[December 8, 2022] Remember what happens in the Pinocchio movie when Pinocchio goes to Pleasure Island; a place where impulsive pleasures can be had at a moment’s notice. What Pinocchio discovers, along with Jiminy Cricket, is that masked totalitarians run Pleasure Island, dressed all in black. They’re turning the children into braying jackasses, depriving them of their voice, and selling them as slaves to the salt mines.
One of the critical interpretations of this story is that the impulse of pleasure is one route to totalitarianism and slavery. Orienting your language towards the gathering of impulsive pleasure is a misuse of your highest gift of intelligence, your ability to think properly, and the gift of communication.
The alternative is to orient yourself toward the highest good and speak the truth. We can tell when we are not speaking the truth because we are using someone else’s words and being manipulated in a sense by forces that are behind the scenes. You’re not using your own words; you’re the puppet of an ideology, another thinker, or your impulsive desires. Furthermore, you can tell when you’re speaking like that because it makes you feel weak and ashamed.
If you speak the truth and speak properly, you can tell if you listen to yourself, and you will experience a feeling of completeness and strength. Speaking in a deceitful or manipulative manner, you will feel that you’re starting to come apart at the seams. The lesson is that you need to practice only saying things that make you feel stronger. If you do this, you will notice almost immediately everything you say is a lie or someone else’s words.
It is difficult to find your own words, but it is difficult to exist until you have your own words. Begin by speaking what you believe to be the truth and listening closely to others because they can help you shape and correct your words. They will react badly if you formulate your words badly, and if you listen and pay attention, you can learn to formulate your words more clearly and accurately. That is what makes you more powerful. It gives you more authority.
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An amazing article. Speak words that make you strong, avoid those that make you weak. Great advice.
Got that right ant man.
Advice to never ignore.
I love this story of Pinocchio.
This is an excellent point. If you are a negative person and are always whining and complaining, the world to you will be focused on the negative. If you’re positive, the world will appear better and you will live a more satisfied life.
Like so many of us have enjoyed this website.
Yes, thanks Mr. John. Good to hear from you again.
Yes, good point Mr. John. thanks.
Never be afraid to speak you mind, but do so politely and act with respect to others. I will also add that it is important that you also have thought out what you want to say in advance and it is not just something off the “top of your head” or you just might make a fool of yourself.
Enjoyed today’s article. We done!
Another excellent article from Gen. Satterfield. Oh, BTW, Gen. S, I received your latest book “55 Rules for a Good Life” in the mail yesterday and I started reading it. Couldn’t put it down last night. My wife said, “Hey, come to bed, what the heck are you reading?” Compelling. Yes, it is a harsh message that must be learned now or we are in for a terrible fall into totalitarianism.
Please read my books (I recommend them too) —
“55 Rules for a Good Life,” on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/55-Rules-Good-Life-Responsibility/dp/1737915529/).
“Our Longest Year in Iraq,” on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Our-Longest-Year-Iraq-Construction/dp/1737915510/
Yep, read both books … you will not regret the decision. And you will be a better person at the end.
Pen Q, I just wanted to say thanks to you, and others, who have given me a positive review of my two books.
Gen. S. says that it’s difficult to find your own words. True enough. But practice and you will get there.
… and listen closely to what others are saying to you and whether they approve or not but also be judgmental of their criticism since so many speak from ideology and not their real thoughts. That is a danger.
Ouch, “If you speak the truth and speak properly, you can tell if you listen to yourself, and you will experience a feeling of completeness and strength. Speaking in a deceitful or manipulative manner, you will feel that you’re starting to come apart at the seams. ” — Gen. Satterfield
Hi Gen. Satterfield, well done. Another brilliant take on the idea that we can make ourselves better folks, if we work at it and know the direction we are headed. So, pick a noble aim and focus all your efforts in that direction. It will do you good and you will feel better, stronger, and more powerful because you will be on the right path.
Well said, Mikka. ✔✔✔✔
I believe this is the point of the artilce. Other psychologists say something very similar and so there must be something to it.
Thumbs up on your comment.
Well said. And I think I understand this and I’m always saying, “Don’t say things that are bad for you.” Something similar to what Gen. S. has written here. Thanks. I’ll have to think about this whole idea for a couple of days. I’m just not as fast of thinker as many here.
Wow, very powerful thinking, Gen. Satterfield.
Yep, I had to read this article three times and I’m still not sure I get it all. General Satterfield makes my brain hurt …. he he he
That is why it takes effort, thinking and paying focused attention. Try it, it’s hard. But keep at it, you will get better even if you don’t see yourself improving. Test your ideas out on trustworthy friends and see what they will tell you. That is one way to put your ideas out into the world to see if they are good ideas. But like others have written, be aware of the ideological slave who will say or do anything. That person will attract you with the easy path, which you will regret following.
Just like communism which gives you a bright, easy path to follow but takes you into the heart of evil.
So true, Bryan. Thanks.
I agree Steve. And, of course, that is why I read this blog every day. ❤
Yep ‘er, that is why I’m a regular reader too.