Revisions/Additions/Clarifications to Spectral Identities

Revisions/Additions/Clarifications to Spectral Identities

Continuum

Opposites attracting: from the viewpoint of the personality theory

Well, let me come out of the gates and say that opposite personalities don't work out in almost all cases. I feel that different aspects/layers of 2 people's personalities can be opposite within the range, while the rest are in line, and a relationship could be successful.

For example: 2 people could have everything in common, except that when those two people get into a social setting, one is an extrovert and the other is an introvert. There is usually a dynamic in those types of situations where, probably due to their comfort in the other dynamics/layers/colors of their relationship, where they can actually complement each other.   Because they are in turn comforted and more at ease playing their respective roles, there's no problem.

However, if they were opposite on all stances and all viewpoints, then they would just be at each other's throats. That TV show Darma and Greg (a TV example which exemplifies the "opposites attract" delusion) is somewhat of a facade. Classic example of an extrovert with an introvert. If you think of a "couple" like that, upon investigation it would be discovered that they have more common ground than is implied.

Another layer which I don't even really talk about in the previous post, but I think might shed a bit more light on this, is communication. Not just understanding what the other person has to say, but that if two people were truly opposite then they couldn't communicate on an almost grammatical level.

Say you taught English, you would come across people who's writing flows for you. The sentence structure and phrasing is such that you get what they're saying with perfect clarity; with only as much effort as it takes to move your eyes across the words. On the flip-side, you would also come across people whose writing is torturous to decipher. For whatever reason, the way things are stated and constructed just don't make as much sense most likely because it's not the same way you structure your speech. For me, this is like reading Philosophy. The way they structure their sentences feels completely different than the way I do and as a result, it takes me forever to read it (if I can even trudge through).

Zooming back out.
This grammatical talk is to show that true opposites most likely would not attract if they were more opposite than not, simply because they would have a hard time even communicating who they are to each other. Their likes, interests, dislikes, dreams, and even into every-day speech would be lost in translation.

Now, with allll of that being said my thought is that a couple of layers should be opposite, or at least different, for the sake of interest. These are obviously all generalities so it's hard to be specific without specific examples. But, what if two people had all the same colored layers?  Or, let's say a guy has a lot of layers ranging over a broad spectrum of colors and the girl only has a couple layers total, but they are the exact same shades?  Well, naturally, these two will hit it off and everything will seem to be perfect- a "match made in Heaven". But it would wear off as fast as my laptop battery.
Because the guy would be lacking any stimulation or growth potential from the girl, yet the girl will be enthralled with guy because she's growing by leaps and bounds due to his complexity.

Interwoven Branches

Relational trees

Here is a metaphor (visual this time) that I think best explains how I see this. Imagine a pot, like a plant pot, if that's what they're called. Now, I'm going to plant 2 trees in this pot, and the goal is to get the two trees to grow to equal height, intertwine, and become one tree to bear fruit. The soil placed in the pot is analogous to the commonalities between the two "trees".

This soil has to be deep enough to allow the roots to grow so the trees can grow UP, but it can't bee too deep because the trees will only want to grow down. (Might disagree with some botany principles, but bear with me) Assuming that the soil/foundation is the right depth and fertility, the trees will start to grow.
To tie this back in with the original theory I wrote up, the number of colored layers a person has is directly proportional to the amount of branches the tree will grow and the height. If one tree is tall and thick and the other isn't, then it's basically a vine which will wrap around the trunk of the stronger tree to try to climb. This does not achieve our goal. They do become one, but it's a lopsided tree which may or may not bear fruit.

If both trees grow tall but don't have a lot of branches, then they may grow tall together, but their branches won't reach each other and they won't intertwine and bear fruit.

Back to the ideal tree situation: there needs to be diversity within the branches also, because if they are growing exactly the same, like a mirror image, then it won't take long for the branches to start to grow into the other trees' and this could end up hurting both, and they would need their own pot. The colored layers aspect, is simply a focusing on the individual branches, and not the tree as a whole, nor the dirt.  Hopefully this didn't confuse you further...

Back to Colors

People don't just have to be 10% on either side of one of your colors. For a given layer, it may be beneficial to have a completely different view brought in. Like if I were red about something, instead of having green come in completely opposing me, a yellow or purple came in and showed a perspective I hadn't seen before.

I know first hand that people (especially myself) are always trying to force relationships. It is actually a big reason why I've tried to cling tighter to God, because I think the reason we desire these relationships is because we're trying to fill a void within us that only He can fill (at least that's what it felt like to me; for me). I've had to make many conscious efforts to not rush in to dating someone when it didn't feel right because I knew I was going to do that just to not be alone. But that's a different novel for a different time.

I think someone molding their personality to fit what someone else wants is a primary reason for resentment in relationships which ends up being a poison from one tree to the other, if I may continue the tree metaphor. I believe that people can pull off having different colored layers for different situations. For instance, I'm one color when I feel like getting deep and mostly serious, yet earlier on in the night I was a different color when I was out at the bars dancing and laughing and such. I think what I was alluding to in the original script was that there are some whose philosophy is to have one layer- one branch- one "persona", of which they carry throughout all situations. I don't feel that it is fake to have different layers colors, or branches.  It's only fake when someone tries to create a color, usually in the hopes of impressing or relating to someone they wish to be "planted with". This obviously doesn't work for so many reasons that I could use tons of metaphors for, but you get the point.

The Point

A multi-layered and complex person needs another multi-layered and complex person to complement them and make them grow in areas that were previously unacknowledged.   To disagree with them at times, to distinguish individuality, but mostly to agree and allow the exchange of a warm smile; a look between them where they know exactly what is being said without words.  There must be a solid foundation of fertile soil with good communication, to grow a cross-stitch of branches, on a tall and balanced tree, littered with fruit.

A rough draft of a theory: Spectral Identities

Colorful!

Spectral Identities

Preface

I'll preface everything with this: i over analyze and generally think too much. You probably already know that. I just think maybe this could help some people in their own lives because it's helped me and I hope it might help you.

I've ranted about this working theory to a small group of people and now realize that more might be able to benefit from it if we are aware of how our personalities work and interact with each other then we can possibly save ourselves from some torment.. I e. why is it that when we're alone we click and everything is exactly what i want but then one or the other or both get into a different setting or environment and everything falls apart? Or why is it that these two people who are nothing alike together and happily married? Maybe some of the perplexities of relational phenomena can be cleared up with this working theory.

Personality Spectrum

Visualize as a color wheel or for the mathematically minded, a circle of (naturally) 360 degrees.

multi-faceted individuals who have highly complex personalities have many different colors or degrees that comprise their personality as a whole. some people just have a couple of colors or even just one if they feel that they want to be the same person in every situation. neither is superior nor inferior, just different styles.

this theory builds upon two other well known theories involving peoples interactions with one another: like attracts like, or you are who you attract; and opposites attract. this means that if i were a color, say red, or 0 degrees for the engineers out there, then i would be attracted and mesh the easiest and best with someone who was also red or, in contrast, blue (180 degrees) as they are opposites. This is easy to grasp and not really original conceptually I believe since I've had to take personality tests that group everyone into one of four colors. The twist I'm proposing is a complexion of this idea with the multiple facets of the human personality. At home with a friend I will be red. Out in a bar setting with a couple of drinks I'm green. If I'm on a date I am blue. These are arbitrary since I'm just formulating a qualitative theory and I'm not actually proposing something to measure any of this. I just want people to be aware of these things because maybe it will help them understand why they can be completely attracted and connected with a person and still NOT be meant to be with them completely. There are some areas on this metaphorical color wheel and circle where we, on a personal level, cannot go. There are some colors we just can't see. There are some degrees our function can't ever equal. This could be why you can have the most amazing dates with people one on one, spend some great nights of bonding and getting to know one another yet not have a healthy functional relationship. This is how you can be physically attracted to someone like you have NEVER been before, yet no fruit can come from the tree of that relationship. The numbers and colors don't add up.

Some people theoretically could change the colors they see to relate to those around them. Good communicators with people whose views they don't necessarily share. Be able to put themselves in their shoes and relate to them as if they were that color and only that color, yet not be at heart. However, during their interaction, they can somewhat become that color as a means of relation and empathy. Or they can switch between their different facets to go to the one that closest relates to the situation whether opposite or similar.

There's give in the acceptance range, a standard deviation, a buffer. I believe it to be about 10 percent. Arbitrary still, though the point I'm trying to make is demonstrated. Finding someone the exact same shade of red as me or the exact same degree to the tenth decimal place is rare and unfeasible. This could also explain somewhat how people who are seemingly so much alike are able to play off of each other and grow and expand themselves internally through their interactions together. If I am 10 percent to the left of red and I'm hanging out with someone who is 10 percent to the right of red, since like attracts like we are able to meet in the middle, maybe even bring each other to the side we originated from, and in the process learn the shades between which were once foreign. Deepening our understanding for other colors, shades, personality types in the process.

Also there's the possibility that the connection being made between the two people, whether like or opposite, will create an entirely new color for their relationship together, which in itself could take on different levels of different colors depending on different environments.

I'm not trying to say that if the colors aren't the same or opposite that nothing could ever come of it, I'm just saying that it will be much harder. that it will take a great deal of effort, I believe, because something will be... off. My thoughts on this, my theory, is that it would boil down to two incredibly important aspects. Communication and content. If I'm at 0 degrees and someone else is at 90, I believe it will either be somewhat of a chore to communicate with them efficiently, or we will struggle for things to talk about. The conversations won't flow, it won't be fluid and intriguing, it won't leave you wanting more and dreading when the time has come for it to end.

I don't think i need to go into the details of opposites attracting because pretty much every sitcom you see on TV and every movie you watch has the romantic interests coming from completely opposite places with completely opposite personalities. It makes for some easy and awesomely entertaining writing and situations, and I think we have a wealth of knowledge on those types of relationships.

I'm still working on all this and it started out as something I just randomly made up but I liked it so I wrote it out. I don't know why it came to me so late and why I couldn't go to sleep until I type something, but it did and so I did. The only reason I wrote anything is so that we can learn about ourselves and try to find the person who has the most color compatibility in the most areas as us. If we try to pursue someone who is compatible with us only on one level of our personality and not the rest, then we're going to be fighting a major uphill battle. The problem lies in the fact that we all want to fight for something with a person that we feel a connection with. Even if it's only in one area we think, "but I have definite strong feelings! I must just be doing something wrong or they're doing something wrong and once that gets fixed then everything will work out fine." I don't think that's always the case. I think a lot of times we're just trying to force all of our "colors" to match up with the colors of these persons of interest for whatever reasons we might have. We don't want to be alone is pretty much the reason why I can see anyone attempting that. But the problem is sometimes it's impossible to dilute our colors into theirs. You can't mix red and orange and get blue.

These are just thoughts for you to ponder. I'm not trying to preach or anything, just write out some of my thoughts to maybe inspire some of your own about the topic and maybe force some introspection in us all. I can't help it, my brain won't shut up. Ignore all this if it's annoying you. It's done right now anyway, haha!

Ever heard of Loops?

Have you ever heard of Loops?  Well, listen to this and now you have!

That's right!  That entire beat was comprised of smaller, pre-recorded or pre-defined loops which I threw together in a stew of musical bliss.

More to come, though I'm not always going to post them on here so follow the SoundCloud instead if you're even still reading this blog post.

Back and Forward

Sunset from Cambridge, England

Back and Forward

To the start and onward!

Hello there!  I haven't have many blog posts and I'm not sure if that's something to apologize for or not, but it's just what has happened.  I've been travelling this world this year and I haven't had time to log in and blog about it.  Plus, I think the jury is still out on blogging in general... At least as far as I know.  I'm not sure I understand the point just yet, so if you can answer why blogs exist and work, please let me know.  It kind of feels like an elongated string of facebook status updates which, if you were to check my facebook page, is spotty at best and barren.

So why the blog then?  Good question!  And I don't know.

Maybe I know.

Starting next year +Denise Mitchell and I are going to attempt to both take a picture every day which shows and represents God's beauty.  The hard part will not be finding things from God's creation which are beautiful, rather the discipline of posting about it every day.  On the topic of posting, we aren't quite sure where these postings are going to be so it may not be on this blog thing but via another medium.  Hopefully, this awesome girl named +Hannah F will help us out on the page creation...

Welp, regardless of where this will be hosted, it will be happening and I'm excited to get started on that.  I'm also excited to get into writing again.  I've been listening to a bunch of podcasts and reading up on how to write and I'm attempting a novel (those of you who are I'm close to already know this; sorry for the redundancy).  So a blog would be a good way to get the creative juices flowing I would think...

Anyway, that's all.  I'm done rambling.

A lads debate blog response

I have not always been into politics. This undulating political landscape continues to fascinate me, to the point that now I'm actually blogging about it. (To be fair though, I've been looking for a new creative output.)

This blog response is specifically for an ol' chum of mine's post: http://therealmomentaryfocus.blogspot.com/.

I agree that America needs to wake up and see what is going on. However, I argue that we need to wake up and see what is going on on a much broader scale than just election corruption. We are all losing it. In multiple ways.

 There was a commercial a while back for a cholesterol reducing medication, and on this NATIONAL TV commercial, while different 'non-actors' were discussing their 'score', a lady says, "I didn't even know people could have different numbers!".

What?!
 Honestly?!
 People have different EVERYTHING! Even identical twins have different fingerprints, so why oh why would you expect that people's scores would be the same?! Furthermore, if you assume that the scores were the same, then WHY WOULD YOU RUN THE TEST AT ALL?! What would that tell you?

This is the type of ignorance that we ignorantly embrace and champion, thanks to a diminishing intellectual society and an insatiable desire for consumption. This is what makes me embarrassed to watch "The Big Bang Theory" (Thursdays on CBS) and hear a laugh track after someone explains a math algorithm which is taught in the 6th grade in Japan.

Back to the debate and politics.

This same ignorance, allows us to become victims to the media and the political machine which continually segregates society and pulls us farther apart as a country. Why in the crap art so many hours of government representative's, including the president's, time (which we pay for) spent focused on issues of faith: abortion and gay marriage? When we are $16 TRILLION in the hole, our country continues to shift it's ownership overseas, and we have failing financial, educational, political, and healthcare systems?? We need to pick our battles people! I'm a Christian so I get where the Christian groups are coming from on abortion and gay marriage. But we all sin and we all need redemption, grace, and forgiveness. How, when we have been redeemed, can we say that others aren't entitled to the same? Before your mental rebuttal- how will anyone going in or coming out of an abortion or a gay marriage know that they are loved by God the same as us, if you are spewing hate at them? If you consider the two said hot topics as sins, then where is your zeal towards eliminating all other sins which humanity commits on a daily hourly basis? Instead, the media ignites our passions and stirs hatred to compel us to "get out there and vote". It concentrates on issues which are primarily founded in morals and faith and will therefore never be completely agreed upon, instead of issues created by man which can be solved by man. There's a great quote from somewhere that I heard sometime from someone (or I'm making this up), "focus on what you can control, not what you can't."

We will never be able to force someone into believing what we believe, or thinking what/how we think. But we will always be able to inform people with ideas, facts, solutions, which can cause great change. Don't make me listen to a Congressman/woman speaking out about Pro-Life or Pro-Choice, when the issue should be way down the priority list compared to our more immediately severe issues.

I've gone astray a little bit, which, if you read anything from me, you should come to expect.

Back to the blog response.

The government's role or influence in creating jobs is due to the fact that job creation is essentially a litmus test for the state of our union. If unemployment is down then, by a loose association, the economy is up because spending is up and on and on. If morale and confidence in our economy or government or whatever is down, then spending goes down, small business don't know what the future holds so they hire less to sit on what they have and avoid risks, and on and on. Therefore, the government's job is to provide the environment appropriate for job creation. But it's not the government's responsibility directly. What's ridiculous is the amount of power we have put in the hands of the elite 1%. Which, in my opinion (like the rest of this blog), is actually a SUPER-elite with how the chasm between them and normal civilization growing rapidly. These super-elite hold more power than ever before and seemingly have less ethics and morality than ever before. Does it maybe seem like something has shifted and certain people are reaping the benefits of others hard labor, while crapping on them? http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/05/ratio-ceo-worker-compensation

That's enough about that. I could write for hours on how mad that stupid graph makes me.

America is lazy and getting worse. We are also wimps. What's with all of this bullying BS?! There are these stupid stories all over the place now about how people got called names while at school, or beat up or something... That's called childhood. Deal with it. You know why we are having all of these issues? Because a lot of American people out there have been catered-to their entire lives with participation trophies, successful lawsuits against McDonald's and anti-bully campaigns. We don't have to create or work for our food or possessions, nor fight to survive, and we're seemingly a bunch of privileged snotty kids on "My Super Sweet 16". Get up and grind for the sake of your children, your neighbor, your community, yourself!

Which is a nice lead-in to disability and unemployment. Basically, these two programs, along with the other welfare programs for housing, daycare, and food assistance, need a greater sense of accountability. We need to hold people accountable while they are on these programs. I'm not sure exactly what that looks like at the present, but everything comes down to the fact that we are letting people exploit these systems with very little penalty, if any at all. These programs aren't shams- my Mom has had MS all of her life and is now on disability, so I know. But I also know of people who have twisted their ankle and gotten on disability. We are catering to people so much that we expect only soft work, not hard, with a minimum level of effort. Because- oh NO! - we don't want to make someone break a sweat while they are working, because then they would feel self conscious and go take a bunch of pills from a way-too-easy-to-obtain prescription for relief, then sue their employer for the OD. WTF. This kind of stuff happens. Shame on us for watching it on Judge Judy or whoever is on now. Shame on the Justice Department for a disturbingly-broken system. Shame on the person for avoiding any shred of personal responsibility for their OWN life.

I disagree with the blog because I think this vote does matter. Though we are in serious need for election reform, the difference in ideas is quite tangible. Voting is necessary, I believe. The shame is that it takes public and secret agreements between investors and politicians, ridiculously harsh and obscenely expensive ad campaigns which are nothing but scare-tactics, and years worth of not doing any actual job except campaigning. Campaign reform is huge and necessary and we in dire need of new ideas and new people and more logical ways to handle our governmental and societal business.

I'll spare this entry with the specific ideas.

Regardless of any cynicism- I believe in you, me, and us. It's your turn.