Life and Strife

Life is Strife. When you think about it, strife actually permeates life.

Picture yourself at the edge of a pond in a beautiful natural setting on a serene,  almost windless, peaceful day. The surface of the pond is so still that you can see yourself and the surrounding vegetation perfectly reflected. All seems so calm. But under the surface of the water, all kinds of life is happening. And with it, so is all kinds of strife! Organisms scrounging around for food in their bids for survival. And in the process, some even viciously gobbled up by others. It’s nature’s way.

Although it’s true that strife is life, we humans have the power to mitigate the pain associated with our existence. Life is inherently hard. But there are things we tend to do that make it harder than it needs to be. Lovingly accepting that life necessarily involves struggle makes carrying the burden a bit easier. And coming to appreciate the things we do to make life harder than it needs to be is a big part of becoming a better person. Actively working to make all lives better (i.e. loving genuinely) is largely what defines a wholesome character. (See also: The Capacity to Love Defines Wholesome Character.)

An Interview Worth Watching

Recently, I had the good fortune to be interviewed by Brad Carr on his regular podcast. You can find the podcast posted on his YouTube channel. You can also find it on my YouTube Channel, by following this LINK. Brad and I talked about the nature of our times and the prevalence of narcissism and other character disturbances. We also talked about what inspired my work, my latest book, and the many challenges persons in toxic relationships face, even when seeking help.

Character Matters

CHARACTER MATTERS GOES LIVE AGAIN 3-19-25 AT 12 NOON CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME. One topic we’ll be delving into is what’s behind all the divisiveness plaguing our communities and our relationships. TO PARTICIPATE LIVE, CLICK ON THIS LINK TO ENTER THE BROADCAST STUDIO.