Is personal development the solution for world peace?

[bluedragon]

I've been thinking about the idea that if more and more people were to pursue their personal development to a greater extent, and become more principle-driven, more effective of insuring their happiness without the need for accumulation of wealth, have better social skills, wouldn't this lead to a better understanding at the larger scale of international relations?
I'm studying Geopolitics and International Relations in college and I am confused why so many great thinkers have come to the conclusion that states are inherently evil and they seek power, and that it is naive to think that things could ever be otherwise. That states are suprer-structures that have nothing to do with the way individuals behave, and bringing the analysis of international relations to the level of common sense is naive...

[Brutha]

I'm studying Geopolitics and International Relations in college and I am confused why so many great thinkers have come to the conclusion that states are inherently evil and they seek power, and that it is naive to think that things could ever be otherwise. That states are suprer-structures that have nothing to do with the way individuals behave, and bringing the analysis of international relations to the level of common sense is naive...

A lot of what gets taught in college comes from professors that haven't actually any experience in international relations or even smaller political actions but are good at making theories that sound clever.
In reality political decisions are made be those individuals in power.

Especially in America the top politicians are trained in things like NLP.
Obama certainly knows how to make an impression on people.

You have however a political climate where not telling people the truth improves the amount of power that a politician can wield.

McCain was during the election campaign more aggressive than Bush during his election campaign.
Obama was also more aggressive than John Kerry.

While McCain told a lot of lies he was still perceived as a straight talkers because he was honest about some personal things that many politicians wouldn't have.
Mostly things that people could find out anyway.
Creating such a perception of being a straight talkers receivers an enormous amount of skill.

I also think that you make a mistake when you believe that most politicians are primarily motivated by the accumulation of wealth.
It's more about power and influence.

A politicians has always to convince other people to actually pass a law or to make another change of policy.
If he doesn't he loses the loyality of his supporters and therefore his power.

The interesting thing about Obama is that he tries to convince people directly through principles instead of appealing to practical arguments.
That doesn't mean that he himself actually is more driven by principles than by 'political realities' but it does change the way that other people around him think.

But it also becomes kind of dishonest when the things that he is himself driven by don't match with the principles he talks about.

[Daffy Duck]

I'd like to say no, because I feel that "personal development" is always what everyone is trying to do, whether or not they're conscious of it.

[bluedragon]

I think some are trying to take from others instead of developing their own ability to get what they want. You could say that is personal development too (learning to manipulate/steal), but some don't make an art out of it, they just look around them and wonder "who could I hurt or fool now?"

[Dot]

Originally Posted by bluedragon

...more effective of insuring their happiness without the need for accumulation of wealth...

Why is there a problem with wealth?

[funchy]

I think you're on the right track. Much of war, violence, and suffering is people acting out of aggression when they don't consider or don't know other ways to solve their problems.

Originally Posted by Dot

bluedragon: "...more effective of insuring their happiness without the need for accumulation of wealth..."

Why is there a problem with wealth?

Wealth isn't inherently evil, but if one cannot be happy without accumulating more and more wealth, there is a serious problem. Money is not happiness.

[songwriter]

I answer a big YES to your question.
Well not only "Personal Development" but anything related with people being better or feel better in any way.

As Lenin said... and predicted "a change in the estructure influences all the super-estructure". He predicted the fall of communism because of that, he knew something would change people even in the state tried to control everything to leaves things are they were. And you know the most universal, easily accessed and direct culture is music.

Russia was a very controling regime, but, anyway some cultural things got to enter so people changed so the country changed.

There's a DVD "Paul McCartney in the Red Square", that explains all about it, with Russian historicians, Putin, Gorbachev themselves... And it seems pretty clear The Beatles were the institution that did more for the fall of Communism.

Dylan had a big part in many things in USA in the 60s, civil rights, etc.
Woody Guthrie did a huge job in the Great Depression recovery in the USA too.
They PDd people...

"No Direction Home" of Scorsese about Dylan
or "Paul McCartney in the Red Square" are great examples of DVD that show how the world changes, for instance with music.

still a heck of a lot to do...
Paul McCartney in Tel Aviv-Give Peace A Chance
YouTube - Paul Mc Cartney Give Peace a Chance in Israel

great podcast Paul

or we can go back...
Lennon at his bed with people around-Give Peace A Chance
YouTube - Give Peace A Chance - John Lennon

or Peter Paul and Mary doing Blowing in the wind and Give Peace A Chance
in the Washington Peace March 1971
YouTube - Peter, Paul & Mary - Washington Peace March - 1971

if this is not THAT I don't what it is then...

[Aleksander Krstic]

My answer is yes, I think that if everyone was compassionate, there would be no wars in the entire world.

[Andrew Brunelle]

I would have to say if it is used correctly, then yes. Some people will use PD for their own selfish gain, while others will use it to help others. The lightworker kind of PD could give world peace and a whole lot of other equally amazing developments, but how can we expect 6.7 billion people to turn away from fear and embrace love? That's quite a challenge.

[songwriter]

Originally Posted by Andrew Brunelle

I would have to say if it is used correctly, then yes. Some people will use PD for their own selfish gain, while others will use it to help others. The lightworker kind of PD could give world peace and a whole lot of other equally amazing developments, but how can we expect 6.7 billion people to turn away from fear and embrace love? That's quite a challenge.

Don't worry, we got music for that.
I've read lot about PD, but nothing has ever moved me much. That's the problem, art is moving. Explaining things in a cold way is not moving so it doesn't influence people so much.

The simplest musical message is more powerful that any lines you can write.
It works even with animals (and I guess vegetables), it's the language of the soul, of all souls.
3 notes can ressonate more in you and do a better job inside you that an entire book of PD.

[Aleksander Krstic]

Originally Posted by songwriter

Don't worry, we got music for that.
I've read lot about PD, but nothing has ever moved me much. That's the problem, art is moving. Explaining things in a cold way is not moving so it doesn't influence people so much.

The simplest musical message is more powerful that any lines you can write.
It works even with animals (and I guess vegetables), it's the language of the soul, of all souls.
3 notes can ressonate more in you and do a better job inside you that an entire book of PD.

Actually I believe everyone is different, so art might not work best for everyone.

I do agree it is a good technique, however.

[bluedragon]

Originally Posted by Andrew Brunelle

I would have to say if it is used correctly, then yes. Some people will use PD for their own selfish gain, while others will use it to help others. The lightworker kind of PD could give world peace and a whole lot of other equally amazing developments, but how can we expect 6.7 billion people to turn away from fear and embrace love? That's quite a challenge.

I'm not sure, but I like to think that fear is caused by the inability to defend yourself and to obtain what you want. If you get better at getting what you want, you are not afraid that someone else will get ahead of you. You know that even if everybody was ahead of you, you would still be in a pretty good place, because everybody would have to be terrific in order to beat you, since you are very good yourself. And in that case, you would have a lot to learn from competing with such worthy adversaries, and you would have a lot to gain by associating with them, instead of sabotaging them.
Isn't the scarcity mentality that makes people not want to share what they have?

[bluedragon]

Originally Posted by songwriter

Don't worry, we got music for that.
I've read lot about PD, but nothing has ever moved me much. That's the problem, art is moving. Explaining things in a cold way is not moving so it doesn't influence people so much.

The simplest musical message is more powerful that any lines you can write.
It works even with animals (and I guess vegetables), it's the language of the soul, of all souls.
3 notes can ressonate more in you and do a better job inside you that an entire book of PD.

I would not be so sure about that. Have you seen how some Youtube videos are being trolled, and how people insult even the world's greatest singers, just because they don't like how they striked a note?
When Dulce Pontes, one of the greates singers of Portugal, sang poorly at one an important event, there were so many portuguese people insulting her, even though apparently there were many factors to blame for the poor performance, while if you look at the studio version of the song, it is just sublime, and there, of course, all comments are positive.
Lara Fabian is also criticized on many videos, even though I don't think anybody's music has moved me so much as hers.
And then people always compare singers to one another and blame singers for "trying to imitate another", even when both are equally great and magnificent and they do equal justice to a particular song.
So I don't know about music...
However, I personally love all music, and it would be impossible for me to feel aversion towards any singer - especially one that has inspired millions of fans.

[Brutha]

The lightworker kind of PD could give world peace and a whole lot of other equally amazing developments, but how can we expect 6.7 billion people to turn away from fear and embrace love? That's quite a challenge.

You start with embracing love.
Unfortunately that not a given for most people.
Even for people in this forum who rather want to hate the government than approach the subject of politics with a positive perspective.

To politicians you have to talk a bit differently. That talk looks like Global Guerrillas: TORTURE AND MORAL ISOLATION

[songwriter]

Originally Posted by Aleksander Krstic

Actually I believe everyone is different, so art might not work best for everyone.

I do agree it is a good technique, however.

if you notice, religions use it constantly

[songwriter]

Originally Posted by bluedragon

I would not be so sure about that. Have you seen how some Youtube videos are being trolled, and how people insult even the world's greatest singers, just because they don't like how they striked a note?
When Dulce Pontes, one of the greates singers of Portugal, sang poorly at one an important event, there were so many portuguese people insulting her, even though apparently there were many factors to blame for the poor performance, while if you look at the studio version of the song, it is just sublime, and there, of course, all comments are positive.
Lara Fabian is also criticized on many videos, even though I don't think anybody's music has moved me so much as hers.
And then people always compare singers to one another and blame singers for "trying to imitate another", even when both are equally great and magnificent and they do equal justice to a particular song.
So I don't know about music...
However, I personally love all music, and it would be impossible for me to feel aversion towards any singer - especially one that has inspired millions of fans.

that's people addicted to complaining, they only search the thing they like the less to go and complain of its existence.... (then atracting more of these things to their lifes) Very smart

[Eric Roosevelt]

The number of armed conflicts has actually been decreasing the last few decades. But apart from achieving world peace, there are also environmental problems and a decline in natural resources, amongst other things.

Yes, I think we have to start by improving ourselves at the individual level. On the other hand, it won't be easy, and it's not always obvious what goals to prioritize or how to achieve them.

Us humans have been talking about improving ourselves for thousands of years now. Plato's dialogues contain elaborate discussions on character development, and throughout history personal development has taken many different forms, including religion.

I'm pretty optimistic though. There's a lot of latent intelligence and creativity in the world. I'm also convinced that more or less everyone is good at heart and wants to contribute something of value. But as Steve has often mentioned, one of the problems is that most people don't live consciously. It doesn't help much that we know about the world's problems, if we can't learn to face our fears and take action towards our goals.

I think it would be a good idea to start teaching young children basic principles of personal development, with a special emphasis on the fact that it's not easy for most people. When people grow up with the illusion that everything is cut out for them, they experience a shock at some point when they realize that life is challenging. That's when people start lowering their consciousness, which leads to all sorts of destructive behaviors.

Even if you think world peace isn't possible because we have a biological tendency towards aggression, raising our consciousness about the underlying biological functions can help us overcome them. We would probably make huge leaps forward if we could channel even a fraction of the energy we use on aggression for finding creative solutions.

[songwriter]

it's about getting conscious...

The Beatles went to India in 1968 to meditate. They met there who's supposed to be the creator of the meditation technique, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Past week or so, David Lynch organized kind of a concert-event to try to make all the children in the world to meditate.
It's quite interesting. They say it's probably the most effective way of getting a better world.

Paul McCartney said that the Maharishi used to say a lot "We must be cosmically conscious.... it's such a joy!"

As a songwriter is a messenger, Paul did his job and wrote a song about it and he sang it on the concert.

this is the link to the David Lynch Foundation, well it's not ALL children but one milion at risk.

Transcendental Meditation : Education : David Lynch Foundation

There's the replay of the press conference.

I must tell you I don't think what means to be "Cosmically Conscious", not even with the McCartney song he wrote in 1968

Here's the song in that concert anyway-Paul McCartney and lots of others "Cosmically conscious (it's such a joy)"

YouTube - Cosmically Conscious- Paul McCartney, Ringo Star, bettye Lavette, Sheryl Crow

at least people sing it...
"ought to be cosmically conscious
cosmically conscious we need...

it's such a joy, joy, joy"

Only this made Paul and Ringo perform together again!

here Paul explains what Maharishi said before the music
YouTube - Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr - Cosmically Conscious - Radio City - April 4, 2009

and here's the part of the conference where Paul and Ringo explain their trip, a mad thing to do then... a rock and roll band going to India... but they were a bridge in a Marco Polo way
YouTube - BEATLES BENEFIT MEDITATION WITH HELP FROM HARPER, VEDDER, CROW, DONOVAN, BEACH BOYS

[bluedragon]

Originally Posted by Eric Roosevelt

We would probably make huge leaps forward if we could channel even a fraction of the energy we use on aggression for finding creative solutions.

It must be that way, because most people probably only work at 10% of their easily-attainable potential... Productivity experts claim that out of a 8-hour workday, the average worker only works about... half an hour? That's pretty lame. Especially since, if one doesn't have a purpose, he probably works at 0% efficiency, or even negatively, straying away from his aspirations.
Most people have no idea how to manage their emotions or how to handle failure while navigating their way through life. Things like waking up at 6 seem to them like climbing the Everest, while eating raw broccoli or spinach - like some weird habit that only aliens from others planets could handle.
No wonder most people are so weak that they can only see their own safety by attacking others to prevent being hurt. That translates into international policy - "a nation must know when to attack in order to preserve peace, otherwise, when (if) the enemy attacks, it may be to late to retaliate" and things along those lines.

[songwriter]

Originally Posted by bluedragon

It must be that way, because most people probably only work at 10% of their easily-attainable potential... Productivity experts claim that out of a 8-hour workday, the average worker only works about... half an hour? That's pretty lame. Especially since, if one doesn't have a purpose, he probably works at 0% efficiency, or even negatively, straying away from his aspirations.
Most people have no idea how to manage their emotions or how to handle failure while navigating their way through life. Things like waking up at 6 seem to them like climbing the Everest, while eating raw broccoli or spinach - like some weird habit that only aliens from others planets could handle.
No wonder most people are so weak that they can only see their own safety by attacking others to prevent being hurt. That translates into international policy - "a nation must know when to attack in order to preserve peace, otherwise, when (if) the enemy attacks, it may be to late to retaliate" and things along those lines.

Recently I thought that "if you're not being creative, you're being destructive"
It made think a lot. I don't know if it's true . But well, when you're creative you're at your best, and when you're not like that you're like destructive for yourself and maybe others. Open-minded people use to be peaceful, and close-minded, aggressive.
I don't know if my quote is true or not, it looks good at last.

[brendannz]

Originally Posted by songwriter

Recently I thought that "if you're not being creative, you're being destructive"
It made think a lot. I don't know if it's true . But well, when you're creative you're at your best, and when you're not like that you're like destructive for yourself and maybe others. Open-minded people use to be peaceful, and close-minded, aggressive.
I don't know if my quote is true or not, it looks good at last.

good quote, but I don't think you need to be creative to be peaceful and caring for others.. (or maybe you do? not sure)

I think my creativity though makes me more peaceful, but sometimes I can get big-headed and egotistical with my art, and maybe others can too..

I think a good book about art and spirit is Alex Grey's The Mission of Art