Clarity

Clarity in personal vision and clarity in personal communication go together. Clarity in general is a product of honesty. This becomes acutely apparent in a crisis.

The first instinct in a crisis is to clear the debris of confusion to get at the facts of the situation. All mammals have hormonal mechanisms which expedite this process by chemically enhancing metabolic and brain function. Our species has the rare ability to intentionally implement brain function even outside of a crisis situation. In other words, we can learn to avoid crises in some circumstances. 

Maintaining a clear mind through meditation, reflection and concentration is an intentional preventive strategy to maintain health and stability. A clear mind speaks with a clear voice. A clear mind communicates the motivations for its actions and reactions. 

As a humanist, I take responsibility for my actions and reactions. I have no gods to blame these on. I make no claims of being possessed by evil spirits. I can acknowledge that mind self-awareness and self-control are not perfect by any means. I make mistakes. I say regrettable things. My humanist practice entails understanding my mistakes and making a daily attempt to learn from them. I try not to repeat them. In a similar way, my practice entails understanding what promotes love and peace in my life. I try to incorporate these behaviors into my daily life as well. 

A confused life is torturous. An untamed mind is a relentless impediment to connecting with others and making satisfactory relationships to achieve a healthy, peaceful and joyful life. Clearing the smoke of habitual self-deception and lying to others is a tremendous step to becoming a happier person. The opened and tamed mind is the portal to more peace and joy.