Wisdom & Discomfort

0:00 - Wisdom's Paradoxical Nature
1:14 - A Working Definition
2:34 - Encountering our shadows
3:50 - Paring away distractions
6:42 - Facing our mortality
9:57 - Becoming ourselves
13:13 - Letting go of our addictions
16:16 - Decisions & honesty
18:43 - The meaning of commitment
23:21 - Summary
25:16 - Take care of your soul

[@thattimestampguy]

2:24 Recognize Accept Honor The wide terrain of Reality Even the parts we wish weren’t there 4:37 Clear Clutter Renounce & Enjoy Simplify 8:09 Wise Up 🆙 11:56 Wisdom is Exceptional 13:16 Overcome Addiction Self-Importance 16:17 Attachments begone

[@dhananjaypatil3116]

One truly dedicated Guy 😊

[@ericdodson2644]

Well, thanks once again, TTSG. I think I've told you this before, but it bears repeating: I love that you're actually listening attentively enough to ferret out my main ideas & themes. So, thanks most of all for hearing me that deeply. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@redsparks2025]

"An expert is a person who has found out by his own painful experience all the mistakes that one can make in a very narrow field." ~ Niels Bohr.

[@Ayesha_F]

Your videos have on numerous occasions helped me bring myself back to the state of awareness of what matters and what doesn't, when i have found myself getting too entangled in the delusion of it all. It's like a wave washing over me, gently imbibing in me what i already know to be true, but as the addictions, including the primary addiction of self importance creep back so easily, one needs to be somewhat vigilant. But I'm glad to be doing this work. I'm glad i can pull myself back every time i find myself sliding away. More and more easily over time. And you help with that. Thank you and God bless.

[@ericdodson2644]

Wow, thanks for telling me that, Ayesha. When I make these videos, my secret hope is that people will be able to use them to improve their lives much as you're describing. So, it makes me happy to know that you're gaining such a wonderful benefit from them. So, thanks for telling me that. And yeah, as we develop as human beings, a lot of it happens by way of a back-and-forth motion.... like tides ebbing and flowing over the shoreline of this world... being at times lost, and then finding ourselves once again. So, it also makes me happy to hear that you're ebbing and flowing, along with the universe as a whole. That's really cool. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@artemismoonbow2475]

We spend the first half of our lives accumulating things. For some it is experience, others education, some chase wealth, while matters of the heart and relations are the drive. Titles and recognition, fame and infamy, even failure and obscurity are things that await for those that strive. There are clearly many things to accumulate for the multitude of us out there and all of us get a fair measure of hurt, pain, anger, and joy, pleasure, and happiness as well. Then we hit middle age and if you are tired (I think, I'm in the process now ask again in 20 years), you spend the rest of your life letting go of all of it. I feel like Richard Pryor and John Cany are getting the last laugh on this one. Thanks a million Bruster.

[@dhananjaypatil3116]

Thanks Mr Eric for yet another wonderful dialogue. It is nice to hear you converse and laugh with yourself 😊 It's amazing to be able to listen to you 🙏

[@ericdodson2644]

Well, Dhananjay, thanks for telling me that. To me it's a wonderful blessing to give joy and helpful ideas to people. So, I'm glad that it happened that way for you. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@Sanju-ej5yj]

Hello Eric. I know that the things you tell are pretty close to the reality of human life because I happen to know a person who says similar things though he has not read much from outside. He told me that he went very deep in himself when he was in his early 20s. He used to cry the whole day and each day felt like a thousand years. He told me that he got to know the real meaning of every word in that time. He says that he witnessed his psychological death then and got pretty sick physically after that. I don't know but he is not like normal human being. Everyone who knows him respects him deeply. He is an unusually stable person. And whenever I talk to him, he gives me a saner perspective about things.

[@ericdodson2644]

Well, I feel honored that you would compare me to such a person. So, thank-you for that. Maybe your friend and I seem similar because we've both practiced a type of meditation -- just a theory. Anyhow, thanks for taking the time to watch & comment. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@VibingTribes]

You're one of the very few things I trust anymore.

[@ericdodson2644]

Well, thanks. It sounds like you might trust me more than I do... ha ha. Anyhow, thanks for taking the time to watch & listen. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@shawnburnham1]

Self Importance!!!! David Foster Wallace "This is Water" speech

[@ericdodson2644]

Dang... that was a really, REALLY cool speech. Thanks for sharing it with me. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@shawnburnham1]

​@@ericdodson2644 WHY WE DON'T TRUST THE NEWS by you leads into "The Social Matrix - How Society Is A Mass Hallucination" video

[@titoluzuriaga8217]

Decades with it but this kind of random characters still makes me be thankful of internet as I was in the early days. Great content!

[@lcastjr]

I love your explanation. Hugs/ abrazos

[@susannabonke8552]

We are not able to leave addiction unless we embrace the true self first. Mr. Gandhi was so focused that he didn't miss the things.

[@camargorafael420]

❤Your Videos it's like Gain 1 year in life experience in a few minutes...

[@ericdodson2644]

Wow... maybe you'll level-up soon. Anyhow, thanks for taking the time to watch & listen. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@konstantinoskonstantinos8524]

Thank you Mr Dodson! Greetings from Greece

[@dannyhendron2903]

Your point here about the real nature of commitment is an excellent one that had never crossed my mind before. It seems obvious enough that making these bold sweeping statements about how we're going to change is setting ourselves up for failure - just look at the gym on the 2nd of January compared to the 1st! But I'd never given it much thought. As ever, your video has left me with a little nugget of philosophy to reflect on, and hopefully learn from. Thanks once more, and take care of your soul too.

[@jonathanrabbitt]

Fools rush in; and get the best seats...

[@ericdodson2644]

Well, speaking of wisdom... Blake once famously claimed that if the fool would persist in his foolishness, he would eventually become wise. So, the distinction between foolishness and wisdom probably isn't as dichotomous as it might seem at first. Anyhow, thanks for watching & listening. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@yaboydolphin]

love coming back to these once and a while

[@ericdodson2644]

Well, I'd say that love isn't a bad reason to return. In any case, I'm grateful for your presence, and your willingness to listen. So, thanks for that. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@alexnorcal3209]

You're a good talker, when I try to wax eloquent myself I have lots more delay when I look away to think of what to say next.

[@Anthony-zo3dk]

I've watched just about all your uploads....i not only enjoy the info and philosophy, but you as a person and manner of approach. I wish you all the best. Looking forward to your future videos

[@dlloydy5356]

Wow I think this video resonated with me more than any other.....so far. A lot of light bulb moments here. We think things will never happen to us....until they do. Thanks for this love it!

[@ericdodson2644]

Well, Danny... thanks as always for taking the time to tune-in and listen. It makes me happy that this video helped you in some small way on your journey through this world. That's gratifying, especially because that's exactly why I make these videos in the first place. So, thanks for telling me that. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@dlloydy5356]

@@ericdodson2644 that’s great. A double beneficiary factor 😂

[@ascepelus4896]

Listening to you discuss these concepts and ideas makes the complexity of the world seem much more simple in a strange way. It's comforting somehow. Thanks.

[@fibonacci3138]

This is an amazing video, i watched it a few months ago, and your definition of wisdom genuinely allows me to push myself everyday(or most of the days, just whenever i remember it ahaha). Thank you!

[@marcsandroni4898]

Awesome video!

[@prithvirajbansode3518]

Great video, well articulated.

[@ronangronau2152]

Great video Eric!

[@ericdodson2644]

Well, thanks. And thanks to YOU for taking the time to watch it. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@busheybushdawg]

On Self importance: Why are you unhappy? Because 99.9 percent of everything you think, and of everything you do, is for yourself-and there isn’t one. -Wei Wu Wei

[@dlloydy5356]

Hooray! I hope all is good with you there!

[@ericdodson2644]

Well, all is reasonably good. My wife and I have had a bit of a harrowing journey over the last couple of months with her heart surgery (valve replacement). So, I've been more-or-less consumed with that for a while. But we're seemingly coming to the end of that particular tunnel. In any case, greetings from Georgia, USA. Eric D.

[@dlloydy5356]

@@ericdodson2644 that’s great news. I remember you saying about it. I didn’t want to refer to it here (broadcast) as I thought it might be a private matter that you didn’t want repeating again. Best wishes to you & your good lady of course.

[@nicknorizadeh4336]

Wisdom comes through suffering alone - Aesychlus

[@shawnburnham1]

honesty is about the "sweet-spot" (no true conspiracy talk)

[@smokefeet]

Can you make a video on rejection and why we need it? I struggled with being rejected my whole life and it made me a coward and i hide in the shadows . I want to embrace life and face rejection. i thought maybe you could help me and other people like me who need a little help finding courage and strength despite our fear of being rejected by the world. I see ayou have a shine of authenticity and hope you can lead some of us who would like to find our own sir

[@ericdodson2644]

Dude... that's a great idea! I like it, and I'll probably do it. It may take a bit, since we're about to go on vacation. But thanks for the really cool idea. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@smokefeet]

@@ericdodson2644 Thank you for all the material and your authenticity . Cheers mate

[@sensereference2227]

This reminds of a scene from the film Donnie Darko except instead of "Fear VS Love" it's "Addiction VS Wisdom": Donnie: [Reading the assignment prompt written on the lifeline exercise card] Ling-ling finds a wallet on the ground filled with money. She takes the wallet to the address on the driver's license, but keeps the money inside the wallet. Donnie: [Stops reading and looks at the teacher] I'm sorry miss Farmer I don't get this. Kitty Farmer: [Points to drawing of a line on the blackboard with the label "fear" on one end and "love" on the other] Just place an X on the Lifeline in the appropriate place. Donnie: No, I mean I know what to do. I just I don't get this. You can't just lump things into two categories. Things aren't that simple. Kitty Farmer: [Points to blackboard again] The Lifeline is divided that way. Donnie : Well, life isn't that simple. I mean, who cares if Ling Ling returns the wallet and keeps the money? It has nothing to do with either fear or love. Kitty Farmer : Fear and love are the deepest of human emotions. Donnie : Okay. But you're not listening to me. There are other things that need to be taken into account here, like the whole spectrum of human emotion! You can't just lump everything into these two categories and then just deny everything else! Kitty Farmer : If you don't complete the assignment, you'll get a zero for the day. [motions to speak...] Kitty Farmer : [cut to principal's office] Principal Cole : Donald, let me preface this by saying that your Iowa test scores are... intimidating. So... let's go over this again. What exactly did you say to Ms. Farmer? Kitty Farmer : [loudly interjecting] I'll tell you what he said! He asked me to forcibly insert the lifeline exercise card into my anus!

[@ericdodson2644]

Ha ha... Donnie Darko... it's probably been a couple of decades since I've seen that film So I don't remember the particular scene you're describing. However, I'll improvise a bit anyhow... like Donnie, I don't have a lot of faith in simple dichotomies, mostly because they tend to pass over the fundamental subtleties & complexities of human existence. At best, they're rough approximations of life's actual terrain. Sure, at points, they can be useful. But it would be a mistake to think that they're coterminous with the landscape they're trying to describe. And I'd say that the same is true of addiction and wisdom. The point isn't to see them as diametrical opposites, but in terms of their fundamental entanglement, and in terms of their relation to many other human phenomena, too. But hey, that's just me. As in all things, your own mileage may vary. In any case, thanks for listening. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@annedizenzo3153]

Eric, have you spoken about Hannah Ardendt in one of your videos? I would be curious about your thoughts on her political philosophy.

[@haniffhaniff5764]

Love the insights around developing wisdom. I wish i could also know the source of all these insights. Which books or field of studies (sociology, physchology etc), so i dont feel bad not being able to come up with these ideas on my own. Maybe i m not making sense here lol

[@ericdodson2644]

Well, Haniff... I'd say that these sorts of insights spring from two main sources: First, my own personal journey through this world... and second, my long-standing interest in things like Phenomenology, Existentialism, Humanistic Psychology and Buddhism. However, it seems to me that underneath all that, the big secret is to stay curious about life, and interested in it... to nurture that childlike part of us that's still capable of being amazed by what we're experiencing, and able to find it magical and miraculous. In my view, when we're able to recover that childlike part of ourselves, then it's fairly easy and natural to keep questioning and exploring things... and consequently to have more and more insights about life over time. At least that's how it works for me. But we're all different to an extent, and so I suspect that it's really a matter of finding a path that works for you personally. In any case, thanks as always for taking the time to watch & listen. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@haniffhaniff5764]

@@ericdodson2644 "Phenomenology, Existentialism, Humanistic Psychology and Buddhism". Thank you once again for sharing insights

[@Bobotv1000]

But Eric, how do you know that life is showing us anything at all? Isn't it all the projections of our own desires and needs some of them suppressed and not known to us?

[@ericdodson2644]

Well, it's certainly possible to see life that way. And there's a certain logical coherence to it, too... as long as you buy into the axiomatic suppositions. However, the very personal question remains: Is that really the *best* way of seeing life for any given person? My *own* answer is that the unconscious dynamics of projection are certainly operative within human affairs. But they're only part of the equation. The other major part has to do with the more external elements of alterity that (seemingly) exceed the outer limits of our projections. But I must confess that I see things that way *not* because it's any more logically coherent, but because it seems to yield a higher-quality life... to make things more fun and more interesting... more amplified and more enhanced. But hey, that's just me, at a certain point in my journey. As in all things, your own mileage may vary. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@StealBackYourHeart]

Ok Are you married? I'm addicted. LOL.

[@emy1111]

in flux better than no flux

[@ericdodson2644]

Yeah, I'm down with that. And in any case, we'll be freed from the fluxion of this life soon enough. So, we might as well ride the wild undulations of it while we can. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@williambonneau8578]

Do you think Joe Rogan is having a positive effect on the way we communicate...maybe making our conversations with each other a little bit more intelligent and genuine?

[@joshtheegotist]

Wisdom, to me, respectfully, has nothing to do with addiction. Focusing on addiction and behavior in general is not wisdom, it's another DARE class, and frankly I have been hearing this addiction noise long enough in my 42 years. That is exactly what everyone else is doing. I need to improve myself. I need to iron out my vices. I need to fall under a new behavior code. Childish. I was expecting higher shots, not milk. Milk. Like pure puritanical boredom. Maybe the Gen X rebel in me is just not having it. Look forward to better videos. 😎

[@ericdodson2644]

Well, as they say, "One man's meat is another man's poison." So it goes. Anyhow, as I'm saying in this video, it's important to learn to disappoint other people in order to be a little more true to ourselves. And it seems like that's part of what happened in this video. So, in a way, your response is providing a pretty good illustration of one of the points I'm trying to make. So, thanks for that. Anyhow... you're always free to skip over the parts of my videos that aren't very relevant to your personal situation. For instance, in this video you could have simply skipped past the long segment labelled, "Letting go of our addictions." After all, life is too short to be wasting lots of time on things that aren't really speaking to our lives. But in any case, thanks for taking the time to watch & listen, even if this video turned out to be a disappointment to you. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@haniffhaniff5764]

Quit watching internet porno lol

[@ericdodson2644]

Or... keep watching porno... but remember that there's a lot more to life than that. Eric D.