And I Wonder Why My Head Hurts…

It continues to amaze me how people are usually so self-obsessed that they believe it’s okay to make other peoples’ lives difficult. And yes, this is going to be a rant post, so buckle up! Folks, it’s important to remember that when you need a plumber, you don’t call the electrician. I’ve made this comparison a number of times before but it applies to quite a number of scenarios. When comparing the two, we can acknowledge that both people are professionals, capable in their respective fields. But you wouldn’t want the electrician dealing with water or the plumber trying to wire something in your house. If I was feeling brave, I’d call that common sense…

In recent times, I’ve come to realize that people believe so deeply in the fact that they’re right that they won’t give two shits about who they cause suffering against in their crusade to prove themselves right. They’re more concerned with PROVING they’re right than acknowledging what should and shouldn’t be done and what can and can’t be done. In a previous life, I had to deal with this a lot as a police officer. People would always ASSUME they had certain rights and they needed police way before they actually did. Even when asked what steps they took on their own before contacting law enforcement, the answer would usually be, “That’s your job…”

And that right there is the big problem. The majority of people are under the assumption that it will always be someone else’s responsibility to solve all their problems. Although a good majority of issues could be solved if one person simply took the time to communicate with another, it would prevent a lot of issues. Instead, these issues are usually off-loaded on others as they try to pretend they have no responsibility for their situation. It’s a trend I’ve come to see more and more of, and there’s no sign of it ever going away.

I’ve often written before how any problem one faces in life holds a three-fold responsibility: some of it is the other person’s fault, some of it is life and out of one’s control and some of it is realistically YOUR fault. That last one is the key component to a happier life. If you can’t acknowledge that you cause your own suffering, you’re missing out on a freedom the likes of which you likely haven’t experienced before. And this goes a long way towards understanding the Four Noble Truths.

In simplified terms, the Four Noble Truths are as follows:

1. There is suffering in the world.
2. We cause our own suffering.
3. We should eliminate suffering.
4. Practice the Buddha Dharma to end suffering.

This is incredibly simplified, but it applies to daily life even when we don’t realize it. Acknowledging that there’s suffering in the world is the first step. However, it’s the easiest step. One need only look out one’s front window to recognize that there’s suffering in the world. The hard part comes from accepting that we cause our own suffering. This can be a hard pill to swallow. Most people don’t want to admit that they’re responsible for causing some of their own suffering. Unfortunately, this brings suffering to others.

Maybe I’m just pissed off at particular people. Such is life; I’m as human as the rest of you. But in a way, this post helps me recognize that I cause my own suffering. Ergo, perhaps I simply need to work harder at eliminating that suffering. If everyone did just a little bit of that instead of bitching and complaining about everything in front of their face, the world would be a much better place. Food for thought… ☯️