Tactical Emapthy: How Much Of An Asshole Am I?

We humans are preeminently social animal. Over thousands of years ago, our ancestors developed complex systems of grouping together as a community to improve their quality of life. During this process, their neurological make-up adapted. They evolved “mirror neurons“, which were more refined and sensitive than those of other primates. On a less refined level, these neurons assist us in mimicking behaviour (excl. genetic implications). However, the art of imitation is more than mere mimicry. “Monkey see, monkey do” will only get us so far in life. Anything further requires understanding of the mind as well as anticipation of its content in order to cultivate a seeminly genuine imitation.
In other words, what began as preverbal communication grew into something more sophisticated to allow for advanced degrees of cooperation. To hone our skills, we needed to refine our ability to detect what people are thinking and feeling. Before our reasoning powers fully unfold this way, even the most sentient beings can’t take their ability to empathise to the next level. In essence, they struggle to see patterns in peoples behavior as well as deduce peoples inner motivations, which will invariably make them appear to be socially insensitive or even callous.

Why We Possess Empathy

Compared to other animals, we remain relatively helpless for many years before we can truly operate on our own. This extended period of immaturity, lasting approx. 12-18 years, serves a valuable function. It encourages us to focus on developing by far the most important weapon in the human arsenal: our brain.
Yet, this prolonged period of dependency can build on negative but also positive tendencies. When our survival depends on the adaptability and reliability of our caregivers, we either learn to behave in ways to meet our needs or we will lack them. Although it would fill most children with unbearable anxiety to think of their parents as fallible, some don’t have a choice. They must grow up fast, so their world-understanding and sense of empathy grow accordingly.
While our capacity to understand others is still developing, we initially perceive our parents as stronger, wiser and more altruistic than they are in reality. This is due to the fact that we view their actions through the lens of our needs, and so they become an extension of ourselves. We project what we want and need to see onto those in charge of our care. Our perception of people becomes saturated with various emotions, such as love, need, sorrow or anger. Then inevitably, in
adolescence, we get a closer glimpse at the dark side of the human condition.

Empathy is the process of focusing our attention outward instead of inward, honing the observational and empathic skills that we naturally possess. It means moving past our tendency to idealise or judge…to simply see them for who they are and accept them. It is a school of thought, which must be cultivated as early as possible.
For example, in the case of Benjamin Franklin, known for his social intelligence. As the second youngest of a large extended family, he learned to get his way through charm. As he got older he came to believe, as many young people do, that getting along with others is a function of behaving charmingly and winning them over with a friendly manner. Yet, the more he interacted with the real world, the more began to see his charm as the actual source of his problem. Being charming was a strategy he had developed out of need. It was a reflection of his narcissism, of the love he had of his own words and wit. It had no relation to other people and their needs. It did not prevent them from exploiting or attacking him. To be truly charming and socially effective you have to understand people, and to understand them you have to get outside yourself and immerse your mind in their world. Only when he realized how deeply naive he had been could he take the necessary steps to move past this naiveté.

When we use empathy as a form of tactical maneuver to sway opinions, we aren’t displaying genuine care or interest in another person…

We have all reached the point of nearly tearing our hair out, when we were talking to someone who was just not listening. Even if we try to convey important information in a manner, which the person is supposed to relate to…but they just don’t give a fuck. This is not what I’m talking about. Each one of us has days, when we can’t be bothered to listen either because we are preoccupied, distracted, drained or for other reasons. There are degrees of listening. Nobody can listen 100% all the time. There is something far worse than a bad day…making a life of empathising as a means to an end. In truth, most of us have done that, when we can’t muster the genuine emotions required to get what we need to get through the day. For example, if we wanna see an action film instead of a chick flick, but he doesn’t want to.

It depends on how often we do this that makes us who we are. If we care too much, we give away so much energy to the problems of other people that we may burn out in the process. On the other hand, when we give too little, we drain energy reserves, which aren’t ours to deplete. Everything in moderation. These are the concerns of the average person, but when relating becomes tactical, empathy becomes exploitation. We witness this on a daily basis through the social imbalance of power, we come into contact with… However, we don’t expect to accept it from our friends or loved ones, even though it is commonplace. Some pass off the small white lies as a kindness, others mascarade an emptiness devoid of conscience to variant degrees. There’s a difference between a having conscience and acting on it. We can either act in accordance with our own ethical code or we can have the capacity to feel remorse. The latter usually negates the need for the former.

Where Does Real Empathy Get Us?

We all know the type of person, who spends day after day working an angle. They may use a pretty smile or kind word to their advantage, but it is a strategic attempt to achieve a very specific goal. They may care or may not care about the people, they are essentially faking almost every interaction with…but does it matter? During the act, they definitely care, just to varying degrees. However, the closer we get to reaching our goal, the less we tend to care. It is no secret that we aren’t saints, but we are often less considerate than we could be. We are prone to caring less than we pretend to. Also we are less likely to accept rejection gracefully, when we need the answer to be “yes”.
This is not the same as the desire for those interactions to be real. When we do the right thing, hoping the feeling behind them will surface eventually, we are in fact fighting our selfish impulses (sometimes genetically active traits). It is another level entirely to commit the most intimate betrayals, only to know what we are supposed to feel but don’t…If we know the damage we are leaving in our wake and simply just carry on to satisfy our own needs, then we ultimately face a worse fate.

In the end, we are all assholes on occasion, no matter how hard we try to be kind at all times…to never say no. Nobody can devote their complete attention to a person at all times, even stalkers eventually snap in the attempt. However, to truly love another as a colleague, friend or relative, we must be consistently committed and involved in fulfilling their highest potential. At times, this means just being physically present without showing any kind of judgement while they pour their heart out. Other times, it may imply tough love. To say, “No” when we are being taken advantage of by someone whose growth we care about. In truth, we always know so little or feel so much about each other as people that we fail to seize the opportunity.

The Difference Between Pain & Suffering

“Pain is inevitable,
Suffering is optional…”

The word ‘pain’ defines a condition of consciousness, in which we experience hardship. In simple terms, it it the condition of having been injured either physically, mentally or emotionally… However, must pain always invoke suffering?

In simple terms, no. At the deepest depths of pain, suffering can become a reality as a result of emotional as well as psychological attachment. In romantic relationships, this can be to the person, who inflicts violence and abuse on an unassuming victim. Yet, more often than not, it is an attachment to our preconceptions.
We believe pain must inevitably lead to suffering, therefore we simply accept suffering as an unchanging, immutable companion of pain…

Where Does Pain Begin?

In the mind, always. From a biochemical perspective, pain starts a spark in the wiring of the brain [i.e. neurotransmitter signaling]. Yet, on a quantum level, any type of pain is mere information. For example, when we put our hand in a burning fire, we are basically reaching into a cobweb of particles that are moving much faster than our own. What we experience as “Ouch, that’s hot.” is a small collision of particles, communicating the extent of the injury. In terms of thermodynamics, two objects are initiating thermal contact, in which they are exchanging energy, but cant achieve an equilibrium. As particles collide, the cells in our hands are acutely aware of what is happening. This causes a wave of signals to surge through the sympathetic nervous system to initate a pre-conditioned response to the experience. As a darwinian throwback, it takes great willpower to keep our hand in the fire, the more intense the flames.

Psychological pain is akin to its physical counterpart in that it is governed by similar laws

As we burn ourselves, we experience a drain on our energy reserves. This drain persists until the injury has healed fully. The pain is a byproduct of not merely the experience, but its engram…the physical equivalent of its impression on the individual consciousness.

However, in the spiritual sense, pain is a result of conflict. The multiverse functions very similarly to a self-contained holomovement, in which various domains of space-time are [thought to be] casually interlinked. From the moment of the Big Bang, universe after universe emerges…yet they remain an intrinsic part of an interconnected whole. Without them as a form of containment unit for space-time, energy-potential could not become energy and energy could not be condensed into matter.

Therein lies the origin of conflict. In an interconnected whole, we are an indivisible part of the totality of the multiverse. We no longer exist as individuals or a planetary collective, we are at one with the cosmos as well as that which gave rise to it. We may feel we are linked as a people or cosmic whole of consciousness, but we rarely translate this knowledge into an actuality.
For what it is worth, realisation of such multiversal unity is as destructive as it is liberating, hence few choose this path. Even at the highest point of enlightenment in the physical body, pain persists, because we remain in the confines of relative existence [i.e. space-time].

Where does suffering end?

What’s the root cause of mental, emotional or physical suffering? Giving power to that which we have no direct control over is what causes suffering. In other words, we relinquish control, which in turn serves as a source of pain that leads to suffering.

Focus on what you can directly control and accept what you cannot.

There’s a dark gap between what you’re doing and what you’re truly capable of. For instance, when we aim to complete a task, we follow our objectives in order to achieve a level of success. This success is more often than not defined by attaining a specific goal, we have no direct control over. Mentally speaking, when we work toward any goal, our mind is preoccupied by past attempts and preconceptions about the future, so it cannot fully concentrate on the process to improve it while it is still ongoing. Our actions throughout the process are fully under our control, but we are too occupied to focus on the present moment.

If we define success as giving our best in the process, then we cannot fail, feel calmly confident, and can accept any outcome with equanimity.

Suffering is the psychological resistance to what happens. A person can inflict physical pain on us, but suffering only come from resisting what is, from fighting with reality…although it’s futile to fight them, because we can’t change or undo what already is. Nevertheless, we fight with reality all the time in our desire for it to be different. We must have it our way, the way we want it, the way we expected it to be…

Whenever we desire something that isn’t in our power, our sense of inner confidence as well as tranquility is shaken. Often, if we don’t get what we want, we’ll be upset, but if we do, we will experience anxiety, apprehension and insecurity. Therefore, we should always focus on what is now…what we can control our actions but not the outcome. We can give all that is in our power, but we must invariably accept whatever happens.

Focus on what you control, and take the rest as it happens in order to make the most of it.

External factors may have the power to affect how and even whether you live, but they don’t have the power over your spirit in this life and those yet to come. Only you yourself can give them this power over the deepest part of you [by failing to act as well as you’re capable of].
We must make sure that our happiness depends as little as possible on internal or external factors. There should be only a loose connection between what happens to us and how happy we feel. We may focus on what we control, trying to make the best of any given situation and only wanting what is within our power…However, that still invites suffering. It is never possible to make happiness consistent with longing. True happiness implies the possession of all which is desired, yet we can never obtain all we desire.
So, what we aim for is a transient state of conditional happiness. We bind our happiness to some past, present or future event. Time after time, we promise ourselves, we will be happy after we have achieved our next goal, but we never are.

We never experience happiness, because we are never satisfied. It’s like trying to wall off the edge of the Earth, we can walk for miles and miles but won’t get any closer. Either we keep on yearning for stuff we don’t have, or we actually have a chance for happiness. We can’t have both. True happiness is when you have all you desire at the point when you desire nothing from the world or it’s people.

If we wish to be unconditionally happy, we must seek happiness within ourselves.

We’ve been equipped with the necessary tools to create a satisfactory life, regardless the hardships we face in life. So, if we want to be content, we must change ourselves and our desires. We cannot change the things that happen in the world around us, we can only change the way we look at those things and what we choose to make out of them

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The Bitter Truth of Leadership

At this time, we can switch on the television and witness thousands of lefties standing up for the rights of those that would exterminate them on the spot, given half a chance… They have chosen a higher path, yet most of them are unaware that this decision will seal their fate. They’d rather debase an honest discussion about their political views into name-calling instead of facing the fact that everything has pros and cons. We have opened the door to economic migrants that are simply out for what they can get with small numbers of actual refugees hiding amongst them (that are probably asking themselves whether the West has gone insane). The majority of economic migrants have no care or concern for the freedom of their host countries. This leads us to the question, why do we risk our basic human rights to protect them? Why are so many standard citizens infatuated with the idea of defending them? If the tables were turned, only for an instant, they would not reach out to save us. Truth be told, the only curtsey they would extend us is a swift execution.

To stand up for what is right has its risks, often it will be the last thing any of us will ever do in this life, but there are greater powers at play than the elite could ever fathom. Regardless how many more us will be buried, no one can successfully seize the freedom of another. The true essence of freedom is in every breath we take, it cannot cease even after we’ve drawn our last… It is infinite and absolute in all its manifestations. Nothing in all of existence can change that.

However, the illusion of control is a dangerous weapon to wield that can make anyone believe anything, given the right situation and application of pressure in all the right places. Our free will is bound by cause and effect, which means it is not free at all, until we make it so…until we realise that our will isn’t bound by circumstance, but by the motivations that drive our acroons, we shall never find freedom or peace. It is our choice to participate in this ongoing political charade or tear it all down.

We admire strength, boldness and power, so we seek those who possess it. We lavish wisdom, forethought and emotional freedom, so we strive to be near those who impart those qualities. However, to what end? Whoever becomes the centre of our focus invariably rubs off on us, but where that’ll lead is anyone’s guess. Too many falsely believe that sociopathy and psychopathy are inherited conditions… Contrary to popular belief, they are genetic as much as they are environmental. We model ourselves according to those around us by mimicking their behaviour. Nonetheless, whether we do so unconsciously or are consciously aware of this is another matter entirely.

Every leader attracts a different type of follower from the left or the right, from the lowest or the highest class… Every leader unwittingly attracts certain stereotypes that fuel their underlying agenda. For Merkel, these are the stereotypically short-sighted as well as those lacking peripheral vision in general. Very few decent, hard-working foreigners that emigrated to Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other EU member states are in support of her policies. The moment she opened her bosom to every young male from here to the Middle-East, one could see their eyes widen as they began to panic. Many escaped the situation in midst of the white flight shortly after. Not out of fear, but common sense. They, along with countless  natives, could sense that their time was running out fast. It is reminiscent of the complications that arise when a parent introduces a new sibling to the family… Those old enough to sustain themselves realise it is time to stand on their own two feet, whereas minors become acutely aware of how the power is shifting against their favour. Like Attracts Like. In the case of Merkel, the fiercer her followers become, the more unwilling they are to answer questions they don’t approve of. As she blatantly blanks the direct enquiries of her constituents with unrelated topics that make no logical sense, her supporters follow suit. It appears that the left across the entire world tore a page out of the Psychopaths Bible and did the exact opposite of what the instructions said… They do not offers answers, solutions or even consider the option of pretending to execute the will of the people. To the New Left, the people are a means to an end. They are irrelevant to the equation. They confidently act as if their rise to power is not in the hands of the people, but a small minority, controlling the majority from behind the scenes. This makes them feel as if it entitles them with the unquestionable right to belittle and devalue that which does not boost their appearance. When their stance is sensibly questioned without allowing them to evade those enquiries, they resort to offensive quips. They push them aside in a derogatory manner, while labelling those that asked them as racist. The mere fact we dare to question them is perceived as an insult, if not a direct threat. However, they don’t deal with threats like any sane individual, by taking them seriously… They ignore them, when they don’t dismiss them with the harshest words that spring to their minds at the time. Such behaviour has led many of their followers to believe, this is an acceptable way to behave. For Corbyn, this opened doors to reinforce an abhorrent, new standard in British politics. He was the first with the courage to openly ask what his party’s hearts desire. For approx. 15 minutes, he took the time to listen to what they want as well as expect from him. After he realised their views opposed his, he became the first leader to flee from the majority of his own party, and yet retain his position of leadership. The majority of Labour supporters are against immigration, not for the reason that they dislike other cultures, but because they are the cogwheels that keep this broken society running. The average, working-class person is the reason our society still functions. Granted, it barely works at the best of times, but it has not faced its inevitable collapse yet. When Labour abandoned the working class, which was no surprise, those cogwheels began to jar… Too many kept voting for them out of habit, blind faith and misplaced sympathy, not anymore. People do not like to be taken for granted, when it is them that has enabled Corbyns unfortunate rise to power. Unsurprisingly, Labours supporters are no longer white or British… They are not African-American, Asian or Indian any longer. They are no longer the party of the working-class, unless long-lasting unemployment and the unwillingness to seek paid work is categorised as the New Working Class. Moreover, their religious orientation, which was once a shining beacon of equality & diversity, has now become a party renowned for the coerced conformity of their supporters by the bleeding hearts of Britain. They may as well force their followers to convert openly instead of almost making them so do behind closed doors to prove their loyalties. In one way or another, they want to make you feel guilty/ashamed as to encourage self-loathing. Labour began to target the vulnerable and malleable members of society, whose minds are easily swayed by fear tactics. Not any kind of fear toward real-life threats, but the fear of being viewed as narrow-minded, bigoted or racist. This is basic psychological manipulation. What Corbyns upper-working/lower-middle class, left-wing supporters fail to understand is, when you have nothing for long enough, you lose all interest to maintain appearances. We don’t care how it looks. We care about what it is as well as what it will lead to. In life, nothing is ever as it seems…and we’ll do our best to never let anyone forget it. The actions of Corbyn have led a significant percentage of his followers to believe that his words serve a higher purpose than the complete religious and social indoctrination of the British people. He is the tool of the puppets that are strung along by the elite. He has lowered himself to such extreme degrees that they do not wish to be openly associated with him or scratch his back outside of dire necessity. In their minds, he lacks the intelligence and back-bone to be useful for any prolonged period of time. His control over the people is at best short-lived. As he envisions becoming Prime Minister of a non-country with the reigns firmly in his grasp, those behind the scenes laugh at his ignorance. (As much as he may be terribly oblivious of what normal people go through, no one deserves to be used only to be tossed aside like a children’s plaything.)

In addition, Corbyn deliberately disregards the historical fact that multiculturalism only works when both parties are willing to find a compromise they can live with. When multiculturalism becomes a matter of sacrificing your way of life to accommodate mass migration, it paves the way to genocide. Corbyns traitorous actions are causing direct physical, mental and emotional harm not only to the British people, but all people of all ethnicities. They are forcing decent people to hide or flee the United Kingdom, while they put genuine refugees at risk. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that his left-wing followers act in accordance with his radical views, enforcing them at every opportunity. This can solely lead to civil war, which will most likely take the form of an uprising of the right against the left, when there are obviously more pressing matters at hand. While we will waste more time quarrelling over schematics, our mutual enemies channel their energies more productively. They are breeding for war under the guise of Sharia Law. They do not require the consent of their women, when it is the sole purpose of their existence to serve them, otherwise they will attempt to terminate their existence and secure new breeding stock.

Heightism, Detachment & Sociopathy – The Rules Revisited

Darwin once stated, it is not the strongest that are most likely to survive, but those most adaptable to change. Height elicits expectation, yet it does not determine personality or social standing. Despite what many men and women believe, being restricted by one’s height or weight presents a valuable challenge that would not exist, if modern society was more accepting of its innate diversity. From a historical perspective, this is far from new behaviour. However, there are countless erroneous presumptions associated with height that limit our understanding of how heightism originally came to be.

One of the earliest, common references is that of the “Napoleon Complex”, which denotes an inferiority complex or deep-rooted hang-up with one’s own height. However, the original purpose of this term is rarely analysed, nor it is considered that history is typically written by the victor. Smear campaigns were nothing new. Since we have learnt to paint on cave-walls, we have used visual and/or linguistic mediums to convey useful and impractically vain information. To twist and turn information, regardless of its accuracy stretches back to the beginning of ancient warfare. This leads us to a simple fact: Napoleon Bon Apart (5.6ft / 1.68m) was taller than Horatio Nelson (5.4ft / 1.64m). One would think that such a basic fact could easily be discerned by the masses, however, Nelson was accustomed to taking measures against “looking short”. That being said, when the height difference is below 2 inches or five centimetres, it is fairly easy to play with appearances, but whereas many people nowadays can purchase flats from nearby stores, Nelson had to devise his own methods of altering his appearance.
Nelson understood that height is as physical as it is psychological. Anyone can seem tall, while they truly aren’t. If you are bold enough, you can make anyone believe anything, but let’s not throw all caution to the wind just yet. There are physiological limits without bone-shattering application traditional Chinese surgery. Limitations that cannot be applied to the art of propaganda. He may not have been taller than his opponent, although you wouldn’t know with how much effort he invested in being referred to as the taller out of the two.
To show the extent of how successful his propaganda campaigns actually were…in honour of Nelson’s victory, the column built in Trafalgar Square was designed to be the tallest landmark in all of London. Some historians suggest that it was Nelson’s explicit wish for the highest monument to be dedicated to him, so he could oversee the entirety of the metropolis of London at the time.

As we are judged by our appearance, prior to our actions…Before we even open up our mouth, it is only logical to give yourself the best chances. In the old days, it was easier to make yourself appear taller, smarter and more capable. Nowadays, it has become much harder for anyone to pretend to be something they are not, but it is never impossible. Not for anyone…However, it appears to be easier for taller men to deceive women than their shorter counterpart. Again, not impossible. The truth is that under the right circumstances, people will turn a blind eye to almost anything, if they are otherwise occupied…They will disregard height differences, personal disagreements and even the most heart-wrenching betrayals, when the appeal to their self-interest is sufficient. Although the interests of one or more people may be temporarily aligned, that does not guarantee any form of loyalty or respect once they are not. In fact, short men and women live longer, when they’re weary of the company they keep. It is one thing to be useful, but to be repeatedly used as a stepping stone is a fate no one should settle for, regardless of their stature.

Height & Intelligence

History is full of examples, where height serves as an indicator of high intelligence or brute force. Whereas some geniuses are born, most forms of intelligence are cultivated and developed over time. In other words, every human being has the potential to enhance their natural abilities or fight against them. Whereas many living beings are driven by instinct, we have the free will to choose. In this, we are given a distinct advantage. Through conscious choice, one can overcome the height-based bias that runs riot in the world. However, we can only free ourselves, we cannot force others into the position to acknowledge the existence or negative impact of heightism.
Being short is not a handy-cap. It does not determine EQ, IQ or intelligence of thought. Here, one has to to bear in mind that the most intelligent of people were never revered throughout history, they were shunned, exiled and often murdered in the most heinous manner. However, where the general cultivation of intelligence is concerned, Jung’s theory on personality development indicates that if you are not athletically- or strength-orientated as a short person, your talent most likely lies elsewhere. Further research into the hidden talents of the “vertically challenged” shows that many excel at communication. Whereas some had to become quick witted by being subjected to abuse, others were born with the gift of the gab. It gives them an irresistible charm that makes them much more successful in the dating game. For those that are still mastering that knack for words, the trick is to say less than necessary.

Needless to mention, there are many different types of intelligence. Although we continue to quantify new forms, quantum physics suggests the avenues of intelligence are infinite. If we can conceive being a genius in a subject in our minds, it is fairly possible to cultivate the knowledge necessary to succeed. That being said, if you weren’t born swimming against the tide, I wouldn’t recommend to start now. Nurture your natural abilities, but keep an open mind. After all, you wouldn’t expect Bach, Tesla or Einstein to abandon their respective fields, for what was expected of them. Truth is not a phenomena of mass-appeal, neither is free will. The most intelligent, remarkable and revered characters throughout history were not recognised for their achievement. They did not need to be. They did what felt right for them, regardless of what society thought of them. That being said, appearance and social standing can easily override intelligence, but it depends very much on the circumstances. In such an occasion, the personality of a person often defines their instinctual reaction. (It should be noted that psychopaths are predominantly prone to react in specific ways, whereas sociopaths often lack a reaction, unless attempting to elicit a specific response.)
As stated before, there is such a thing as too intelligent. However, there are two distinct types of “high intelligence.” As paradoxical as it may seem, the first type of supremely intelligent people, capable of outsmarting the world’s finest, frequently feign ignorance to fit in. Conversely, the second type often lack the social intelligence to not outshine their master (at every turn), unless the right circumstances are in their favour.
For many, high intelligence is frightening. Combined with the lack of height, it is like drawing a bullseye on one’s back. Even if you give someone the right answer or advice, if it’s not you they wanna hear it from, then the entire endeavour is flawed from the outset. At times, we fail to realise just how intelligent those around us are, if our ego prevents us from seeing them for what they are truly capable of.
Tall or not, nothing is as it seems. We can never know anyone by their appearance or glimpses of their personality. Even the type or level intelligence only serves us to a limits degree. Truth is only time reveals the reality of a person and/or situation. Hitler considered to the Jews to be of lower intelligence. Before then, men thought of women as less intelligent. And the time before that, it was African Americans. For someone to be superior, some has to be viewed as inferior. The more superior someone is, the more inferior another becomes. In a way, it is the cycle and sway of power. Without a smidgen of humility or compassion toward their opponent, people rise to inconceivable heights. However, they must invariably fall from their high horse in this life or the next. Regardless of how sly or intelligent, no one can escape the moral consequences of their behaviour toward themselves or others. So, think twice before acting out revenge or ill-will…Think twice before judging yourself based on appearance or intelligence. Beauty and intelligence are both in the eye of the beholder. They are malleable, superficial properties that are easily altered, as is what we gain from them. However, the challenge in problem-solving is to realise that we cannot change certain aspects of ourselves, we can only overcome them by denying them the power to act upon us. If we doomed to be short, the most intelligent coping strategy is to make the best of it. Ironically, this is also one of the most effective ways to annoy and irritate those that gain a level of satisfaction from demeaning others. The lack of a reaction/response or even a simple agreement can startle the most determined bully long enough to diffuse tension, but it can also have the exact opposite effect.

Height & Mental Illness

Many short men are either depict as the arrogant smartass, the sly mediator and the cold-blooded sociopath or psychopath. However, how closely related are height and mental well-being? Although it shouldn’t have such detrimental effects, any form of discrimination takes its toll. As height and well-being are indirectly connected through the self-image that is established through childhood and adulthood. Height can never be a definite indicator of sanity and it is ludicrous that some humour this notion. From a professional standpoint, height affects many facets of life, from dating to work opportunities to socialising, which in turn affects mental and emotional health.
Truth be told, just by being short or fat, the chance of getting employed or earning more is significantly lower. After all, it could be argued that any profession that is restricted by height requirements only perpetuates a narrow-minded, inaccurate view of how height determines available career-choices and progression. However, no argument or clever statement can change the reality of the situation.
Although height discrimination has reached the realms of undeniability, that does not stop people from trying. Hell, I would depressed if interview after interview employers would take one look at me and my CV, make some excuse and hired someone half my age with less qualifications but taller. Equal employment opportunities means that it shouldn’t matter if I’m a 4ft grey alien from Alpha Centauri, every living being should have the same opportunity to prove their skills and put food on the table. To be expected to be mentally stable in such conditions is like fighting an endless tide of unrealistic expectations. It should be noted that those who demand often are not expected to deliver, if put in the same position. On a separate note, I’ve noticed short men that have risen above the negative restrictions and implications of heightism rarely associate with other short men, unless carefully selected. They wish to distance themselves as far as they can from being a target, or being associated with anything that threatens the position they have fought to gain. Those that have made it are not all cut-throat, but the majority have had to learn to function in a world of predators. As a consequence, the prey grows far beyond its former predator(s). Whereas some develop anti-social qualities to survive among psychopaths, others choose to steer their moral compass in the opposite direction. They cultivate an air of non-attachment that almost gives them a monk-like presence. They are at peace with who they are. They do not feel the urge to seek justice or vengeance…They only act when acted upon. And I have the deepest empathy for those that have fallen victim to such a powerful force. Few that I know of make it out alive with their ego intact. Some are so emasculated that it stays with them for the rest of their lives (which is most likely equivalent to what they have done to others for being short, fat or otherwise impaired in their opinion).

The Short Sociopath VS The Tall Psychopath

So far in my career, I’ve encountered short and tall sociopaths. However, I’ve always found that my colleagues would find it easier to cope with the 6ft6in than the 5ft4in service user. While episodes of violence were more common for the taller clientele, short men were far more contained but infinitely more vicious when violent. Despite the inherent danger, I’ve always been more comfortable around short sociopaths in comparison to tall psychopaths or sociopaths. Although not all short sociopaths I’ve met socially or professionally have been high functioning, the majority were highly intelligent in their own way. One that society may not be ready to acknowledge just yet, since it has no need to. As stated before, once there is a need, most will say or do anything to fill it…But what happens afterwards entirely depends on the person and circumstance.

The term psychopath and sociopath are often used to describe the worst fears anyone can have about someone we are associated with. Their true nature is thought to be egocentric, merciless and incapable of remorse. The stuff of your worst nightmares… But contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to look far to find a full-blooded psychopath or sociopath. Just switch on your TV. Whereas psychopaths thrive on attention, sociopaths often keep to the shadows. Nonetheless, both can also create shadows from which to operate. Most of us won’t have to look beyond our community to find a borderline psychopath or sociopath. The difference is tall people remain undetected far more often, unless their actions have been witnessed on a large scale. One that is not or cannot be denied.

To explain, the difference between psychopathy and sociopathy on a fundamental level is on a genetic level. Whereas both can have their hereditary roots, emotional processing is affected differently. Psychopaths, although they may not be able to feel, are often driven by an emotional need. Sociopaths are not. However, both disassociate from their emotions to variant degrees. Both are capable of vicious fits of rage, although they are often underplayed when the individual is short.
The most important difference I’ve found in dating a psychopath and a higher functioning sociopath is the need to prey on emotions. Psychopaths appear to have an inherent need to manipulate and deceive that makes them overconfident. The paranoid tendencies of a short sociopath is the textbook example that counters such the deep-rooted emotional need of the stereotypically tall and good looking psychopath.
Height does not differentiate. Since height discrimination has become an everyday occurrence, whether you’re a psychopath, sociopath or just anti-social makes no difference. If you’re short as a male, you’re doomed to be an outsider, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. From personal experience, short-statured people like myself either make an invested effort to follow trends or they create their own. As a psychologist, it is my firm opinion that trend-setters are always outsiders. Whether short or tall, they have the confidence to walk their own path.
However, for sociopaths, the end justifies the means. If that means their imprisonment, torture or death, then so be it. Psychopaths, due to their inherent emotional needs, have an in-build weakness, whereas once the mask of a sociopath drops…There is nothing. A vast, infinite void of emotion that drives shivers down your spine. Beyond false anger, there is dead calm silence.
In simple terms, the circuits in the cortex do not connect and/or process emotions properly…like two wires that don’t fully connect. Since they don’t, there is an accumulation of energy, leading to large bursts of emotion, when the buildup is so substantial that the connection is forced.

It is difficult for anyone to let someone close to us see us in our worst light. For sociopaths and psychopaths, the light is merely more revealing than most people can handle. Not all of us were born or conditioned to be a certain way, but none of us deserve the rejected for that fact.
Predators have their uses in any society. Historically, their talents were put to good use in the military. The more psychotic, psychopathic or sociopathic the opponent, the more insane was the person that actually defeated them. In wartimes, you wouldn’t care about the short guy wielding a battle ax like a mad man, unless he is coming toward you. The military has always been in high demand of controllable soldiers that will follow any command to the death, not uncontrollable cannon balls that wreck their projections. Psychopaths gain their power from knowing their place and when to rise above it…Sociopaths will do so regardless, if they wish to.

Being short makes that endeavour slightly more complex, as there is more to conceal and distract from. Playing with appearances is more complicated, as making oneself taller isn’t an option. Surrounding oneself by tall, but genuine, supporters is a frequently used technique. However, the tall selfless wingman that’ll deliver women on a plate is a sheer fantasy, unless they are blackmailed into doing so or persuaded by someone with a higher level power compared to them. I’ve found that when it comes to territory, many men do not remove women from the equation. That being said, women are no longer subject to arranged marriages or career-restraints, but we are just as vulnerable to social engineering. Particularly, in the case of male heightism.
When we become chronically dissatisfied with ourselves, it becomes hard to hide. People sense, feel and see that one person, which drags the group down. On the other hand, every group also has its leader: the alpha male or female. Whereas tall psychopaths or sociopaths often have the opportunity to cosy up to them by replacing the beta…Their short counterpart often has to strike with fierce momentum to displace or even scatter the group (with less beneficial results). In conclusion, height doesn’t affect the severity of a condition, but at times it forces men in the position to overcompensate merely to be noticed. Unfortunately, by the time they are noticed, their reactions have often been torn so far out of proportion that they distract from the issue at hand.

Dating a Higher Functioning Sociopath – Part 3

Within mating, any individual forms a conscious or unconscious template of a suitable partner. This is often referred to as the love-map. It is constructed during early childhood between the ages of 3 and 6. The mental image of a suitable mate however is ever-changing, and is customized according to the individuals reality matrix. If this concept were to be combined with the overall socially engineered preference towards taller males, due to the ancient myth of height equals strength, suddenly a conception has been created that terrifies most of society. The short, highly intelligent sociopath. One that doesn’t take no for an answer, when faced with hypocrisy or social politics. Personally, I am of the opinion that anyone is capable of anything, if they perceive the situation calls for it or their survival is dependent upon it. Short or tall. Both groups are fully capable of genocidal acts. Nonetheless, throughout the recent years, I have noticed a pattern amongst individuals in my life. The partner can do anything, be unemployed, not have a car or even pay the bills, as long as he is of sufficient height for individuals to not wish to argue against it. Yet, if you were to then put a short individual in front of them, they change their opinion 180 degrees, refuting and denying their previous viewpoint to the point of utter irrationality. Another time, a close friend actually stated that she is disgusted by short men. When I enquired about her reasoning, she stated that they were the scum of society and one shouldn’t associate oneself with them for too long. These are mere justifications towards an opinion that is overly judgmental over an individual that she had never encountered.

There are two conversation blockers. Sociopathy and Heightism. Once the conversational partner has processed both subjects separately, one may actually be able to combine the concept without them running for the hills. Why is it that society appears to be so utterly terrified by the short, higher functioning sociopath? To the degree of complete disacknowledgement of the facts. A wise man reminded me about a fact that I learnt a long time ago, sociopathy is a scale. With childhood sociopathy even more so, as the individual is still progressing through vital stages of development. There are variant degrees of severity. In my professional opinion, sociopaths are either abnormally feared or approached with extreme bias. Mankind has become so caught up with their feelings that the absence of reaction or emotional feedback irritates and provokes them often bringing further imbalance to their rational mind. It is often stated that the presence of a Monk radiates undisturbed calmness and tranquility, soothing those around them. Yet, a monk displays a level of the same traits as the sociopath. How does the presence of one calm and the other agitate? The stigma that is attached to mere mention of the term sociopath is often wrongfully connected with psychopathy, which merely complicates the full comprehension of the condition. However, society in itself is becoming more indifferent towards one another, displaying more sociopathic and psychopathic traits. There is, however, one preconception that does not apply with the combination of heightism and sociopathy. That height equals strength. Truth be told, I’d fight a tall guy one-on-one any day. Short guy, no way. They fight too rough. I’ve seen one short male drop three 6’4ft thugs in under 1 minute. Mind you, I’ve only met two short sociopaths in my life, the others were all 6ft and above. The taller sociopaths that I have encountered were more prone to violence, although all of them were above average intelligence, they had become accustomed to prefer the use of their fists. The short sociopaths were of highly intelligence with knowledge of the practical applications regarding their ideas. A few I would consider geniuses for their contributions towards science and humanity itself. One revolutionized genetics when he has around 10 years old by composing an academic paper for a Californian Institute. Another mastered the depth of mathematics during his teenage years. Truth be told, a book should not be judged by its cover. Humanity is becoming less caring of their fellow man, more prone to emotional outbursts and displays a general disconnection towards the outside world as well as other members of society. That is in itself is a sociopathic trait. Mankind is often too quick to judge, yet unwilling to change themselves, still in denial regarding their gradual increase of despondence and indifference. A stage of evolution is approaching humanity and it is your choice, which way you will take.

Dating a Higher Functioning Sociopath – Part 2

It should be noted that the mere clinical diagnosis of childhood sociopathy does not equal inevitable doom or the birth of a natural killer. The psychopath for instance is more prone to certain characteristics that are perpetuated by emotion. Certain traits overlap, which will be explain further. Experimentation is a trait experienced more by psychopaths. Sociopaths will experiment socially with the emotions and reactions of others. Due to the lack of emotion that is felt and expressed, the childhood sociopath has to adapt to an environment, which is based upon emotional concepts that they struggle to grasp per their nature. The childhood sociopath requires to learn their own social boundaries. Truth be told, they necessitate early education in ethics around the age of 3 to avoid certain mishaps during the process. Yes, “normal” parents can give birth to a sociopathic infant. Genetics operate through the family-line. It can skip generations. Countless ancestors throughout mankind has fought wars and committed genocide for the sake of a peace that still has not been established.

Traits of the Higher Functioning Sociopath:

1. Charisma & Charm:

The sociopath is a wordsmith…A master of words. They know how to act accordingly to a situation without the bias of emotion. Yet, sociopaths like all others have their own dress-code. It is still a point of genetic and environmental influence that allows for certain traits to flourish. They can adapt to all levels of their society and alter their clothes accordingly. This can also be viewed in their mannerisms and linguistic use, as it will change, according to the individual. They adopt the heir of their surroundings. If they with the rich and powerful, everything about them would lead you to believe that that is their natural place within society. The act would be flawless. Yet, later on the same day, they could be in a drug den and one would naturally assume that they have always been there. Socially inclined sociopaths often become the pillar or bastion of their social environment. At the same time, as becoming the very same pillar for the opposite side of that environment (ie. Both hunter and prey). For only then are you in a true position to control and do as you will.

2. Lack of Connection To The Past

Sociopaths within their social circles, as they can hold both sides of a social spectrum, they have to not care about “the past.”. They will participate in activities with one individual and the same evening, they will engage in an opposing set of activities with another. Often, they will tell others that which they wish to hear. More often than not, this merely saves them the agony of coldly spitting out the truth and becoming a symbol of heresy for doing so.  There is no connection to the time-frame of the past. They could have been wronged at the age of 3 or 33. An experience, perceived negatively by the sociopath, could have occurred at the 3 and at the age of 33, as the best men at the transgressors wedding, the sociopath could snap his neck in front of the aisle for a wrongdoing that occurred 30 years ago. The sociopath does not recognize the difference between the time of incident or level of effect. That can only be learnt through explanation or experience.

3. Ego

Not all narcissists are sociopaths. Not all sociopaths are narcissists. Like with all other human beings, the ego can be controlled and removed. Is it truly ego when you truly can and are willing to do what you are saying? With the childhood sociopath, they grow up knowing it. It is an inbuilt knowledge. The power of will and single-mindedness. Is it truly paranoia, if you’re just? People often forget that the sociopath is right, they get caught up in the biology and emotional effect of the event. The sociopath does not wish to move on until they have coerced the other individual to discuss that which they consider an overly emotional state or reaction. Due to the lack of emotion, it is not necessarily arrogance, it is the lack of care to lie. The truth is often much more effective to place others in a state of discomfort. No one argues the truth. Thus the fallback is emotion, excuses and justification, which the sociopath often shatters in order to unveil the actual truth. Furthermore, ego requires emotion. Ego requires a need or even urge. If it is not ego, then it is merely the knowledge of self. The knowledge of what you are capable of.

4. Deceptive Capabilities

The sociopatb can manipulate and deceive their environment, when the need requires it. Like certain other traits with the sociopath, they can be switched on and off like a light switch. The amount of social control it requires to maintain that many lies, yet only the necessity arises. However, the manipulation is second nature to them. It is who they are. Society often does not allow them to disobey societal conventions. They are disgusted by the hypocrisy, which they face on a daily basis from the individuals around them, due to this so called the constant deceptions that occurs around them whether they participate in it or not. They seek individual that are more themselves, rather than those discussing what Simon Cowell had for dinner last night, which in itself is a manipulation of society that is deceiving the public from the truth in their world and pathological lies that Simon Cowell represents is publicly permitted, if not heralded, is simply hypocrisy, as we all follow.

 5. Sexual Magnetism

As previously mentioned, they are masters at camouflaging themselves physically, mentally and emotionally. Their knowledge of how individuals act and react according to their current social surroundings enables them to appear to proverbial sex-god to their chosen target. Attraction and arousal originate within the mind, due to the sociopaths knowledge of society, anyone is attainable, you just have to know what to do and who to do it to. With those two concept, anything can be achieved. It is however scientifically proven that sociopaths possess a higher testosterone level.

6. Flair for Drama

Once the applied social engineering has been perfected, the sociopath holds all the strings. The sociopath are one of the most uncontrolled type. Whereas most individual possess emotionally based requirements, the sociopath does not, therefore causing them to become the loose cannon, if you wish to control them. In the society of control, the sociopath is naturally on top, as they cannot be controlled. For them, it is either let them live or kill them. By allowing them to live, you permit them to finish that which they wish to complete in life. By killing them, you merely cease their ability to do so. These are the only two ways to stop a sociopath.

7. Predatory Stare

In a world controlled by emotion, everyone is game for the sociopath. Everyone that in controlled by emotion, that is. They have no shame or conscience and cannot take other seriously when they are influenced by emotions. To the sociopath, “normal” individuals are the ones that behave stupidly or ignorantly, once they have entirely lost their presence of mind in a wild tangent of emotion. There is nothing pro-survival about such a state of mind to them. It is a waste of time and energy. It is best to conserve ones energy for more productive matters. If the emotional aspect would be deleted from the ordinary citizen, the occurrence of a traumatic event becomes simple. That which has been clouded by emotions becomes clear. Yet, bear in mind, due to the lack of emotion experienced, they are prone to explosions of anger, if actions do not run according to plan. Although it is the little things, the large things are faced with a calm, emotionless stare. (The predator inclines hunting sheep. The sociopath does not view himself as the fox, hunting the sheep. He views himself as the farmer, culling the herd.)

8. Lack of Conscience

The sociopaths lack of emotional connection inevitable affects his sense of empathy, yet not the sense of understanding. He understands the consequence of stabbing a pencil through the neck, yet to the average human being it is considered an overreaction. The sociopaths fails to recognize it as such by nature. They do not have a punch up. They maim or kill. There is no enjoyment is fighting for them. They do not have the conscience to facilitate the differentiation between right and wrong. They possess no social conscience, no feelings within them that will alert them of the possible unethical nature of their actions. Therefore, childhood sociopaths that have been educated in ethics and socially acceptable behavior know the exact difference between their actions, yet they are still fighting an internal impulse.

{As sociopaths are free from psychosis, sadism, pedophilia, they control on society would be, if not extreme, but humane.}

Dating a Higher Functioning Sociopath – Part 1

Living with a sociopath is not easy…It is living the way of will with them.

There are countless types of men. It was Carl Jung that proposed to uniqueness of every psyche and therefore every living being. Yet, there are genetic predispositions, which affect the manner in which the consciousness functions within the pre-selected body. Sociopathy is neurologically defined as exhibiting characteristics that imply a reduced input and output of emotion. Consequently, they perceive the phenomenal world in an entirely different manner. It should also be noted that the military refuses to allow sociopaths to participate in the lower ranks of the army. As the end justifies the means for them. As a professional counselor, I more often than not encounter articles that are scientifically flawed, as they intertwine psychopathy and sociopathy, which are two entirely different congenital “disorders”. After years of working with individuals that have become numbed by emotion with very little social will or ability to distance themselves from the drama that is being continually perpetuated by them. I at one point also went down that very same path, yet managed to avert my own self-destructive tendencies in order to provide support for others. I have discovered that the human inclination to become caught up in emotion is also that which repels us in regards to sociopaths. Not all their viewpoints are extreme. We often picture them as evil incarnate. The man or woman that is incapable of love and cannot be loyal to anyone. This statement is utterly inaccurate. The emotional connection is reduced. This does not imply that it is non-existent. Truth be told, sociopaths are often tormented by external circumstances due to their lack of emotional or subjective response. Objectivity and truth are, in essence, tools that are needlessly brutal, if applied without caution. The sociopath often does not have the careful handling, unless they have trained themselves to adapt to their surroundings in such a manner. I would advise you, if you wish to engage in a relationship with a sociopath, to leave your emotions at the door. By the definition of Scott Peck MD. “Love is not an emotion. It is commitment.” Naturally, one cannot be committed without being involved. However, for a sociopath to be in a relationship, they have to accept the emotion of their counterpart. Being in a long-term relationship with a sociopath truly allows one to learn the depths of non-attachment and the ability to move forward from a state of emotional anchors. If an individual utilizes critical and logical thought within circumstances of extreme emotion and stress, the situation loses its grasp on the individual. Within any relationship, there are gains and losses. Yet, it is not a battlefield and it should not be treated as such. It is more reminiscent of a sanctuary base, allowing for time to replenish. Numerous couples have constructed a bubble around themselves within their relationship to which they can retreat to, before being fully able to confront the outside world. We all practice a form of escapism. A negative coping mechanism that has outlived its usefulness. However, for a sociopath, their personality development goes back much further. During the period of early childhood, the sociopath is faced with an inevitable decision that cannot be delayed. The sociopath has a will of iron. Yet, even iron breaks under pressure. The choice is whether to kill or not to kill. It requires an enormous amount of will to not follow your natural impulses. Due to the lack of emotional connection, the outbursts that can occur are beyond an explosion of force. For them, there is no difference between a slap, dislocating the kneecap or driving a pencil through the neck. There is no punishing a sociopath, they will merely stare blankly. However, their understanding of their actions is profound due to the objective nature. They understand that they have violated human rights, yet they do not understand why they are being punished. Most importantly, sociopaths are only prone to provoked violence. If they are pushed too far, they will kill. It is as simple as that.

The difference between the psychopath and the sociopath is that they draw no pleasure from their deeds. They are indifferent. To them, it is a action-reaction reflex. As much as a sociopath is unemotional, it is all dependent upon their state of mind. As they show very little or no emotional basis for this, one simply has to observe their response. It is the choice between sitting on the ground, watching a stranger burning to death, and putting out the flame. Often it is a point of convenience. Other times, it is a point of kindness. In regards to my personal experiences with a sociopath, I do not for a moment regret my decision of engaging in a relationship with him. Though the lack of emotion can become tiresome, one evolves to maintaining ones presence of mind in any circumstance. Knowing that every individual is different, you have to take them at their stride or become monk and cut oneself off of society. To be a sociopath in todays society has truly become being at odds with everything. They do not care which celebrity rises or falls. They do not care about Simon Cowells’ bowel movements. They do not care whether their neighbor has a new lawnmower. It should be noted that they are single-minded and tenacious in their approach. They are also more likely to try things out despite of the advice of others, mainly as others view it from a subjective standpoint. One requires to develop a clear mind and social will, when dealing with a sociopath. Everyone should have a sociopath in their life, merely for an occasion calm, unemotional perspective. As the sociopath has chosen the path of society, thus he must act as others do, hiding within plain sight.

Detachment Versus Sociopathy

Introduction

Within philosophy, the term detachment represents a state in which an individual overcomes their attachment toward desire for all objects, individuals or concepts of the phenomenal world, henceforth attaining a heightened perspective. Within Bahá’í Faith, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Taoism, non-attachment, which stands for the release from desire as well as suffering, is a significant principle and ideal. Detachment is also a central concept in Zen Buddhism. One of the most important technical Chinese terms for detachment is “wú niàn” (無念), which literally means “no thought.” This does not signify the literal absence of thought, but rather the state of being “unstained” (bù rán 不染) by thought. Therefore, non-attachments represents being detached from one’s thoughts. It is the separation of the individual from their own thoughts and opinions in detail as to not be harmed mentally and emotionally by them. The mentality is generally also applied towards others. In addition, within Hinduism the view of detachment comes from the understanding of the nature of existence and the true ultimate state sought by the practitioner. In other terms, while one is responsible and mindful without concerns of the past as well as future. The detachment is focused towards the result of one’s actions rather than towards all aspects of life. This concept is cited extensively within Puranic and Vedic literature.

Zen and Sociopathy

There are a variety of parallels between sociopathy and Zen Buddhism, such as emotional detachment, non-attachment to the self and mindfulness. In addition, Buddhists, similar to sociopaths, can appear as unemotional or emotionally cold. Conversely, Buddhism appreciates emotions as well as deeds that are spontaneous and based upon intuition, merely not those arising from logic or the rational mind, as it may. Yet, a sociopath is genetically  provided with the free will of choice, as it may, to develop the will to form attachments or to detach from their surroundings. The archetype of the monk and the sociopath, in fact, are reflections of one another. Whereas the Monk strives to detach himself, the sociopath often attempts to involve himself. Although there is a fine line between morally righteous actions, conducted for the progression of mankind, and morally corrupt actions that serve merely the perpetrator. According to Carl Jung, this line also exists on the fourth stage of individuation. Nonetheless, would it even be probable to suggest that the sociopathic mind is closer to enlightenment? Or perhaps on the other side of it? The monk and the sociopath view the nature of reality from almost exactly opposite perspectives, operating at entirely different parallels. For instance, a sociopath can be threatened and perplexed by emotion due to the unpredictability that it brings. Emotion has the capacity to throw actions out of balance, as it may, disrupting the behaviour of the individual. The monk, however, aims to distance themselves from emotion whilst remaining compassionate towards the emotions of others. To a sociopath that is easily agitated, an emotional outburst could trigger the desire to interfere with the behaviour of the individual, resulting a variety of probable outcomes, ranging from loss of consciousness due to blunt force head trauma to death caused by the rapid snapping of the neck. The monk, on the other hand, would view it as being provided with an opportunity of growth through the challenge of calming the unsettled individual with emotional support and meditative practises.

Mindfulness

To centre oneself entirely in the present moment requires the gradual release of the attachment to all forms of thought, most significantly the self. It also necessitates the letting go of ones attachment to emotions, which are also a kind of thought. In essence, the individual ceases to think and feel. “As long as one is caught up thinking or feeling, one is occupied reflecting or anticipating.” Within Buddhism, to live in such states of illusion perpetuated by thought is represented by The First Truth, which states that life is suffering. To therefore release the attachments to their own thoughts allows the individual to raise their level of awareness, which with freedom from illusion and suffering is attained. This increase in awareness is accompanied by compassion, arising from the direct experience of the individuals connection to all within existence through the regular practice of meditation. According to Buddhism, all beings possess the Buddha nature within themselves, even if it does not surface throughout an entire lifetime. This illustrates that at the core…we are all the same. Perceiving the subject in this manner, the difference between the sociopath and the monk is an illusion in itself.

The Mask of the Self

What are we without words? What are we without form? If one were to simply look at any individual as a whole, disregarding any thoughts of attraction or judgement. Merely perceiving them as they are. Usually until that individual speaks, they possess no language or nationality, yet we have already categorised them according to social class, status and appearance. These are also labelled as attachments…Attachments to that which is perceived as inappropriate and to that which is considered to be socially acceptable. Once one can get passed all superficial matters and observe another being,  perceiving them as possessing a unique personality and mind of their own…A intricate purpose and path of their own, which is connected to you through the very nature of reality itself. By mere existence upon the same planet, the same country or the same city, one human being affects another, often without conscious realisation. Succeeding all the challenges and struggles of life, we will all inevitable have to discover a manner, in which to live with ourselves and our surroundings. Humanity no longer values nature in the ways they used to. In fact, within the United States it has become against federal law to grow any kind of food in the garden of the average American citizen. Needless to mention, numerous elderly ladies were arrested and received ample amounts of fines and prison time to ponder upon their wrongdoings. Yet, have any human rights actually been violated? It would perhaps dent the wallets of the local supermarket. The true goal has a much more profound affect, the illegality of self-sufficiency. Within modern society, the archetype of the true monk has nearly faced extinction. Except for a few remote corners of the world, there are not as many die-hard monks as there used to be. Monks that would rise at 4am each morning to perform aerobic exercises and then spend countless hours in meditation every day. The ideal monk is in a meditative state throughout waking and sleeping consciousness, continuously focused upon the present. Such an individual cannot exist within modern Western society. They would represent all that which the capitalist and the socialist wish to abolish by pure nature of being. It is the monks way to simply be.
Not try, not do… To just be.
Everyone has at one point made a mistake that was irreparable. Some more than others. Learning by failure is a process that we all experience within life. Yet, once one puts aside superficial differences or quarrels with ourselves and others, one arrives at the inference that the suffering of life, its encompassing attachments and illusions, is a universal condition.

Conclusion

Within most organised religions, the vow of poverty stands for the physical side of detachment, whereas Eastern religions focus their energies upon purifying as well as cleansing the body, mind and spirit. They are intrinsically aware that each individual possesses their own path towards enlightenment that will differ from the path of another. Nonetheless, there are common denominators, which create the suffering that is experienced within life. The goal in itself becomes to transcend the pain experienced and distance oneself from it. Within a wide range of belief structures, the practitioner begins to accept full responsibility for their thoughts, their emotions and their actions. Partial responsibility is also accepted for each trauma experienced. The notion becomes to separate oneself from situations, which cause internal grief or unfavourable circumstances. To not involve oneself in the drama of life, therefore allows one to become detached from it. One does no longer requires or even desires the drama that life brings, thus one simply removes the causal factors that trigger them by editing oneself out of the situation. Numerous yogis and sages have retreated to the mountains for decades before re-surfacing to the public within a state of Samadhi, otherwise known as the ultimate state of peace and enlightenment.
Sociopathy, now known as anti-social disorder, is generally a genetic condition that cannot be cured or mended. Only the individual can gain control of their inclinations in order to expand their understanding of others. Needless to mention, countless high functioning sociopaths have marked history beyond the point of return, especially within religious or spiritual professions. Whereas psychopathy prefers the long drawn out emotional pain in others, the sociopath has no preference. More often than not, the response of a sociopath is provoked into violence whilst the psychopath does not necessarily require a trigger event to victimise another. Most interestingly of all, the behavioural tendencies of a psychopath would not allow them to linger on a mountain for decades without human contact, whereas the sociopath would experience no care or consideration towards the task. Psychopaths and sociopaths, although it is a common misconception that they are increasingly alike, nothing could be further from the truth. The psychopath experiences an urge, a compulsion or a drive of some sort, generally speaking, whereas the sociopath does not. The most suitable analogy would perhaps be an emotional filter that is different from the average human being. The emotions are present within the sociopath, yet they are disconnected and in the background. Hence, a sociopath with anger management issues can become a rather clinically challenging subject. As sociopathy is a genetic condition, it affects the very core make-up of the individual. If pushed beyond a certain point, the sociopath cannot differentiate between a slight emotional outburst and the action of snapping a neck. It is a whiplash between extreme emotions that differs from bipolar disorder, as the sociopath experiences conscious choice of expression of emotions to a certain degree. In conclusion, the choice of detach oneself for sociopathy, similarly the development of the love-map for a rapist, occurs during childhood. It becomes a foundation stone in the mental development of the sociopath. Truth be told, there is very little distinction between the warrior monk and the sociopath in moments of extreme discontent. Both ways of living are mirror images of another. They are equal sides of the same spectrum, attempting to alter the circumstances, merely approaching the matter from opposing viewpoints. Ironically, they are increasingly alike. Both are triggered by the need of the soap opera within real life by other human beings. The unintentional or intentional creation of problems within daily life. Both also hold another aspect in common, a neutrality towards animals. The sociopath as well as the monk would prefer to focus on the owner of the animal that was trained to attack over the animal itself, whereas most other types of individuals focus less on the actions of the participants and more towards the action of the animal. However, for instance, whereas monks would prefer to prevent animal testing, urging for the animals to be released back into nature, sociopaths rather prevent the average citizen from applying products, which stem from the cruelty towards animals, via methods of social engineering. In essence, the mere difference between both approaches is the choice that is made to start with. The first choice that guides all other choices. For instance, the monk has the ability choose to distance himself instead of involving himself in altering society until society has changed itself or to risk changing it himself, whereas the sociopath is in favourable circumstances provided with the choice whether not to kill whilst altering society or not to kill and distance himself from society, whilst remaining at the core of it. The sociopath would through instinct choose to remain within society either way. Yet, the choice becomes whether to distance onself from society by whatever means necessary or to modify it by any means necessitated. Conversely, the monk chooses to separate himself from society by whatever means necessary until he chooses to alter society by any means necessitated. One can even go as far as to predict the behaviour of a monk by observing a sociopath, and vice versa. Yet, the first choice at all times determines the probabilities of choices that are to follow.

Related:

– Dating a Higher Functioning Sociopath – Part 3

– Non-Attachment & Depopulation

– Relationships in Times of Mass Extinction

– Heightism – The Rules Revisited