Positive Reasoning Selections

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Mindfulness: practices can help reduce pain, addiction, fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression while improving physical health. A summary of 400 studies identified mindfulness as an effective mental health practice for improving physical and psychological well-being in almost everyone. Mindfulness practices also aided in emotional regulation while Neuroimaging studies indicated that mindfulness training changes the brain regions that are activated and deactivated in response to emotional stimuli. 

Initially the practice of meditation aimed at achieving a state of heightened awareness and presence.

In Buddhism, the concept of “sati,” which translates to mindfulness, is considered the first step toward enlightenment. This practice involves maintaining attention and awareness in the present moment. Similarly, in Hinduism, mindfulness is integrated into various meditation practices aimed at self-realization and spiritual growth.

Cause and Effect

Cause and effect explain how or why A becomes B. For example, throwing a ball at its root is motivation to throw where (A) leads to it dropping to the earth (B) due to gravity.

Positive Reasoning and Geocracy

Democracy values the well-being of people, which should extend to the earth and wildlife. Positive reasoning benefits humanity and the planet. We call this geocracy—stewardship of the earth, making choices that support wildlife, biodiversity, and human well-being.

Understanding Positive and Negative Reasoning

Positive reasoning is best understood by acknowledging negative reasoning. Understanding the contrast helps appreciate positive experiences. Many issues arise from relationships, whether human interactions or environmental impacts.

Key Points

• Cause and Effect: Explains how A leads to B.
• Geocracy: Emphasizes planetary stewardship and positive outcomes.
• Relationships Matter: Both human and environmental interactions influence outcomes.
• Appreciating Contrasts: Recognizing negatives helps appreciate positives. negative reasoning helps us grasp those differences.

To move forward in a positive direction (positive path or journey), it is important to have that positive intention with a better understanding of what not to do that's covered under Negative reasoning.  Positive reasoning must start with awareness that there can be problems in our relationships with other people or the environment caused by:

1. Ignorance: This arises from a lack of knowledge or awareness. When we don’t understand something, we’re often ignorant about it. Ignorance isn’t necessarily intentional; it’s a gap in understanding.
2. Misunderstanding: This occurs when we misinterpret information or fail to seek clarity or truth. It’s like looking at a puzzle piece and assuming the whole picture without considering other pieces.

 Positive reasoning begins with 

1. self-awareness. Recognizing gaps exist—whether due to ignorance or misunderstanding—allows us to seek solutions.
2. Awareness prompts us to ask questions, seek truth, and clarify. It’s the first step toward positive change.

The Role of Relationships:

1. Relationships also play a part here. When we misunderstand someone, it affects our interactions. Clear communication and seeking the truth enhance relationships. The same holds for the environment.
2. Positive reasoning involves acknowledging our limitations and actively seeking understanding.
3. The Positive problem-solving model can help to search for the causal root of problems while solving problems in the best interest of oneself, others, and the earth.
   

That path and journey, in my opinion, leads to greater awareness and success toward achieving mindfulness. Mindfulness can be self-actualization or possibly a level above self-actualization. A key component of reasoning is seeking truth, while seeking truth is remaining as close to the facts as possible and staying informed by valid reliable sources.   

Consider:

1.  Reasoning was never political until it became useful as propaganda. 

2. Environmental issues were not a problem until we ignored our relationship to the environment (pollution, destruction of forests, oceans, and biodiversity, population impact, depleting resources, etc)

3. Education, voting, communication, and democracy were not problems until we leaned toward bending or distorting the truth with propaganda to manipulate the outcome.

4. Inequality was not a problem until the differences we observed turned into negative emotions.

5. Reasoning cannot be emotionally motivated or biased toward politics or religion to avoid excluding or discriminating against others, not in our group or indoctrinated with our way of thinking. 

Why Positive?

A positive mindset can help you manage stress, improve your overall outlook, and enhance your psychological well-being 

1. Mindfulness, which involves focusing on the present moment without interpretation or judgment, can help you relax your mind and body and reduce stress 
2. It’s also been shown to improve attention, decrease job burnout, and improve sleep.

Maslow's Hierarchy

According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, human needs are categorized into five levels: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Each higher-level need is predicted by the satisfaction of the need immediately below it. A study by Robert J. Taormina and Jennifer H. Gao confirmed this prediction.

Higher consciousness refers to an elevated awareness and perception that leads to a deeper understanding of reality. This concept varies: some see it as a spiritual or mystical experience, others as a state achieved through practices like meditation.

In Maslow's theory, when basic needs (Deficiency Needs (D-Needs) ) such as hunger and safety are unmet, it is challenging to focus on higher consciousness. Once these needs are met, individuals can pursue Growth Needs (B-Needs) for personal development. Self-actualized individuals prioritize growth over mere survival. (e.g., hunger, safety concerns). Consciousness takes a back seat. Once deficiency needs are met, we can pursue growth needs more effectively. Self-actualized individuals prioritize growth and potential over mere survival.

The Challenge

Teamwork has always been an advantage that we learned in school, coupled with a positive problem-solving approach that helps to solve problems through brainstorming the healthiest and most appropriate solutions that are in the best interest of people, wildlife, and the earth. Teamwork allows for diverse perspectives and skills to come together, leading to more comprehensive and effective solutions by focusing on the best interests of all. The challenge is to overcome negative bias or obstacles of emotional reasoning like political or religious groupthink that may stand in the way of sound unbiased reasoning. It's always best to ask, "What evidence supports this belief, and have I considered alternative perspectives?"   Mindful reasoning is an unbiased practice rooted in awareness and truth, free from political or religious affiliations.

Sustainable reasoning 

The U.N. has summed up perfectly an explanation for sustainable living that states " Three different balls must be kept in the air at once: economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. If one or two fall to the ground, the act is over. For instance an economy might grow rapidly – but only for so long if most people remain poor and all the natural resources are used up."  The 17 goals established by the U.N. in 2015 to be achieved by 2030 have not been changed and are available at this U.N. website: Sustainable Development Goals with an updated 2024 report:  The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024. 

As stated under Negative Reasoning HABITS, all of our behaviors were influenced by the environment and people around us heavily influenced our learning. This included all aspects of our behaviors, such as reasoning, communication, and reactive actions. Every fear we experienced, along with all our happy and pleasant moments, were learned and stored in our brains as habit patterns.

These habit patterns became deeply ingrained, making them difficult to break later in life. The roots of these patterns lie in the consistent repetition of behaviors and experiences during our formative years. Because these patterns were established so early, they often feel automatic and natural, which is why changing them can be a challenging task.

Breaking the habit: 

Old habits are hard to break, as shown in studies on negative reasoning, communication development, and recidivism (repeat offenders). Changing behavior later in life is difficult, costly, and often unsuccessful, especially with criminal behavior. Research shows that positive health habits are more effective and promising when ingrained in children early on. Unfortunately, unhealthy parents often can't teach these habits due to their own behaviors.

Many groups focus on positive change for human well-being and the environment. However, the lack of mindfulness impacts all these groups. Improving mindfulness can positively affect all these areas, making efforts more efficient and effective.

Studies have shown that mindfulness can enhance mental and physical well-being, improve performance, and foster positive behaviors in various fields. Here are some key findings:

1. Psychology and Psychiatry: Mindfulness-based interventions have been effective in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
2. Education: Implementing mindfulness practices in schools has been linked to improved attention, emotional regulation, and academic performance among students.
3. Business: Mindfulness training in the workplace can lead to better stress management, increased job satisfaction, and improved overall productivity.
4. Healthcare: Mindfulness practices have been shown to reduce chronic pain, improve sleep quality, and enhance overall physical health.
5. Social Work and Caregiving: Mindfulness can enhance empathy, compassion, and the quality of care provided by professionals in these fields

1. The first step toward mindfulness is self-awareness.

• Influences: Everything up to today was shaped by our genetic makeup, environment, and those around us.
• Habituated Behaviors: All our behaviors, patterns, and mannerisms are ingrained and not easily changed.
• Tendency to Revert: Without a clear new approach, we naturally revert to old, habituated behaviors.
• Essential Awareness: Mindfulness cannot occur without awareness and the intention to change.
• Guidance for Change: Some guidance may be necessary to facilitate change.
• Positive Direction: Mindfulness must be directed positively, benefiting self, others, wildlife, and the earth.
• Support Groups: Support groups for mindfulness provide security, guidance, and assistance.

Children should receive mindfulness training consistent with the attributes mentioned above. Early mindfulness training for children fosters healthy lifestyles, well-being, societal harmony, and environmental stewardship. Remember, being mindful goes beyond mere politeness.

• Leaders: Leaders of a mindfulness group must have mindfulness training and encourage mindful behavior among constituents.
• Active Participants: Participants must minimally be self-trained in mindfulness, understand its principles, and practice mindfully.
• Focus: Groups should refrain from activities inconsistent with mindfulness. While a group can be affiliated with a party, religion, or other entity, it must not be driven by emotional, religious, or political motives that detract from mindfulness.

Awareness: Recognize our inherent negative biases and understand the origins of our fear responses, which are part of our negative and emotional reasoning. Acknowledge the historical influences that shaped us.

Possibilities: Release fears and welcome positive possibilities, embracing change as an inherent part of life. Recognize what can be changed and what cannot, similar to the serenity prayer.

Creative Problem Solving: Focus on positive outcomes for people, wildlife, and the Earth by addressing problems with the best options available.

Reminders: Surround ourselves with inspiring reminders to stay creative and maintain a positive, healthy path.

Unlimited: Mindful solutions encompass all aspects of human existence and must be integrated into daily life for a sustainable future.

Mindful Solutions: Every community should have a place for mindful solutions free from negative groupthink and politics. Public libraries, the Library of Congress, and the U.N. serve this purpose.