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(Background music) Embracing Life's Discomforts Discomfort, regardless of size, lingers in our minds like dirt in our noses. No matter how much we clear our nose, the air we breathe carries new, uncomfortable dirt, standing in the way of our breath. Similarly, everyday life presents varieties of minor unease into our ears and other senses, no matter our situation or circumstance. Do you really think we can live a life that is completely free of any unease, of any degree of suffering, no matter how big or small? If we are not hungry, we will starve. If we are not thirsty, we will avoid drinking more often. Discomfort, therefore, contains a practical aspect that is worth embracing in the name of our survival. Perhaps children often feel less discomfort because they have their family to take care of them, so they have less to worry about. However, it's often that once we grow into adulthood, we may be less happy because we have far more concerns. Perhaps being yourself as an adult can reduce your unhappiness, yes? But "being yourself" won't negate the fact that you have bills to pay and things to afford. Rich or poor, popular or rejected as insane, empowered or controlled, our minds catch these discomforts. Like flies to honey, they stick in our consciousness. The presence of discomfort is an inseparable part of life's package. Of everyone's package. However, how we choose to perceive it, the emotional weight we assign it, -- that, dear readers, is pretty much our choice. Many struggle to distinguish between the "discomfort feature" and the way they choose to see it. They may see both their perception and its subject, as the same. This, in turn, negates our potential to endure it better. Why? Because our experience is shaped not only by what we experience, but also by how we regard it. Inspecting our perspectives, therefore, is imperative in the ability to customize the ways we experience the world. Our unwillingness or ignorance of the power of introspection, breeds an unconscious tendency to inflate inconveniences and individuals, leading to unnecessary, reduceable suffering. Instead of seeing them as unwanted dust bunnies, let us view them as fleeting clouds, passing shadows. Acknowledge their presence, yes, but don't let them rent too much space in your mentality. For much of our perception, and not just the discomfort itself, that determines its power over us. With a shift in perspective, we can remind ourselves that life is dynamic, ever-changing. We use our minds to strenghten our resilience by breaking the cognitive habits of our thinking, and reconstructing them. Our ability to navigate the ups and downs of life, is possible with greater ease and greater motivation, for we are not necessarily batteries to be recharged, but generators. Either way, a life devoid of any bumps or discomfort, would be a bland one indeed, as the absence of risk is, in a way, a great risk by itself -- risk of opportunity. Finding Opportunity in Discomfort Modern life offers a new level of comfort; a comfort that surpasses the hardships our ancestors endured through plagues, poverty, persecution, pillaging, human rights abuses, and military conflicts. We, the modern humans, undeniably enjoy a far wider spectrum of comfort, and pleasure compared to our distant past. Of course, it's although not all people enjoy the same level of comfort, making it, at large, a privilage that many people nonetheless have. Ignored minorities may have it harder, for example, as well as people who have to deal with war. And yet, in this era of comfort and hedonism, many of us still find ourselves agonizing over the remnants of discomfort that modernity has yet to eliminate. It's like a single grain of dirt amidst a pristine beach, a minor inconvenience that has survived the mass extinction of its larger counterparts. An example familiar to many: our modern impatience. Ironically, despite instant access at our fingertips, we often struggle with waiting. It can largely be due to stress. And of course, modern life, despite its entertainment value, is full of stress. I experienced this very issue once of impatience. My barber, promising a 10 minute break, vanished for 20 30 minutes. While many would complain, I saw this delay as an opportunity for introspection. Thanks to this "minor" discomfort, I took the inspiration to write (and later on, revamp) this article. Had the barber returned swiftly, this piece might as well never have came to fruition. This is my point: even the tiniest discomforts can spark immense productivity. They transform from annoying hiccups into springboards for creative leaps and other opportunities. Consider the possibility that comfort may hinder you from taking the necessary risks for new opportunities to be formed. Having your comfort unchallenged could make you less resourceful as resourcefulness comes at times of discomfort. That's because problematic times can serve as windows for thinking outside of the box. And by being more resourceful you can have a better chance at realizing more portions of your potential. Summary So, when discomfort arises, ask yourself: "Is this really as bad as I perceive it?" Often, our minds amplify inconvenience. "How can I convert this into a productive possibility?" Reframe the challenge as an opportunity for growth. Remember, the next time you encounter "a single grain of sand," it might just hold the potential for the production of something else, that wouldn't be there, if it weren't for it.

(Background music) When Society Fails to Equip Us for Life There are many things that society, even with a fairly invested ministry of education, fails to teach us in terms of giving us helpful insights to get through life. These are not just gaps in knowledge, but holes in our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Should we not discover these insights ourselves, our lack, caused by external incompetence, can be equivalent to our lacking any practical education whatsoever, beyond the mere formality of a graduation certificate. We become products of a system that prioritizes grades over growth remembering knowledge over applying wisdom, and conformity over deep thought. Much of who we are is indeed the product of the failure of others. If we had a traumatic childhood, it was due to the incompetence of those who raised us. If we live in constant fear and anxiety, it is due to the failure of those responsible for providing us safety, or at least the feeling that we are safe. The scars of these failures can run deep, shaping our perspectives, our relationships, and our very sense of self. When we are children, much of who we might become in the future lies in the hands of those we depend upon. This is not to say that we are powerless, but rather that our development is connected with the actions and choices of those around us. Whether they are equipped to guide us with competence and compassion can make a world of difference in the adults we eventually become. Therefore, it is crucial that we acknowledge these invisible gaps in our education, these areas where society fails to equip us with the tools we need to navigate life's complexities. We must not only seek out these missing pieces ourselves but also demand better from the institutions and individuals responsible for shaping our future. Only then can we truly claim to be educated, not just in the technical sense, but in the way that matters most: prepared to face the world with resilience, wisdom, and a deep understanding of ourselves. As long as we won't be thought to be virtuous, we are prone to serve as the building bricks of a morally depraved society, and morals are tied to our ability to be competent within our interactions with others, be them personal or professional. From Hindrance to Resilience But keep in mind, dwelling on the incompetence of others can become a time-consuming and wellbeing-depleting trap. Indeed, a crucial pillar of resilience often arises not from explicit instruction, but from the containmennt of unnecessary suffering caused by external shortcomings and misdeeds, or of a world built out of people who don't do their jobs properly. Navigating these challenges can forge a logic-fueled sense of resilience, a quiet strength born from overcoming obstacles placed in our path. Initially, I let the actions of others define my mood, the frustration a constant echo in my mind. Yet, I gradually realized that clinging to this anger only served to fuel the negativity. Instead, I shifted my focus, channeling the energy I once spent on futile attempts to control the actions of those who fail to understand me, into strengthening my own resilience. This shift, from dwelling on the impractical "why" to focusing on the controllable "how," proved transformative. By learning to navigate the ripples of external incompetence without letting people define my inner state, I found a deeper sense of peace and agency. For it I who controls myself, and am the one who gets to decide how much I actually regard others. Remember, while the world may present us with challenges, the freedom to choose how we respond lies within us, and is may be wider than we think. We can choose to let external negativity become a defeating hindrance, or we can choose to forge from it a quiet strength, a resilience born from the displeasure of adversity. Stop victimizing yourselves due to the incompetence of others. Is this the life you would want to live? A life defined by whining over how you want others to change, but cannot make them do so? Why rely on them, when you, in a sense, "must do everything yourself"? Remember what you can control, and stop worrying on things and beings you cannot do anything about them. Reclaiming Inner Peace It was then that I realized the true source of my unease: it wasn't just the external world's flaws, but my own irritation to them. By allowing the toxic reality of society, intentional or not, to breach my internal world, I was unknowingly contributing to my own discontent. See how we unconsciously enable that which we have no desire for. Take the example of many in Israel who express disdain for the news channels, despite their supposed "objective" reporting. These channels merely mirror the unfortunate events that occur, some caused by questionable authority decisions. Yet, for the non-resilient, witnessing these events can be enough to trigger withdrawal, especially at times of war, where they have yet to be mentally prepared. But the truth is, the incompetence of one doesn't always have to be another's misery. This is the core message of my book, "Solos Dinus," which explores the potential downside of empathy. While feeling empathy for unfortunate situations is moral, it can become counterproductive if it cripples our ability to navigate life's challenges. In other words, the incompetence of external reality to make things right, can also deteriorate the stability of our own internal competence as individuals, to function and progress through life. Balancing Benevolence and Self-Preservation Benevolent values like empathy and sympathy while noble, can prove impractical when faced with the need for self-preservation and practical functioning. This is not to say we should dismiss suffering, but rather distinguish between acknowledging it and allowing it to define our own well-being. Also, it could be one of the reasons why mercy isn't always a virtue. The key lies in drawing a healthy boundary between concern and self-preservation. External negativity, even if well-meaning, should not hinder our ability to function or pursue our own goals. Our internal peace is too precious to sacrifice at the altar of every societal grief and dysfunction. Where do we begin? By examining the things that preoccupy us. Often, we discover that many anxieties are self-inflicted, burdens we carry long after their initial impact. Repressing them, instead of facing them could prove counter-productive. Recognizing and releasing these unnecessary worries is a powerful first step towards inner peace. Remember, the world may be dysfunctional and messy, but our internal world doesn't have to mirror it. By learning to navigate the negativity without succumbing to it, we can cultivate the resilience needed to thrive in the face of adversity, and actually try to remain competent ourselves. Choose the things that truly matter, let go of the rest, and reclaim the power to define your own well-being.

(Background music) Solitude as Sanctuary, not Surrender A life of solitude, while controversial and unacceptable to some, can offer peace and tranquility. However, those trapped in counterproductive mindsets may not grasp the potential bliss of serenity found in being alone, a concept I've explored as "Bdiduta" ("Solitarus") in my native language quadrilogy. (Solitarus/Bdiduta essentially signifies the love of and acceptance of solitude as a viable life path). In response to an article I wrote about solitude, a commenter equated it with succumbing to the power of the External World, labeling it "defeatism." Let me, through logic and personal experience, explain why a solitary life isn't inherently defeatist, even if it might occasionally be. Here's why solitude isn't necessarily defeatist: Refuge from Negativity: Solitude can offer refuge from the external world's noise, pollution, and stress. Perhaps it is not wise to waste your health on a society that does not regard nor understands the long term implications of stress. Inner Exploration: It can be a time for introspection and self-reflection, paving the way for personal growth and development. Pursuing Personal Dreams: Freedom from societal expectations allows one to pursue one's own goals and aspirations. This isn't necessarily egoistic, when these dreams can hold an altruistic value. Even a quest for vengeance can hold the same value. Of course, solitude can also have a negative side, leading to loneliness and depression. However, it's crucial to avoid letting solitude tip into isolation. When chosen for the right reasons, solitude can be a positive and enriching experience. A sanctuary to what you can control and not necessarily surrender to what you cannot control. By shedding light on the misconceptions surrounding solitude, we can empower individuals to embrace its potential for peace, growth, and personal fulfillment. After all, "Solitarus" about isn't defeatism; it's a conscious choice to craft a life aligned with one's own needs and desires,whether or not it goes against the external world's desires and expectations of you. For your life belongs to you, in a world largely devoid of slavery (even though, according to the global slavery index, slavery is still a problem worldwide). From Loyal Dog to Luminous Beacon: Transforming Betrayal into Brilliance The gnawing silence from once-familiar faces feels like a betrayal carved into my soul, as different people experience pain differently. Each "unfollow" and "unsubscribe" wasn't just a digital blip, it was a shard of ice piercing the warmth I'd naively built around them. During the times where I was far more sensitive, these weren't fleeting internet features; they were people I'd held in high regard, as I was too empathic to not disregard (making high empathy a liability to an extent). And yet, perhaps that shared history wasn't enough for them to offer the same respect, not even a flicker of the loyalty I'd showered them with. Empathy isn't without its individual limits, and can be depleted over time like a fuel tank. To vanish without a whisper, to abandon a bond forged over years, is a cruel form of ghosting, normalized under the contemporary era. For some, it feels like being stabbed in the back, left bleeding in the dark with only the unanswered questions for company. Haven't they seen the pain etched into my desperate need for answers? Or do they simply not care due to the modern factors of apathy? The burning feelings of betrayal ignited a fire within me, a mix of hurt and defiance towards the man I once was. I might've been left in the dark, but I'll become my own light, a beacon that the world can't ignore. A beacon that can help others with insights. No longer will I beg nor depend my mental state on affection or chase the uncertainty of love and friendship, as a necessity for my mental state. No. I'm done seeking validation from those who couldn't or don't want to see my worth. I'm done being thirsty for love. I will live either way, fueled by my hunger for work, power and contribution to hummanity. I will live despite the pain, and I will use adversity not for victimhood but as a source for greater strength. In the shadows of my solitude, I will build an article empire, worthy of global relevance. My victory over years of pain, both physical and mental, will benefit all who wish to be benefitted. No longer a dog, I become a Rain, Pourer of articles. Revenge Through Reclamation This isn't about revenge alone; it's about reclamation. I have an entire life to prove them wrong, to show them the magnitude of their loss. I'll build myself into a beacon, a testament to the resilience that blooms from the ashes of betrayal, caused by those who were too cowardly to stay and help. My energies, once yearning for their approval, will be channeled into a purpose that burns brighter than their silence. I don't care for them anymore, because they refused caring for me. Whether or not they will understand, matters not to me. Instead, I'll channel my days to building a life that worships work, a life that screams of a man that mainly wants to contribute to others, and little else. They may have forgotten my loyalty, but the world will remember my growing, renovated legacy, long after both of our deaths. I refuse caring for those who have no desire to care for me. I did so too much, and it was a waste of my time and energies. Through my solitary work I will use the past not as a grudge but as a fuel for a life full of devotion to others. Because writing is a most solitary activity, also designated for self-discovery. When people use solitary activities to transform themselves into stronger, more capable beings, they are not defeatist escapists. No. They are people who seek to nurture power from within, in order to endure the hardships of life, more easily. And no matter what I will have to go through in life, I choose endurance. And through my ascetic practice, I will reclaim the honor I once had at my days as a student. And this time, I will let no one stand in my path. Not even my skin hunger. For the blood of trauma survivors flows through my genes. And even when my country is at war, I refuse resorting to victimhood.

(Bacground music) The Two Layers of Desire: Beyond the Feeling Today, I delve into the complex realm of desire, exploring not just its familiar emotional layer, but also its hidden, cognitive counterpart. Desire, as we all know, is a powerful force – a feeling, or hope, that drives our actions, propels us forward, and shapes our choices in the freedom they have. But is desire solely an emotional impulse, or is there more to it than meets the eye? The truth, I propose, is that desire is not simply a feeling; it is also a cognitive decision. We may experience desire as an emotion, a pull towards something we want, but the decision to pursue that desire, to truly embrace it, is a conscious choice. This cognitive aspect of desire, often overlooked, holds immense potential for personal growth and self-mastery. For desire is also composed of our relationships with our feelings, whether or not we are aware of them. Who is to say we desire something inside of us that propels us to do something, against our own will? Who's to say we are fully united with our impulses by consent? Who's to say we agree with what we feel just because we feel it? As such, the human being is also a judge of their own emotion, and it is their role to either approve or disapprove of them. Hence why there is a great duality between our intentions and plans and between our feelings. As such, they are not always aligned with one another, nor have to be, in order for a desire to be made. Due to the irrational aspect existent in humans, people can be highly mixed within themselves, leading to inconsistency and internal conflict within in our desires as well. Anchoring in Ambition Think of it this way: our feelings are like passing clouds, ever-changing and sometimes fleeting. But our decisions, once made, become the anchors that hold us steady amidst the emotional tide. By consciously deciding to pursue something even when the feeling may not be immediately present (if at all), we transcend the limitations of our fluctuating emotions and unlock a deeper wellspring of potential within us, forged in discipline and determination. This has been a profound revelation for me on my own journey of self-exploration. Through the practice of asceticism, I have discovered the power of desiring without feeling. By setting goals and committing to them with unwavering determination, even when the immediate emotional pull may be weak, I have witnessed a remarkable growth within myself. The discipline of choosing intention over fleeting emotional desire, consciously directing my will towards a chosen path, has forged a strength and resilience I never knew possible. And it is one of the reasons we should be ruthless towards ourselves -- in the name of our ambitions. This is not to say that emotions are irrelevant. They are a vital part of the human experience, and they play a crucial role in shaping our desires. But by recognizing the cognitive dimension of desire, by understanding it as a choice we can make, we gain a powerful tool for shaping our own lives. We can learn to desire beyond the limitations of our immediate feelings, to reach for goals that may not yet ignite our passions but hold the promise of long-term fulfillment and growth. So, let us move beyond the simplistic notion of desire as a mere feeling. Let us embrace its intellectual complexity, with its power as a conscious choice. Let us choose desire, regardless of emotion, and watch our potential expend in its application. For we are more than our emotions, and they are merely part of us. Fueling Your Power Generator Have you ever felt pulled in two directions: one driven by your immediate feelings, the other by a deeper set of aspirations, not necessarily aligned with one another in any way? This internal tug-of-war often hinges on how we perceive desire itself. Do we see it as a passive battery, draining with every whim, or as a powerful generator waiting to be fueled by our relentless tenacity? The prevailing view, unfortunately, leans towards the battery model. We are conditioned to believe that our choices are merely reflections of our fleeting emotions, like puppets dancing to the strings of momentary desire. This can be compared to the biblical High Priest's Breastplate, that was used to communicate with a higher power, using the glow of its gemstones. The gem's glow can be compared to the "glow" of our feelings -- absolutely short-term and not within our direct authority. This perception, however, significantly diminishes our agency and limits our potential. Imagine being told, "You can only act when the battery is recharged." What a paralyzing thought, that we must be recharged by something or someone in order to operate in the world. It is said that writers needs muse, but it is technically false when you can have the tenacity required to write regardless of muses, like a plumber can work regardless of an inspiration to do so. This is where cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) offers a liberating perspective. Through this battery-versus-generator analogy, CBT teaches us to see desire as a dynamic force fueled by our own thoughts and decisions. Just like a generator, our desire can be sparked, nurtured, and amplified through conscious effort and our life philosophies. From Emotion's Puppet to Ambition's Architect Think of a fitness goal. Waiting for the elusive "feeling" of wanting to exercise can make your gym membership gather dust in abandonment. Instead, by making a cognitive decision to prioritize your health, regardless of your fluctuating feelings, you become an engineer of your own desire. With each intentional step on the treadmill, with lift of weight you feed the generator of your own hopes and dreams. Slowly, the "feeling" of wanting to exercise catches up, but now it's fueled by the momentum of your conscious choice. And in it, emotion can merely be a component, rather than a mastermind. This transformative shift from a passive container to an active designer of desire, holds the key to a life of a vast, relentless possibility. No longer bound to the whims of fleeting emotions, we unlock the power to chart our own course, rise above the lure of temporary satisfaction, and craft a life that resonates with our deepest aspirations. This shift in perspective is not a denial of emotions, but an evolution beyond their limitations, as we can't exactly deny the fact that they hinder us (as with the example of laziness). Emotions inform our desires, they add color and vibrancy to our ambitions, but they should not be the sole compass guiding our journey. Let us cast aside the limiting battery model, where desire flickers regardless of our own consent, that can exist regardless of what we feel. In its place, we embrace the boundless potential of an internal, supreme leader, fueled by the steady fire of conscious choice. Here, we become the architects of our own ambitions, carefully directing our will, brick by deliberate brick, to build a life that reflects our honest vision of what we want to be, and what life we want to live.

(Background music) (External source) ********************* (French translation by Mr. Roland Leblanc. English Below) La Philosophie Rubinshteinique En Bref. Bien qu’en partant de 6 livres, j'ai réussi à résumer l'intégralité de ma philosophie en un seul article, pour que vous puissiez apprécier et améliorer votre compréhension de la philosophie que j'ai à offrir au monde. Voici une collection d'idées et de principes qui jusqu'à présent ont été développés sur un total de ces 7 livres, 4 dans ma langue maternelle, l'hébreu, deux en anglais et un que je pourrais publier en privé dans quelques mois, en anglais également: 1. L'indépendance est la clé de la réalisation de soi : Alors que d'autres peuvent nous aider en cours de route, les objectifs de la réalisation de soi sont de s'actualiser au-delà de la sphère de la société, AKA (aussi connu sous le nom de), nous en tant qu'individus sommes plus que ce que nous pensons que la société pense de nous, mais des personnes avec des potentiels différents qui devraient être découverts grâce à l'utilisation de la solitude. 2. L'égoïsme n'est pas héréditairement mauvais : Il n'y a aucune faute à mettre votre propre partisanerie au-dessus des partisaneries des autres, et en fait vous pouvez toujours contribuer aux autres même si vous mettez votre propre intérêt en priorité. 3. La société est globalement centrée sur elle-même, AKA, sociocentrique : Cette idée ne s'adresse pas à une société en particulier, mais à un collectif au sens large. Pour que le collectif se préserve et acquière plus d'autorité sur les autres, il incite ses membres à se centrer d'abord sur lui-même, comme s'il était le centre de toute existence. L'une des façons d'y parvenir est d'encourager les gens à ne pas être seuls, car être largement solitaire signifie se déconnecter de l'emprise de la société. Une autre façon de le faire est de créer une autorité des normes pour influencer les individus à aspirer à s'engager dans la norme et à dédaigner tout ce qui est considéré comme bizarre et excentrique, nous limitant ainsi au nom de son influence sur nous. 4. L'isolement est la clé d'une liberté optimale dans des circonstances réalistes : La liberté ultime est impossible, car nous sommes toujours dépendants des choses et des êtres pour nous maintenir en vie. Cependant, plus nous nous isolons et développons notre propre individualité, plus nous pouvons nous rapprocher de la liberté optimale des chaînes de la conformité. 5. Tous les humains ne sont pas nécessairement des créatures sociales : Il peut y avoir beaucoup de gens qui préfèrent leur propre compagnie à la compagnie des autres, et certains peuvent même aimer le faire plutôt que de socialiser. Le dicton selon lequel tous les gens sont des créatures sociales est donc une généralisation stéréotypée. 6. L'âge de la solitude : En raison de la domination de la technologie sur nos vies, nous devenons de moins en moins sociaux, car beaucoup d'entre nous passent du temps devant des écrans plutôt que devant des gens. Même si nous avons un accès mondial aux personnes du monde entier, nous sommes néanmoins plus seuls que jamais. Par conséquent, si nous apprenons à accepter l'isolement dans nos vies et même à l'utiliser pour notre propre bénéfice, nous pouvons surmonter « l'épidémie » contemporaine de solitude. 7. Être un solitaire ne fait pas de vous un égoïste : la solitude peut être utilisée au profit de la société. Les écrivains, les artistes, les philosophes, etc. sont tous des exemples de personnes qui utilisent la solitude pour contribuer au monde dans son ensemble. 8. Être un solitaire ne fait pas non plus de vous un perdant : Vous pouvez réussir dans n'importe quel domaine dans lequel vous êtes doué, même si vous êtes un solitaire, et le succès ne doit pas nécessairement passer par des moyens sociétaux ou normatifs, tels que le mariage, le sexe et la richesse. 9. L'autodiscipline et un style de vie plus ascétique peuvent vous rapprocher d'une liberté optimale : Le matérialisme financier a le défaut de nous rendre addictifs aux achats incessants et à la consommation, et les addictions par nature sont asservissantes. Si nous menons une vie plus saine en rendant nos vies plus ascétiques, nous pouvons devenir plus indépendants et plus résistants aux dépendances qui sont toxiques pour nous même si elles nous font nous sentir bien. Le bon sentiment que nous recevons d'eux est en fait une illusion de bien, d'où la raison pour laquelle nous les poursuivons. 10. Vivre et laisser vivre : Il n'est pas juste d'imposer vos croyances aux autres, car un tel droit n'existe pas. Les gens devraient avoir la liberté de croire en ce qu'ils veulent, car c'est la liberté la plus fondamentale que nous ayons. C'est pourquoi les technologies futures telles que l'interface cerveau-machine sont dangereuses, car nos esprits n'ont pas besoin d'être envahis ou modifiés par des forces extérieures à moins que nous ne leur donnions le plein consentement pour le faire en les convainquant. 11. La société n'est nécessaire que jusqu'à un certain point : Ne confondons pas nos passions intenses avec nos besoins. Bien que nous ayons besoin de la société pour nous aider à satisfaire nos besoins fondamentaux, une grande partie de ce que la société a à offrir est inutile pour vivre une vie de satisfaction et une vie qui a un sens et un but. 12. Nous sommes à la fois influencés et nous contrôlons nos vies : La philosophie rubinshteinique insiste largement sur l'importance de la preuve et sur le fait que la logique pure n'est pas toujours suffisante pour qu'une vérité possible soit une vérité réelle. C'est pourquoi des concepts tels que «destin» et «karma» sont largement inexistants dans la philosophie rubinshteinique. Ce que nous avons, cependant, c'est le fait que nous sommes influencés par les autres et que nous avons aussi un certain degré de contrôle sur la direction que nous donnons à notre vie. 13. L'inter-subjectivité n'est pas l'objectivité : Il a tendance à considérer les pensées, les croyances et les opinions de la majorité comme la réalité objective. Cependant, la réalité existe au-delà de nos esprits, et une grande partie de ce que nous percevons comme de l'objectivité est en grande partie de l'inter-subjectivité, AKA, la subjectivité partagée et commune des autres. Et enfin: 14. Le sens et l'importance sont des termes largement subjectifs : Il n'y a pas nécessairement de grand but universel dans nos vies. Il est donc de notre responsabilité de donner un sens et de l'importance à nos propres vies en nous connaissant comme des individus distincts avec des compétences et des traits distincts. En consacrant du temps et de l'énergie à le faire, nous pouvons être des êtres plus heureux et plus épanouis sans avoir besoin d'espérer qu'une entité extérieure nous le fournisse. Nous n'avons pas non plus besoin d'avoir une seule signification, ni une seule fonctionnalité, pour le reste de nos vies. *************************************** (Original, English) Although ranging to 6 books, I have managed to summarize the entirety of my philosophy in one, single article, for you to enjoy and enhance your understanding of the philosophy I have to offer to the world. Hereby is a collection of ideas and principles that so far have been expanded on a total of 7 books, 4 in my native language of Hebrew, two in English, and one that I might privately publish in a few months in English as well. 1. Independence is the key to self-actualization: While others can help us along the way, the goal of self-actualization is to actualize oneself beyond the sphere of society; in other words, we as individuals are more than just what we think society thinks about us; we are people with different potentials that ought to be discovered through the utilization of seclusion. 2. Egoism isn’t inheritably bad: There is no fault in putting your own interests above those of others, and in fact, you can still contribute to others even if you put your own interests first. 3. Society is at large centered on itself, AKA sociocentric: This idea isn’t directed at a specific society but at the collective at large. In order for the collective to preserve itself and gain more authority over others, it encourages its members to focus primarily on themselves, as if they were the center of all existence. One way to attempt to do so is by encouraging people not to be alone, because being extensively alone means disconnecting from the grip of society. Another way it does so is by giving authority to the norms and influencing individuals to aspire to respect it, and disdain whatever is considered weird and eccentric. Thus, such beliefs limit us in the name of its influence over us. 4. Seclusion is the key to optimal freedom under realistic circumstances: Ultimate freedom is impossible because we are always dependent on things and beings to keep us alive. The more we're alone and develop our individuality, the closer we can have some freedom from conformity. 5. Not all humans are necessarily social creatures: There can be many people who prefer their own company to that of others, and some may even prefer doing so to socializing. The statement that all people are social creatures is therefore a stereotypical generalization. 6. The Age of Solitude: Due to the dominance of technology over our lives, we are becoming less and less social because many of us spend time in front of screens instead of in front of people. Though we have global access to people, we might nonetheless be lonely. Therefore, if we learn to accept seclusion in our lives and even utilize it for our own benefit, we can overcome the contemporary "epidemic" of loneliness. 7. Being a loner doesn’t make you an egoist: Solitude can be utilized for the benefit of society. Writers, artists, philosophers, and so forth are all examples of people who utilize solitude to contribute to the world at large. 8. Being a loner doesn’t make you a loser, either: You can be successful in whatever field you’re good at even if you're a loner, and success doesn’t have to come only through societal or normative means such as marriage, sex, or wealth. 9. Self-discipline and a more ascetic lifestyle can bring you closer to optimal freedom: Financial materialism has the fault of making us addicted to constant purchases and consumerism, and addictions by nature are enslaving. If we live a healthier lifestyle by making our lives more ascetical, we can become more independent and resilient to addictions that are toxic for us, even if they make us feel good. The good feeling we receive from them is actually a delusion of good, hence, we pursue them. 10. Live and Let Live: It is not right to force your beliefs on others, because such a right does not exist. People should have the freedom to believe in whatever they want, because that is the most basic freedom we have. Hence, future technology such as brain-machine interfaces is dangerous, because our minds don’t need to be invaded or altered by external forces unless we give them our full consent to do so through convincing. 11. Society is only necessary to an extent: Let us not confuse our intense passions with our needs. While we do need society to help us fulfill our basic needs, much of what society has to offer is unnecessary in order to live a life of satisfaction and purpose. 12. We are both influenced and have control over our lives: Rubinshteinic philosophy largely emphasizes the importance of evidence, and that pure logic is not always sufficient for a possible truth to be an actual truth. Hence why concepts such as "fate" and "karma" are largely non-existent in Rubinshteinic philosophy. What we do have, however, is the fact that we are influenced by others and also have a degree of control over the direction of our lives. (EDIT: The idea is that karma and fate are not necessarily evident and are thus theories rather than something more concrete. I used them here under the same category because they are spiritualist in nature. The idea of logic in Rubinshteinic Philosophy is that it's insufficient by itself to reveal the truth. A good logician would not necessarily be a good physician, for example. They will need the medical expertise instead or in addition.) 13. Inter-Subjectivity is not Objectivity: It's used to see the thoughts, beliefs, and opinions of the majority as the objective reality. However, reality exists beyond our minds, and much of what we perceive as objectivity is largely inter-subjectivity, AKA, the shared and common subjectivity of others. And finally: 14. Meaning and importance are largely subjective terms: There isn’t necessarily a grand, universal purpose to our lives. It is thus our responsibility to give meaning and importance to our own lives by knowing ourselves as distinct individuals with distinct skills and traits. By dedicating time and energy to do so, we can be happier and more fulfilled beings without any need to hope for an external entity to supply it for us. We also don’t have to have just one meaning or one functionality, for the rest of our lives.

There is this extremely weird movie I have just watched, David Lynch’s "Rabbits". It’s a movie about three humanoid rabbits living together and saying things to each other that don’t seem to be relatable or connected in any way whatsoever. A very awkward and uncomfortable movie. Although devoid of continuous meaning, the movie seems to have its parts connected to each other in a very logical way that we, as the viewers, cannot see for ourselves, but attempt to guess and theorize whatever is going on. There are two types of scenes in the movie that occur one after another. The first type seems to be a parody of a family spending the night together in an apartment, while there are clapping and laughing tracks where we least expect them, and in the second type, each of the rabbit characters gets their own scene, where they sing and repeat the same lines the rest have made but make no sense whatsoever. Even if it looked absurd and horrific, as there was a horror ambient track looping in the background, I felt somehow connected to the scenes of this movie from a personal perspective, because the absurdity of this movie is the same absurdity that exists in our world, but that absurdity within our world is one that we have chosen to accept as the norm. And in that alternative universe, where rabbits are sentient humanoid beings, they have their own logic and order that we cannot initially see, because we have yet to become accustomed to that universe’s logic, and thus it seems absurd to us, the same as it might be if it were vice versa. The movie plays as if there’s nothing wrong, as if it’s common for the audience to clap enthusiastically whenever a character that we already saw enters the apartment where the entire "plot" of the movie exists. As if it’s usual to disturbingly pause the whole movie when the apartment’s telephone rings, for a few minutes, and then answer it without saying anything, as even a single hello wasn’t said in the only time the phone rang in the movie. But the element of horror in the movie seems, at least for me, to disappear, when one realizes that what we are watching is merely an alternative universe where there are vastly different rules, norms, and logical coherence. It is just that it seems absurd because that’s what it initially appears to be. But when one keeps an eye on how the movie and the world it portrays operate and are managed, what we initially assumed to be absurd, is simply a different set of species with a different culture, where what we see in it is completely normal and usual in the world we are experiencing. From this movie, I have learned what I already seem to have experienced in this world: It’s not that the external world is completely absurd, it’s just that there’s a hidden layer of logic that exists within it. Thus, the ultimate insight that this movie can offer us, I believe, is that we shouldn’t be so easily tricked by the confidence in our suspicions, as there may be a hidden layer in what we’re seeing that our current suspicions seem to completely ignore and, thus, fail to acknowledge the possibility of additional information that they do not include within them. It’s easy to "sink" ourselves in the conclusion that the other side is completely absurd or has gone nuts, but should we look deeper within that side, we may find that it has simply a different logical construct that we have yet to become aware of. Here is the movie in question. Enjoy!

(Background music) A long time ago, I played a most difficult and most broken fangame called Mortal Kombat Chaotic. For those of you who do not recognize this game, it can indeed be called the “Dark Souls” of Mortal Kombat, simply because of how broken and intelligent the A.I. is. It also depends on the character you are picking and fighting against, because this game also has the largest selection of characters in MK history. Now, I am not here to whine about the pain I was dealt with by the A.I. (AKA, the computer opponents I faced), nor how many times I lost even on the lowest of difficulty—“Easy 1”—but instead I would like to share with you the wisdom I have learned by playing this unique, very-challenging game of Kombat. 1. Every defeat can be utilized to get closer to victory: Even on the “Easy 1” difficulty, you are likely to be defeated numerous times by the A.I.. Nonetheless, with all of your defeats, the achievement of victory can be very, very rewarding, should you be determined enough to learn the A.I. and learn from your mistakes with each defeat you have absorbed. This is why it is, technically, good to make mistakes, as long as one learns from them enough as to not to repeat them and expect different results. 2. Every action has a reaction: The A.I. will learn the pattern of your moves and will attempt to find a counter-attack, should you use the same pattern over and over again. Further thinking is required to surpass the reactions made by your actions. Think long-term, and do not act on instinct so easily in life. Plan like a mastermind, or your actions will be likelier to backfire against you. 3. Don’t let them breathe: The “Tournament” mode of the game has a formidable, the antagonist known as Shao Kahn. That character is an absolute beast when it comes to combat; his health is really large and so are the amount of damage he can deal to you within single hits. Even an uppercut, a deadly move in the series, may only decrease a small portion of his health. However, if you are not to “let him breathe”, in a sense that you won’t let him a big-enough gap to hit you dramatically, it is preferable to resume your combos even if he defends against them. Apply this to real life when you are in an antagonistic conflict against someone, physically or literally—the more you hit them the less likely they will hit you back with a significant punch/offensive claim. (That is, of course, unless they are good in using your own hits against you). 4. Pick your fights: There are characters in this fangame that are extremely overpowered, with the most notoriously one known as Simon, that can kill his opponent with literally one hit. While there are less overpowered characters that are overpowered nonetheless, it’s preferable that you do not waste your time fighting such characters because there is very little chance that you will win. Restart the game or match and hope that you will make it. That, unfortunately, applies to real life as well—pick your fights, whether they are physical or not, because our strength is not always sufficient to prove victorious. You are not omnipotent, even if you feel like it in a megalomaniac fashion. 5. Accept pain that you currently can’t do anything about: Some opponents, especially Shao Kahn, will attempt to make you suffer by not letting you time to react to their hits. Shao Kahn especially may grab you for a few seconds, point at you and tell you that “you are nothing” as he significantly decreases your health and throws you to the floor. Because you currently can’t do anything about this mid-way, it is best to just accept the pain and attempt to avoid it in the near or far future. When this lesson is applied to real life—accept the inevitable, and hope for it to pass, no matter how long it will take. In real life, it is sometimes best to give up when you know for certain you can't do anything to change the situation. 6. Some instances may have weaknesses that can be used for your own benefit: The A.I. in the game can be very cheap, truth be told. They can uppercut you, arrive to your new location, make an uppercut again, and repeat. However, some of your opponents may have weaknesses that can be used to your own advantage. A specific character, for example, cannot be grabbed, so it would be useless to try and grab them. However, they also heal, and when the heal they can be vulnerable to a potentially-deadly attack. It is not always wrong to exploit a weakness in a situation, especially if no harm is done. If a pet, for example, is acting too wild, perhaps patting it in a very specific place they like will relax them quicker than doing anything else. And finally: 7. Check your options: Literally check your options, because the game is set to the highest difficulty, “Hard 8”, by default. Don’t be surprised if you are beaten in a series of “flawless victories” within the first few seconds if you don’t check your options. (A flawless victory is when an opponent is defeated without landing a hit) Number 7 teaches us the importance of not giving in to our Platonic impressions so easily. You might find out that your own impression of an experience can decieve you if you give in to its bias. Question it and see how the experience of the same object can be changed later on. Conclusion All of the insights here can be used in real life as well, making some video games have the potential to teach us about life, as this applies not only to simulator games. Who says we only need specific sources of learning, such as books, to become wiser? We can literally learn from anything if we pay enough attention and dedicate enough time to analyze our experiences and the content we have consumed.