How To Learn From Anybody and Develop a Holistic Mindset
ON THIS EPISODE OF THE BEST MEDICINE PODCAST
Our Guest: Ian Kuzma
On today’s episode of BEST MEDICINE Podcast, Ian Kuzma returns for his second discussion with us.
In today’s episode we build on that by going into the exact mindsets, linguistic functions, and ideologies that are effecting today’s political conflict.
Ian discusses ideas including a universal language, mindsets to understand people of opposing ideologies, and how we can avoid falling into mimetic conflicts as a society.
Ian talks about the importance of empathizing with others and embodying your ideals as a way of avoiding mimetic conflict and brainwashing.
Episode Highlights
[02:30] — How watching his newborn daughter develop has impacted Ian’s view of his role as a teacher
Holistic Communication
Some call it “political tribalism,” others call it “ideological possession,” others “narrative warfare,” and still more call it “the mimetic conflict.”
It doesn’t matter what you call it, they’re all variations on the same theme:
People in power using media, political systems and financial structures to turn the people against eachother.
All these fancy words are unnecessary when you can call it what it’s been known as for thousands of years:
Divide and Conquer.
Today on the show Ian Kuzma and I discuss how Divide and Conquer relies on each and every one of us to continue working — and the various mindsets one can deploy to ensure open, honest, inquisitive and peaceful dialogue remains the norm in our lives and, hopefully, our society.
We call this “Holistic Communication.” Let’s dive in.
Embodying Your Ideals Will Break Your Brainwashing
One of the age-old conservative gripes with modern society is how the left owns Hollywood. (That’s a slight inaccuracy, the liberals own Hollywood and the left has infected that system. But I digress…)
Yet how many conservatives do you know who support independent filmmakers, content creators, authors or performers?
Most small towns don’t have a concert hall, comedy club or independent movie theatre.
If the right wants to own the culture it must embody it’s belief of “owning the culture is valuable” by throwing money at artists and creative producers.
I personally have even BEGUN making content and paying some hard working young guys to help me with the production. Additionally I love painting my own works.
However I also love supporting local artists in my town by buying their paintings (as displayed in my videos) and subscribing to various Patreon accounts of creators I support.
This is a principle: When you embody your beliefs, with self-awareness, then you understand how realistic your beliefs truly are.
Then instead of preaching to the void about your “beliefs,” you can teach those willing to learn how to follow your ACTIONS.
I’d rather teach one person how to do something we both believe in than convince 1,000 good-for-nothings that it’s a good idea.
Ian Kuzma discusses the inverse of this: In college he was “a raging liberal.” (His words, not mine! That would be rude…)
It was only when he tried to leave the realm of theory and begin his praxis that he discovered why the conservative counter arguments held weight. Some of the ideas didn’t work in practice despite immense effort.
Ian did not become a conservative as his experience was the same on that end as well. Conservatives also had some good ideas but many were not practical to impliment.
This opened Ian’s mind to realize: our political tribes are both fundamentally the same. The blue team and the red team both change little to nothing, but love TALKING ABOUT (and profiting from) the ideas of change and action.
Ian then realized that the conflict between blue and red was completely different from what it appeared to be — and indeed from what most people believe it to be.
Republicans and Democrats are convinced they’re fighting to make specific changes in the world.
In fact, Republicans and Democrats are co-dependent groups. The existence of a Democratic power base ensures the Republicans never have to DO anything other than talk smack about Democratic ideas in order to gain money and governmental power. (And vice versa).
In this way, Republicans and Democrats don’t embody their ideal — in fact both parties embody the same status-quo.
Ian’s great epiphany was that by choosing to embody his ideals, he no longer had to worry about where those ideas put him on some political spectrum. He was taking specific charitable and community actions to help real life people and gain results in his life. That doesn’t really fall under an ideology. And he was able to do all that regardless of what the political conflict said — and without picking sides or disparaging anyone.
I’d agree fully: believing there is a conflict in the realm of ideas is a divide-and-conquer trick devised to keep you from taking concrete action that effects any kind of change.
Teaching others in the universal language of action is far more effective than preaching in the divided language of ideology
Expressing Your Ideals Through Universal Language
In the podcast Ian brought up the importance of a universal language.
He meant this very literally.
It would be nice if there were a spoken language that all nations and people can use (both in terms of overall language, like English, and in terms of syntax and common definitions).
In the middle ages Latin served this purpose.
Technically, English functions as the world language today, but since the English language is occupied by hundreds of vernacular dialects and is manipulated by an incontrollable media landscape — it might be impractical to rely on a literal language to serve the purposes of universal communication.
But there are other forms of universal language.
For example: fighting, soccer, music and dance.
Fighting is pretty universal, as the UFC has proven. No matter what style of fighting you come from, the same language is being spoken: “I’m going to hurt you and you’re going to hurt me until one of us gives up or faints.”
Soccer is a universally beloved sport — even in North America where it’s not played ubiquitously, the rules are understood.
Music has as many genres as there are nations, but any musician can follow a rhythm and play some chords with others as a way of expressing feelings. Of course dance goes with that — physical movements set to music to express feelings.
The core of it is this: Universal Languages are not in the realm of “ideas,” they have to do with the body.
Feelings or emotions within the body, and actions taken by the body to gain tangible results.
Things done with the body are universal languages.
This is why art is so valuable.
During the podcast I showed Ian one of my alchemical canvases. (I might release videos showcases my creative process on these if anybody is interested.)
The canvas displayed the alchemical symbols for Earth, Fire, Water and Air, and their symbolic intersection. I’m not quite sure if the actual study of semiotics will reveal deep meaning, but I know that the artistic representation of symbols generally is capable of allowing me to communicate thoughts with people who have not read any of the books I’ve read without using any words. I know that the process of creating the painting lights my brain up in such a way that I am inspired to behave more ethically and effectively in my life for some time after.
In the world of ideas, or “talky-talky,” there’s often so much lost to communication error. We can be manipulated into fighting over words.
In the world of action (the universal language) we can engage in empathy with others through their actions or feelings quite easily. From a place of action we can cooperate and communicate with people regardless of seeing eye-to-eye with them on certain ideas.
I’d like to encourage you all to take time to CREATE something or to find a new way to TAKE ACTION in your life. I’m sure it will allow you to find some value, some happiness and likely a new way to understand other people.
If we all did that we might be a more peaceful stable bunch!
IN CLOSING
Let me know if you enjoyed this episode on social media @BradleyWerrell (I’m on every single platform. Find me anywhere with that @ )
Our bodies are the source of the universal language.
It’s essential that we take good care of them.
Everybody knows that — and knows they should regularly see a doctor to ensure their body is functioning well.
Unfortunately, seeing a doctor is inconvenient and costs too much money — especially if you don’t have insurance.
Let’s speak in the universal language of money right now:
$50 and you can see me or one of my colleagues at the Wellspring Online Clinic. Regardless of insurance status. Any time. Online.
It’s Healthcare, but fair.
Keep your source of the Universal Language safe and healthy.
