How do you remain strong in a world of illusions? How do you stand straight against evidence that runs contrary to what your own senses are telling you?
One time I visited a tourist-trap cave with an anti-gravity room. The term "anti-gravity" is a misnomer, for the room did not really defy gravity, but created optical illusions that shifted the sense of what felt upright. Stripes on the wallpaper ran at right angles to the upward slanting rock floor, giving the impression that you were standing crooked where you were actually standing straight. The spare furnishings all supported that illusion as well. Only the vents in the top portion of the walls were installed vertically.
I stared hard at those vents, determined not to fall over like the rest of my fellow tourists who gripped the railings for dear life. My strategy was successful. Then I decided to test my strength of mind against the wallpaper stripes themselves. Suddenly it felt like a strong magnet was pulling me over. I caught myself on a railing supplied for the purpose. Again I focused on the vents and my balance was restored.
I was successful in overcoming the crooked little world I was in because I did what no one else did. I identified what was truly straight and focused on that no matter what.
This is the issue I see today when one is trying to remain straight in a crooked world filled with so many illusions. It does not do to focus on one's surroundings, but to find some kind of guiding star (in my case, those vents) and set your mind on that. It's the only way you can distinguish the vertical from the horizontal.
And that reminds me: I took my first plane ride rather late in life, and I remember the trepidation I felt about not being in control so high in the air. My uncle, an aeronautical engineer, gave some great advice that I have followed ever since.
"When you get on a plane," he said, "the first thing you should do is look for the emergency exits closest to your seat. Most people who survive plane crashes burn up in their seats instead, because they are looking to see what other people are going to do. Don't look at anyone else. Get out of your seat, open the exit doors, and run like crazy. It's the only way you'll survive."
Here is the life recipe I distilled from those two incidents:
Survival Recipe from Great-Grandma’s Kitchen
Ingredients
Independence of thought
Examination of the situation
Knowledge of principles
The will to act
Courage (do not omit as it activates the previous ingredient)
Directions
Gather all ingredients together and mix well.
Identify possible obstacles in your situation, immediate or potential.
Take charge when danger is imminent.
Serving:
Guard this dish with your life and don’t tell anyone before serving.
(Note: The survival recipe cheat sheet — Guiding principles. Examination. The will to act.)
[Sidenote to readers: In the interest of offering better materials, I plan to alternate podcasts with articles on a more even split.]