The Two Pile Theory of Freedom
I once had a dear friend explain to me that there is a lot of crap (edited version) in all our lives.
Further, she said all the crap could be divided into two piles: our crap and their crap.
You gain freedom in your life to the extent that you do NOT play in other people’s crap. If you are trying to give advice on your sister’s marriage, fix your coworker’s boyfriend and raise your neighbors children, you are NOT free. You have enough crap of your own, why play in everyone else’s crap?
In fact, I have found this so useful that I encourage those around me, when I am complaining about something, to ask me, Whose pile is that in, anyway?”.
You gain freedom in your life by cleaning up your own crap.
Where does the concept of helping friends out with their problems play in though? It seems rather selfish to not help those that have meaning to you.
@ jon-
I appreciate you coming by. I always believe in helping others IF IT IS ASKED FOR AND ACTED UPON.
Further, I will offer my help to those I care about.
In other words, I see no need to spend my time attempting to solve problems of people and events that are outside both my circle of control and/or my circle of influence.
Besides, I believe most people are happy where they are or they would change. It is rarely knowing what to do that is hard; it is doing it.
That, they have to do themselves.
Tuesday I will elaborate a bit more in a full post, so please check back.
If you care about the world, that means you have to get involved. So it’s just a matter of defining how much crap a person has, no? I am so looking forward to reading more about this — very interesting stuff.