The antidote to paranoia

[Deb]

Human beings are selfish, small-minded, violence-prone savages, civilization is a blight on the earth, and the rising tide of chaos ensures that everything's going to fall apart any day now. Right? Wrong, says Rob Brezsny. In Pronoia Is the Antidote to Paranoia, he declares evil is boring, the universe is friendly, and life is a sublime gift created for our amusement and illumination. This buoyant perspective is not rooted in denial. On the contrary, Brezsny builds a case for a "cagey optimism" that does not require a repression of difficulty, but rather, seeks a vigorous engagement with it. The best way to attract the blessings that the world is conspiring to give us, he insists, is to dive into the most challenging mysteries. This witty, inspiring how-to shows how any reader can become   "a wildly disciplined, fiercely tender . . . lustfully compassionate Master of Rowdy Bliss."  As AA teaches people, over the past 60+ years, "You can get more stinkin from thinkin than you can from drinkin', but the feel is for real."  Positive thinking with big, compassionate BALLS and not Pollyanna wanna-be optimism. This brand of optimism will get you through the night, PO, Black holes in space or the Omega moment....who can find bigger, thornier problems than PO, global terrorism, Iraq entanglements, Global climate change etc?  Make the change from paranoia to pronoia. You'll be so glad you did!  -Deb


"DEFINITION: Pronoia is the antidote for paranoia. It’s the understanding that the universe is fundamentally friendly. It’s a mode of training your senses and intellect so you’re able to perceive the fact that life always gives you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it.

HYPOTHESES: Evil is boring. Cynicism is idiotic. Fear is a bad habit. Despair is lazy. Joy is fascinating. Love is an act of heroic genius. Pleasure is our birthright.

PROCEDURE: Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes to assist you in turning into the gorgeous masterpiece you were born to be. Join the conspiracy to shower all of creation with blessings.

DISCLAIMER: The material in PRONOIA may be too intense and controversial for some readers. It contains graphic scenes of peace, love, joy, passion, reverence, splendor, and understanding. You should therefore proceed with caution if you are a jaded hipster who is suspicious of feeling healthy and happy. Ask yourself: “Am I ready to stop equating cynicism with insight? Do I dare take the risk that exposing myself to uplifting entertainment might dull my intelligence?” If you doubt your ability to handle relaxing breakthroughs, you should stop reading now."  - Rob Berzny, PRONOIA

http://www.amazon.com/Pronoia-Antidote-Paranoia-Conspiring-Blessings/dp/1583941231

[Jay Dee]

You know of the "rooms" do you...
recovering republican myself. I appreciate the nice change of pace - my blood pressure is sliding back down...

[Deb]

>Deb = also recovering Republican. LOL I've been everything, Dem, Libertarian, Repub, Indy, Green - sheesh! Wish more parties had more real power, like in Europe.  Also, whaddaya mean by "rooms" ??

[Wednesday]

I think I am pretty darn optimistic for someone who is convinced we are going to turn our beautiful blue green home into a pile of radioactive rubble! 

[Michelle in Ga]

I don't see rubble, only rebellion.

[JurisDoctorOfDoom]

"DEFINITION: Pronoia is the antidote for paranoia. It’s the understanding that the universe is fundamentally friendly. It’s a mode of training your senses and intellect so you’re able to perceive the fact that life always gives you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it.

Totally agree. Take the prisoners at Abu Gharib as an example. Clearly they needed sticks jammed up their asses and that's exactly what the universe gave them.

PROCEDURE: Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes to assist you in turning into the gorgeous masterpiece you were born to be.

Where were those secret helpers at Hiroshima, Auschwitz, My Lai, during the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade, the Irish potato famine, at Stalin's death camps etc?  I guess they just don't help Japanese, Jewish, Vietnamese, African, Irish or Russian people. I'm half Irish and half Russian, I guess I'm screwed.

DISCLAIMER: The material in PRONOIA may be too intense and controversial for some readers. It contains graphic scenes of peace, love, joy, passion, reverence, splendor, and understanding. You should therefore proceed with caution if you are a jaded hipster who is suspicious of feeling healthy and happy.

I'm about as jaded as it gets but I'm still pretty happy and spirited. That's how I'm able to laugh off the ridiculous ideas like "pronoia" that masquerade as enlightenment and spirituality these days.

[oliver.rochford]

I'm half Irish and half Russian, I guess I'm screwed.

I think you are rather lucky. It means you are crap in bed _AND_ you have bad breath     

Joking

ollie

[oliver.rochford]

Haha, yeah, I'll give you that.

So that'll either be whisky or vodka.

Or antifreeze.

But I am not far off, I have German, English, Irish and Polish blood, a quarter of each.

And I am blessed with most of the bad traits of each.

ollie

[JurisDoctorOfDoom]

I think I am pretty darn optimistic for someone who is convinced we are going to turn our beautiful blue green home into a pile of radioactive rubble! 

Wed,

Yes, me too. It is quite an ability. How does one stay happy on a day -to-day basis while realizing we are turning the planet into a giant flmaing cinder so screwed up that even the meteor rapidly heading towards us is likely to just say "oh hells no, I don't even want to touch that . . ." once it gets close enough to see what's going on down here?

[Called_Bluff]

where's the joy here-

http://www.pritchettcartoons.com/flotsam.htm

me and the gf both grew up in HI, her in Kaneohe, me in mililani

it's the sadest part of going home, to see the amount of plasitc on the beach- many pieces now micro sized to 1/10 cm, pick up a clump of sand , dig down for it, and you find the same-

and then these joyul pix

http://www.vestaldesign.com/blog/2006/08/oceans-of-garbage.html


jdd- you hit all the people, but what about the animal's

some call me debbie downer, ugh

[Wednesday]

I think I am pretty darn optimistic for someone who is convinced we are going to turn our beautiful blue green home into a pile of radioactive rubble! 

Wed,

Yes, me too. It is quite an ability. How does one stay happy on a day -to-day basis while realizing we are turning the planet into a giant flmaing cinder so screwed up that even the meteor rapidly heading towards us is likely to just say "oh hells no, I don't even want to touch that . . ." once it gets close enough to see what's going on down here?

Matt,

I just tell myself that each day is a gift. I practice contentment. That means that I actively pursue contentment as a discipline. It's not easy. It's even harder when I am preparing for armageddon. I think humans are hardwired to keep grasping. I have to tell myself "Shhhh, settle down."

I'd invite you up to the boonies to hang out until the worst is over, but my hub would have a fit.

I count my blessings while I'm stockpiling biohazard cleanup materials. It helps to be a little bit crazy.