in? Can you really feel better about yourself if you’re tearing others down???? It’s sad and pathetic. It’s annoying when it’s just some random stranger you meet, but it’s beyond annoying when it’s someone you know especially if you have to deal with them on a regular basis.
Perhaps they aren’t even aware of their behavior/actions. Or perhaps they are all too aware. Whatever the case, I hope that they change their ways soon. It’s the quickest way to lose respect and friends. Power trip if you must, but be careful you don’t actually fall flat on your face.  Done, see…it was short and painless. Ranting doesn’t have to be so bad.
I just reread what I had written. I might need to stick to writing about what I do on a daily basis. :) Well, it is late, and I am tired – both effect my writing/thinking skills. I’ll leave you on a happy note with a silly video of the cats:
Victoria,
Hey you’re just getting started! One of the hardest things, I believe, is to articulate our thoughts into words and speech. Something that makes complete sense to us when we think about it might come out completely wrong or nonsensical, a problem I have all the time when I talk in class. I think I’m missing the part of the brain that checks whether or not what you’re going to say is going to sound completely moronic!
The solution is to practice, of course. Blog and teach class and work on something specific to improve on. I feel now more than ever that writing and speaking our thoughts are practiced skills. Right now I’m working on keeping eye contact with students and not having everything I say end up with an inflection on the end so it sounds like I’m asking a question. But I digress!
I’ve been guilty of trash talking behind people’s backs at least as much (if not more – I have a big mouth!) as anyone, but have tried to cut it down to zero lately. I find it’s so much more productive to improve myself and to have my actions and words come from a place of excitement and enthusiasm rather than concentrating on hatred and resentment.
I think we do it to make ourselves feel better without having to make any effort to actually improve ourselves. With five minutes of insulting someone, we can automatically be much much better relative to that person, who you have now denigrated down to the level of whale shit. Wow, now that’s a return on investment, and none of that pesky practicing or putting forth of effort to become a better person. What a time-saver!
Sometimes it’s to avoid challenging ourselves with new ideas that are a threat to our current ideas as well. If we label what that person things or does as wrong or stubborn, we don’t have to accept that they might have something to offer, and that we might need something different to improve.
In the short term, it’s a great strategy. It makes us feel better – at least in comparison to the other person – and it keeps us from feeling threatened and makes us feel secure that we’re ‘right’ or ‘virtuous’. In the long run though, it’s ruinous. The worst thing is a group of people who do it with no dissenting voice. Then it’s just a feedback loop that gets louder and louder with nothing to interrupt the increasing volume of hate.
Just a few thoughts, thanks for the blog!
Ryon
Thanks Ryon!! I love getting the feedback. Thanks for the encouragement.