All of humanity enters the maze of life through birth and likewise all exit through death, seemingly a cookie cutter experience. From an objective view, humanity appears as the same species, all living and breathing and then dying, a continuous cycle of beings, simply existing. The common factor, the human condition, pulsing through humanity, guarantees the experiences of birth, mortality, emotionality, aspiration, growth, and conflict, but only superficially. Life’s maze does not ensure a cookie cutter experience for everyone. The beauty lies in the fact that while everyone begins the same, no one ends the same. Life provides the opportunity for one to begin, simply as a human, but transform into their own entity. Each individual, through
Conflict, a necessary evil, often carries a negative connotation, but ultimately develops one’s understanding of circumstances and choices so that they may better respond. Experiencing a situation of conflict enables one to grow and learn to overcome challenges which proves to be a vital part of the transformation process. The manner in which a person responds to a conflict can lead to freedom and transformation as long as they recognize their power to choose. Conflict tends to manifest itself most within us, not amongst people or parties. Conflict arises within oneself as guilt or conviction. While everyone has the knowledge of right and wrong each individual must decide what they will do with that knowledge and how they will live in light of it. They have to acknowledge the line between right and wrong, if they have violated their own belief system, and the implications of doing wrong. Conflict arises in determining if one has committed wrong and if it is acceptable to do so. Humans innately choose evil over good. In fact, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche in “The Genealogy of Morals” describes humanity as, “guilt ridden man seized upon religion in order to exacerbate his self-torment to the utmost” (15). Nietzsche holds an extreme view of humanity but truthfully states that guilt overwhelms men. He says that man possesses a “sickness, the most terrible sickness that has wasted man thus far” (Nietzsche 16). However, God
Each struggle within oneself, when resolved, catalyzes growth. Realization of the concept of “dying” to past experiences helps one in the process of redefining themselves. The process of redefinition in life identifies each experience as a catalyst for growth rather than a permanent definitive moment. Learning to die to oneself allows metamorphosis into a new version of self. Cornel West, professor of philosophy at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton University states in “The Examined Life” that, “Plato says philosophy is a meditation on, and a preparation for, death. By death what he means is not an event, but a death in life. Because there’s no rebirth, there’s no change, there’s not transformation without death” (13). Learning to embrace death in life means that one must undergo self-examination and determine when “death” proves most necessary to growth and rebirth. Humans do not criticize anyone more than themselves. That close criticism sparks a deep examination and conviction. It requires risk to delve into the intentions of the soul and the desires of one’s being, but taking the risk leads to finding. Examining life generates deeper discovery of self and reveals one’s true nature, passions, and desires. Cornel West says, “It takes tremendous courage to think for yourself, to examine yourself” (13). Cornel speaks of courage because the findings of one’s inner being sometimes bring out