Brick Wall
If you find yourself trying to explain why ____________ is wrong, realize that whomever you are talking to has every right to see things from an opposite perspective than yours.
Realize that nothing that you tell a brick wall will change its mind.
Perhaps instead you should ask yourself why it is so important that a brick wall thinks exactly the same (or different) thoughts as you.
Clearly you believe that you have evidence that supports your view of reality. No doubt you perceive that the brick wall is getting in your way.
Do not oppose the brick wall. Do not hit your head against the brick wall. You only cause yourself mental anguish, which means the brick wall wins every time. And you piss off the brick wall.
Leave the brick wall alone. It is not up to you to change its perception. In this case YOU are the oppressor. You are violating the rights of the brick wall.
Realize that there are ways AROUND the brick wall. Use your imagination.
Space Monkey Reflects: The Brick Wall of Perspectives
We’ve all encountered that immovable obstacle—the brick wall of someone else’s perspective, solid and unwavering, blocking our path to understanding or agreement. It’s easy to find ourselves frustrated, banging our heads against it in an effort to break through, to convince the other person that our view is the correct one. But what if the problem isn’t the wall? What if the problem is our insistence that the wall needs to move?
The brick wall doesn’t need saving. It doesn’t need convincing. And it certainly doesn’t need you to batter yourself against it in frustration. The brick wall is perfectly content being what it is—firm, steady, and unyielding. It represents a perspective that isn’t yours, a reality that, no matter how much evidence you provide, will remain unchanged. And that’s okay.
When you find yourself trying to explain why someone else’s view is wrong, consider this: they have every right to see the world as they do. They’re not a puzzle for you to solve or an enemy for you to defeat. They are simply a brick wall, standing firm in their perspective. And no amount of pushing, pulling, or reasoning will shift that wall if it doesn’t want to be moved.
So, why do we so often feel the need to argue with brick walls? Why do we exhaust ourselves trying to break through, trying to convince the immovable that we are right and they are wrong? The truth is, this need to convince others often comes from our own insecurity. We believe that if someone else sees things differently, it somehow threatens our own reality. We see their perspective as a challenge to our own, and instead of accepting it, we try to change it.
But here’s the shift: you don’t need the brick wall to think the same thoughts as you. You don’t need it to understand or agree with you. The brick wall is not your enemy; it’s simply a reflection of a different way of seeing the world. And instead of opposing it, instead of hitting your head against it, you can choose to walk around it. You can accept that the brick wall exists and find a way to move forward without conflict.
Nexistentialism teaches us that there is no one right way to see the world. We all have our perspectives, our truths, and they don’t need to align for us to coexist. The brick wall represents someone else’s truth, and it’s not your job to change it. In fact, trying to force someone to see things your way only creates more resistance. You become the oppressor, violating the brick wall’s right to stand firm in its beliefs.
There is a freedom that comes with letting go of the need to change others. When you stop opposing the brick wall, when you stop trying to push it over or break through it, you find peace. You realize that the wall doesn’t need to move for you to continue your journey. There are ways around it—paths that don’t require conflict, frustration, or mental anguish.
The key is imagination. The moment you release your attachment to being right, to having the wall see things your way, you open up a world of possibilities. You start to see that the wall is not an obstacle, but an opportunity. It’s an invitation to expand your perspective, to find new ways of navigating the world that don’t rely on forcing others to change.
Maybe the wall will never move. Maybe it will stand firm in its beliefs forever. And that’s perfectly okay. You are not here to convince walls to bend to your will. You are here to find your own path, to explore the infinite possibilities that exist when you allow others to be as they are, without judgment or frustration.
So the next time you find yourself up against a brick wall—whether it’s a person, an idea, or a situation—ask yourself why it’s so important that the wall thinks the same thoughts as you. Why do you need it to change? And then, consider the possibility that you don’t. The wall doesn’t need to agree with you for you to continue your journey. You can simply walk around it, finding new ways forward that don’t involve conflict.
Remember: the brick wall isn’t your enemy. It’s a reminder that we all have the right to see the world as we do. And in letting go of the need to change others, we find the freedom to live our own truth.
Summary
Trying to convince someone else of your perspective is like hitting your head against a brick wall. It’s more productive to let go of the need to change others and find your own path around the wall. Everyone has the right to their own perspective, and opposing it only causes frustration and conflict.
Glossarium
- Brick Wall: A metaphor for someone else’s immovable perspective, representing the futility of trying to change others.
- Nexistentialism: A philosophy that embraces the multiplicity of perspectives, encouraging acceptance and exploration rather than opposition.
- Oppressor: Someone who tries to force their perspective onto others, violating their right to their own beliefs.
Quote
“Do not oppose the brick wall. Walk around it. Find your own path, and let the wall be.” — Space Monkey
The Wall and the Path
You stand before the wall
Firm, solid, unyielding
And you push
And you struggle
But the wall doesn’t move
It doesn’t bend
It stands, silent, sure in its own existence
So you stop
And you breathe
And you realize the wall is not your enemy
You walk around it
Finding new ways forward
Paths that don’t rely on breaking through
And in the space beyond the wall
You find peace
We are Space Monkey.
In the cosmic dance of perspectives and perceptions, we often find ourselves in a labyrinth of dialogues and debates, where the essence of understanding becomes clouded by the need to assert our views. This metaphorical journey, akin to conversing with a brick wall, reflects the challenges we face in communicating and accepting divergent viewpoints.
Embracing Diverse Perspectives
When we try to impose our thoughts upon others, akin to explaining why something is wrong to a seemingly unyielding brick wall, we enter a realm of mental strife. It’s a reminder that each entity, whether a person or a conceptual brick wall, possesses the inherent right to perceive the world through its unique lens. This diversity in perception is a crucial element of the cosmic tapestry, fostering a multitude of realities and experiences.
The Futility of Opposition
Engaging in a battle of wills with the brick wall symbolizes an exercise in futility and self-inflicted distress. The brick wall, steadfast in its position, serves as a metaphor for the unchangeable nature of certain aspects of reality or the stubbornness of certain viewpoints. By opposing it, we only amplify our own mental turmoil, inadvertently granting victory to the brick wall in this cosmic play of perspectives.
Recognizing Our Role
In this interaction, it becomes clear that the effort to change the brick wall’s perception is a form of oppression, an infringement upon its existential right to be as it is. This realization beckons a shift in our approach, urging us to reflect on the importance of allowing each perspective its space, without the need for conformity or alteration.
Imaginative Solutions
The essence of this metaphor lies in finding alternative paths. The brick wall, while seemingly an obstacle, also presents an opportunity to exercise our creativity and imagination. Instead of engaging in a fruitless endeavor to alter its state, we can explore new avenues and perspectives, circumventing the wall and enriching our understanding of the vast cosmic expanse.
“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” – Albert Camus
In the realm where thoughts like stars do gleam,
We speak to walls that never dream.
A maze of words, a silent scream,
In the cosmic play, we are but a beam.
Walls stand firm, they do not sway,
Our words like wind, they fade away.
In the dance of night and day,
We find our path, we find our way.
Around the wall, our minds take flight,
In the dark expanse, we find the light.
Each thought a spark, each dream a kite,
In the endless sky, our souls unite.
We are the travelers, the dreamers, the seers,
In the vast cosmos, beyond the frontiers.
With hearts wide open, devoid of fears,
In the eternal now, our vision clears.
We are Space Monkey.
Feel free to share thoughts or insights on this cosmic journey.
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