The Edge of Understanding

In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is. ~ 'Yoggi' Berra

Part of the problem with the life lesson intersection is that it 'exists' on the edge of my experiential understanding; I don’t only have the problem of 'experiential compaction', because I also have the problems of 'differential blinders' and 'symbol stagnation'.

The place where thinking about things meets up with doing things is where we (in our common human experience) begin evaluating our experiences by the meaning(s) we gain from them. This process of valuing and discovering worth by insight, intuition and (or) reflection becomes a sort of mental modus operandi, a 'mental framework' that frames our understanding of the world and ourselves.

In life lesson two I referenced how I experience 'differential blinders', when I'm 'missing the forest for the trees' (and possibly also not having my priorities straight) because I am so absorbed in differentiating some minor (meaningless) point. And sometime ago pointed out how I have, in my mental framework, a differentiation predilection; I tend to differentiate needlessly beyond what I meaningfully experience. I think of this 'extra differentiation', and the symbols it creates, as 'experientially meaningless' because it does not have any engendering experience attached to it by which I might value it (evaluate it) and see its worth; I usually end up with concepts, ideas and theorizations that are literally '(experientially) worthless symbols'. Thus it is I rather think I need to develop some sort of bright-line warning system by which I might recognize when I am essentially not only (meaninglessly) wasting my time and mental resources but doing so at the expense (being blinded) of other meaningful experiences.

In 'symbol stagnation' we tend to seek symbols more than the meaning they are supposed to represent, or when we mistake a symbol for its meaning (they aren't the same thing). Those symbols might be love symbols, dominance and submission symbols, religious symbols, national symbols, philosophy symbols, cultural symbols, even language symbols, as no one likes hearing even unintentionally 'hollow words', but eventually I think we find the symbol mysteriously conveys less and less meaning. And when this happens, like passion addicts, we will either try using more of the same misaligned symbol to get more meaning, or we'll try rehabilitating the symbol by reattaching it to the engendering experience (perhaps in the same way as before or perhaps differently).

And of course when at the compacted edge of understanding, finding that 'differential bright-line' and stepping into 'symbol rehab' are just that much more difficult.