This is a thread for those who find themselves thinking and experiencing life in ways they would consider unorthodox, uncommon, unusual, unique, etc. In other words, not "mainstream" or "normal" or "stereotypical" (and I realize we all have different ideas of even what those are). I want to know how you like to look at the world that's different, and how you think your way(s) of seeing things is (are) beneficial to you or what you like about them (we could probably do well keeping the negative ones to ourselves).

So, I would think this applies at least at some extent to everyone who will read this thread (this is a conspiracy website, after all ). It can be anything you can think of: little seemingly trivial tricks or shortcuts you know, whether for a game or for cooking or various repairs, unusual techniques for analyzing problems, the way you "sum up" somebody when you first meet them, an experience that changed your life, an entire philosophy that your life follows, or all of it all together, etc. Anything that you would be comfortable enough to share and describe so that we can all learn something cool or be exposed to different ways of seeing things, those types of interesting things.

I plan on adding some things here later but I thought I would start the thread first since I really am curious to see how a lot of you describe your own thinking. Who better knows you and what makes you different, than you? I just hope some of you guys will take the opportunity to really screw with my head.

I'll just bring up some common examples that I think a lot of us will find we share:

Creative Efforts.

A lot of people here probably draw, paint, write music, write poetry or other literature, and those sorts of things. Any unique expression exposes our individuality and our personal way of interacting with the world, and the creative methods people have for writing or drawing or composing are all just as varied as the end products. I always love to hear the methods to how people go about their artistic endeavors.


Science/Technology.

I bet quite a few of us tend to think of a lot of things from a scientific or engineering perspective, when we think of how things work or where they come from. I know a large variety of engineers alone post on these forums: civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical, etc. I'm sure a structural engineer, for example, doesn't always look at a building and see quite the same thing as a person with no interest or even understanding of where any forces are acting. I'd be interested in seeing someone trying to sum up and convey those kinds of thoughts, too, even though I realize asking a professional to sum up the technical essence of what s/he has learned about his field would be much easier said than done.

People with leanings in psychology (a very broad subject) or various brain sciences also always seem to have interesting views. I just watched a presentation on YouTube last night of a brain scientist who had suffered a stroke and actually learned a lot about her brain from it, and it was amazing to listen to her.


Religion/Philosophy.

Another huge couple of subjects that I think most people share, but with enormous variety. Almost everyone has, if not a religion, then at least certain attitudes or ideals of how they should conduct themselves, based on some kind of reasoning or belief.


Those just being three examples of general things that I think a lot of you could immediately relate to and share your views on in some way.

This is a good thread idea and will certainly make for some good reading.


My own personal life philosophy can be summed up as follows:

To take on many different viewpoints from which to experience the world

So instead of telling you my way-of-thinking, I will tell you that I enjoy looking at different ways-of-thinking.

This means, Im not really looking for "the truth" as such, but simply enjoy studying the many different "truths" the world has to offer, and "trying them on" like you might try on a piece of clothing.

I am very fond of the diversity this planet has to offer, and very well aware of the fact that residing in the same viewpoint all the time will disable my ability to experience new things. The more viewpoints I learn and temporarily assume, the more my consciousness expands and the more Im able to experience.

I want to be all of it...everything life has to offer. I want to be left, right, up, down, bad, good, poor, rich, funny, serious, extremist, moderate, radical, reserved, free, bound, black, white and all colours in between.

I dont know where I am from, where I am going or who I am, but Im enjoying the ride.






[edit on 26-11-2008 by Skyfloating]

I find this thread interesting as I've suffered 2 different head traumas as a child and always knew there was something different about me. First my parent's left me in a 1 ton chevy truck with the windows open, and being 1-2 years old, I crawled out the window and fell on the concrete parkinglot right on my head. Heres a truck like it for an idea of how far of a fall it was.


Then at 3 or 4, I was playing with a friend in an old farmhouse and fell down the stairs backwards, and the back of my head hit the sharp corner of an old ceramic wall heater.
And still to this day, I have huge dents and high spots in my head.

But there is an upside somehow, It seemed to "make" me mechanical minded and that is a definite plus to being in the troubleshooting area of networks/pcs and a backyard mechanic.

I tend to not look at the product, but look around it on how it could of been made and how exactly it works, taking tv's, vcr's and other stuff apart when I was about 12 (sometimes with very shocking results lol) and having people come to me to fix their CB radios at 12-14 was a little abnormal.

Not saying I am the smartest person in the world, but I do know my way around electronics and cars, yet had less than one (1.0) GPA for my whole highschool year as it just didn't intrist me at all.


Old saying is the hardest thing to do is know thyself, and that is proving very, very hard to do.

One thing I do, which I believe if everyone would do this, would change the ENTIRE WORLD.

When I have a disagreement with someone, about anything, I try to start with the basic assumption that I might be wrong or I might have something to learn from the other person. This approach enables me to see my own fallacies of logic much more readily, it enables me to more fairly assess the truth of the other person's point, it enables me to adapt my viewpoint to reduce friction, it enables me to treat the other person with more respect, it is more intellectually honest, etc.
I have had major paradigm shifts more than once in my life as a result of approaching each disagreement with open-mindedness and humility.

It also makes it very easy to forgive harsh words and apologize if I have contributed any ugliness.

I am not always able to divorce my ego from my intellect, but when I can, it is a beautiful thing!

[edit on 26-11-2008 by OuttaHere]

Well I certainly look at life differently than most.

For starters, I think of reality as a shared dream and that we're all connected on a deeper level that is mostly unconscious.

I also believe that we're all one soul experiencing life simultaneously through different perspectives. This gives me a particular 'emotional advantage'. Death isn't something I worry about, but look forward to - 'the only thing that dies is the ego'. I also find it easier to refrain from judging people. I understand that everyone has a reason for what they do, even if it adversely effects me. I understand that if I were in someone else's shoes, I'd probably do the same thing.

I enjoy using artwork to get a better understanding of the universe, and also as a means of portraying my thoughts to others. My avatars for instance aren't just random works of art. They're based on some fundamental nature of reality.

We're all both teachers and students so it's important to be open to the truth no matter where it comes from.

S&F
(the non-conformist in me says I should reply)

I like to think I'm unique, because it makes me feel unique.

One of my outlooks is really the same as the golden rule, I just catch myself always doing though. I constantly try to put myself in another person's shoes. (sometimes I forget who I am, because I'm usually not in my head) It's not all the time, usually when it comes to moral decisions, or something that doesn't come off as an instant explanation.

Recently, I just found out how dumb I am!
It's amazing, and fun* to discover your flaws and ignorance in life. -
I constantly tell my self to not live my life in comparison, because all I will do is keep trying to define normal. I sometimes wish I had this crazy classic "tell-all-book-worthy" life that would make household gossip, but then I'm really flipn' glad I don't

my philosophy has been pretty consistent about life. - as surprised I am about my beliefs constantly changing (taking adjustment) every year, my outlook remains the same. I wish I was a musician, just because I've always felt I've had the "ear". It doesn't matter the genre, There is a universal ingredient in all (considered) music - and that is the rhythm. I can't get over how consistent it is in every type of music regardless its sequence, Music is one of the things that every culture participates in and has always served for the positive intention of human fellowship. I am almost surprised that Music didn't take over as a religion, considering it's effect on people. here: My entire perspective of the world through the eyes of man is in the form of music.
I guess you could say this is how I would like people to live.

- Life song -

Music is living in all of us -
From the beat of the heart to the rhyme of the thought -
Life is but a song with a rhythm, not everyone likes dancing to -
Of that, no one dances the same -
We all hear our notes played together, But I ask, "are you just outputting noise, or melodic harmonies?" -
Find out what sounds beautiful while you are still here -
Get up, dance with one another, and when you're not dancing -
Sit back, lounge, listen.

This is somthing ive only recently realized and understood. Infinity veiwed from outside of time would have a pattern, or design. That design would be god. My personality... my very thoughts are shaped by the pattern of infinty that i am living in. I am a sum result of my expreiances and thoughts, which are in turn the sum result of the design of infinity. I used to veiw myself as a person with everything grown by myself on the inside, but now i see myself as a sum result of everything givin from the outside. Not an image or an item... but an outline that can expand beyond myself and into infinity.

great idea love reading other peoples take on reality.

i would love to put my version of reality down but its too long and complex and filled with contradictions.

but if i had to summaries i would say we all think differently and im no exception im too inquisitive for my own good, always felt like there was more to the world that what we were being told as far back as i remember. i like to watch humans and their interactions. i see people and get vibrations off people i guess u would call that empathic i can tell negative people from positive people just by looking at them sometimes im wrong most times im not. but apart from that im as flawed as the rest of us

This is why I use the internet. Great thread, thank you.

I've really enjoyed reading these posts. Without this machine in front of me, I would really never have known just how many entirely unique perspectives people have. Yup, I too have always felt like I live in a parallel universe of sorts, and have struggled in my life more than I've been comfortable. I turned to music and art at a young age in an attempt to mold the world - or create a new one - in my vision. Have felt a longing for the paranormal and for contact with the spirit world. Have fought the system, have lost, have triumphed and seen some unreal things as well. Currently I am extremely content and grateful for this life, and I still toil on in my own humble little way with my music and art and mysticism. I'm afraid to leave my "ultimate view of reality" because I know I'll want to come back and edit it.


Thank you ATS

[edit on 30-11-2008 by Nox Vulpes]

i use a freeware program called "gnaural"

Bsbray I just deleted 6000 or so words, as I realised it reminded too much of my own journeys of understanding myself, and the healing I experienced on that journey, and did have when doing Psychiatric Nursing when younger. Also I took counselling courses at a fairly young age too, in a voluntary organisation to help youngsters from difficult backrounds, and this is not the place for that

When you read the below you can imagine what I deleted, or maybe not lol... anyhow...

So I will make a long story indeed as short and descriptive as possible in reply to your question, I hope it still is relevant.

I had very little contact with my Parents, not seeing one of them until the age of four/five years old when first born, and was raised by other family member's therefore. I though was brought up in a deprived area, but another family member paid for me to go to an very exclusive Roman Catholic private school, and all my formative teaching was done by Monks/Brothers of the order that run the school.
Even though I was lucky enough to be taken in by those other family members, they had lost their own child of under 10 yrs old, exactly 1 year to the day I was born in a tragic accident.
I nearly immediately was placed with them. I also was in a incubator first for a long time in those days, an unusual amount of time for medical science then, and was lucky to live, due to my very very early birth.

In those days it was very sterile and don't touch attitude to premature children, so as far as I know I had no Human contact, besides medically for the first 6 weeks of my life. Then I was placed into a mourning and reactive depressed family as explained...

So I mention this not looking for Ah bless, very much dealt with many many many moons ago to say the least!, But to explain that I obviously developed ways of experiencing the world not as the "norm" and learnt, to be very happy indeed with my own company at an early age.

Not needing or desiring to recreate the normal contact with caregivers most have, which then translates in life when older as constantly looking for peer and social validation.
So my internal world became more of a focus at an early age than most, who look out to others for approval and justification. Without those Parents to ask questions of or gain guidance from, I had to formulate my own ideas about how things were, and should be.
It made me a lifelong rebel of sorts, in that If I really Really think something is right, I don't really care what others think of me, I will do it, stand up for it and fight for it.

This is actually something in retrospect I am glad of. However I have due to this trait, to make sure that streak is not allowed to go the wrong way as in "Right for Me/Selfish" and not the really really right, as in a good moral/spiritual basis.

I know I am there at my time of life, but once or twice I strayed and it has got me a couple of times in hot water!

So with that basis I intended for you to understand the following. Due to the pernicious and all emcompasing religious brain washing I suppose, which If anyone who has been educated by Monks/Brother's will understand, I experienced when young a strong faith indeed.
It was stronger in me than most as explained above, it was a certainty for me to hold onto, something that would not change, a "Father" a such, a crux to fill the void I had compared to others with external figures to look up to and adore.

Well I was 12/13 and taken to the Vatican in Rome, I had served as an altar boy with the local Cathedral for a long time, mass 5-7 days a week since about 4 yrs old.
I had then just started to understand Politics and the outside world, and become aware of Famine, Africa etc...Maybe those pictures of crying children touched me more on an empathetic level because I could really empathise with their lack, not food but other things...

I just couldn't understand It, I will never forget being in the Vatican square , eagerly anticipating going into the basilica, and a large convoy of police bikes and cars, swept up to the front, and a cardinal got out.
He had such fine robes, big gold ring, an air of arrogance and oppulance about him as he strode up the steps. I started to doubt my faith..., my life had taught me young to see throw the "Surface" appearances of people, that a smile and all the associated labels and "Front" could mean something very different indeed.

Then 20 minutes later being inside and all the majesty, gold, wealth from within the Vatican. I couldn't figure it out why were children starving when this was here, in Gods place....

It was a real breakdown of sorts, my last belief in anything external, in the illusion of Maya was broken, nearly me with it though to!!
I now had nothing external to trust or believe in.

I did "Act Out" following that for a year or two, but also started exploring other faiths and my own mind, looking for that rock, and perspective to trust and believe in. I devoured mainly books on Tibet/Buddhism and the Mystical Paranormal & Politics of all cultures.

I had just chosen my Confirmation name "Francis" from St Francis of Assisi as I loved nature and animals. So I explored this aspect of the world views deeply too.

So long story short I had my first night of the dark soul at a very young age, and I am soo glad in retrospect. I took up meditation and Tai Chi.
Now from my short description with many aspects left out of the "interesting" life experiences, that I have been blessed with many more have followed often quite from an observers point of view tragic, but as you ask about perspective, well it is everything.

I care not what really is happening "out there" but what my response to it is "in here".

That is not to say I don't care about other people etc, so very far from it, just in terms of my own life events, Bring it On I say because I am more likely to be upset, when I get angry at someone for pulling out in front of me, rather than seeing a tragedy unfold in my life on the same day later.

If I can deal with that later situation with patience and love, and see it for the illusion it is.

I had an NDE as well some 4 years ago, and the contributers who state they try and see things from the others point of view is so right.
I experienced the classic Life review, and I promise all reading this that when you leave the physical, there is something else, and you WILL experience every word, deed and hard to explain but they affect others to Thought, you have ever had, said or done to others, from how it feels to them amplified a hundred times or more.

This is difficult for me as for many years with meditating etc, I have once or twice experienced the reality of Emptiness. But in this NDE review it seemed so real and there, so I am struggling now spiritually with this dichotomy.

All I know is LOVE is truly the only thing there is really, and devoid of that empty nature, and we must all strive to Love Unconditionally all of time, no matter how the "screen" or "play" we experience shows us, for if you hate another you are truly hating yourself.

Another aspect to my experience also is from before my NDE and the meditation practise of mindfulness. I have over the years now become very aware of the NOW, and the relaxing of the illusion of then and later breaks down, making even very simple things like washing and eating extrodinary at times experiences.

I love the quote in Buddhism

Can you see the clouds in your tea?

As in a cup of tea, the interconnectedness is true, and this simple truth can be so profound, I have realised and nearly tasted the stars in the tea too!
Or the moisture laden out breath of Jesus or Buddha, and conversely later when thinking of this.....realising Hitler too, But Now the same water is now being carried in the air of the Dalai Llama's next outbreath, or maybe his Pee lol, maybe your's reader.

I think I shall leave you with that to ponder and I am sure that last paragraph will challenge many peoples perspective!

Love and Light to you All really, and deeply, It is my sincere wish that what I have added may help some clear the illusion in their minds.

Elf.

[edit on 1-12-2008 by MischeviousElf]

I like the thread concept, inquisitive natures is what keeps us learning.

I would endorse openess and independence as the tools of a developing psyche. When used in the right way, all doors can be opened for you. Put simply, to be open is to be free. Free from the shackles of belief systems, attitudes, foregone conclusions, assumptions - all the things that block growth. Free to learn. The task is to widen your perception, and never to isolate it. It's a journey to accept all experiences and all angles of thought, the more you become accustomed to this the richer your perception becomes.

Independence is used to maintain that freedom. Sometimes, we are all too willing to subscribe to a particular way of thought, or even a behavior or real life situation that only serves to hold us back. Nothing is more limiting to your journey than a diminished freedom to experience. Untold opportunity, potential, creation and wisdom lies ahead if only we are spiritually cognizant of our direction in life. Very few reap the full rewards.

Originally posted by Skyfloating
I want to be all of it...everything life has to offer. I want to be left, right, up, down, bad, good, poor, rich, funny, serious, extremist, moderate, radical, reserved, free, bound, black, white and all colours in between.

I dont know where I am from, where I am going or who I am, but Im enjoying the ride.

I love this! So much so that I wish I'd said it.

Very nice, all sentiments I share but have never found the right ordering of words, thanks for helping me out there. Don't forget sane and insane though...there is fun to be had there!!