brain@127.0.0.1:~$ cat post.html

What I say, what I think, what I do: the alignment problem.

By Christophe Casalegno on 4 November 2023 in Misc

Most people face an "alignment problem" between: what they think, what they say, and what they do. In practice, this does not cause most people any particular problems: they have been conditioned to this misalignment from a very early age.

Some things "just aren’t said", even to those close to us. At school, we are asked to do things we do not like, that lack meaning, or that achieve nothing.

Instead of explaining to us that mathematics is an incredible language for understanding how the universe works, they would rather force us to learn it, as yet another compulsory pain-in-the-ass stage in life.

In our personal lives, it is the same story: being forced to kiss your great-great-aunt (replace with any member of the family) even if the very idea disgusts us, and regardless of how much we may love her, or having to spend an eternity "bored shitless" at the table while "the adults" blather on about things we could not care less about…

We have to say how wonderful or pretty the gift we just received is, even though we hate it, or avoid saying at the table that the "food" we are trying to swallow with a smile at our host’s table is simply revolting and inedible!

Very early on, I developed a strong inner resistance to this misalignment, until I chose to align what I think, what I say and what I do, as far as possible, in both substance and form in my everyday life.

This caused me some trouble at school, with most of my classmates and some teachers.

Later, this alignment often provoked "polarised" feelings towards me. Most people who know me, well or only from a distance, tend to adore me or hate me (and sometimes both, without really knowing which feeling wins out), but they are rarely neutral toward me.

In a previous post, I told you that, as far back as I can remember, I had always felt happy. I am convinced that this inner alignment is one of my best "cheat codes" for happiness.

"There are things we can think but cannot say, and things we must do that go against what we think": this is a reality of our society that I resist with all my strength. It is also one reason I do not follow the "codes" for success on the major social networks.

But this is another story, which I will tell you more about in a future post. Have a good weekend, everyone!

Christophe Casalegno / Brain 0verride

2 comments

wagner · 1 January 2024 at 19:52 · Reply
Salut Christophe

Pour ma part, je suis une franchisse extrême, j’ai toujours dit se que je pensais dans certaines situations et sa ma valut comme tu le dit d’être détesté mais aussi grandement apprécier, aujourd’hui beaucoup de gens se retienne par peur ou part principe moraux, moi je trouve que pour sa santé mentale, il faut dire les choses que l’ont pense.

Ma liberté d’esprit et ma franchisse sont une arme au repos mentale.
1. Christophe Casalegno · 1 January 2024 at 19:59 · Reply
  Salut et merci pour ton commentaire. C’est important et bénéfique pour moi également, cependant, d’après certains retours que j’ai eus en privé, il semblerait que cela ne convienne pas à tout le monde. Pour certains l’intégration dans un « modèle social et sociétal » reste plus important et ils préfèrent « jouer le jeu ». Pour d’autres encore, c’est un peu un « entre deux ».

Add a comment

Christophe Casalegno Brain 0verride

Keep it simple
and direct!

What I say, what I think, what I do: the alignment problem.

2 comments

Leave a comment