Compartmentalization
I am grateful for the fact that no matter what is going on I am normally able to compartmentalize. I can temporarily set aside my concerns in one area of my life and focus on a task in another area of my life. I also, however, want to be aware of how my decisions on where to focus affect other areas of my life. For example, some of we men, especially those in heterosexual relationships and some in same sex relationships , often expect our partners to take off work and care for the needs of the children while we do the important work of earning a living. This may be true even if our partner is making a larger income.
I am also grateful for the fact that I can earn a living without having to directly compromise my commitment to honor the needs of other people and the environment. Many people I know and care about are forced to choose between earning a living and honoring the needs of the environment and reducing the effects of climate change. They may know that long term they are supporting or being supported by an industry which will make the world a less safe place for their children and grandchildren. Some of those can see no other viable choice. If they return to school or other training opportunities, move across the country, work for less money, or work at a job they find disagreeable they and their families may struggle and even be profoundly unhappy. They do not feel they have the luxury of not compartmentalizing.
I am also grateful for the fact that my financial needs are relatively modest at this stage of my life and have been for all of my life. In many respects I am grateful that a significant part of my childhood was spent without indoor plumbing, electricity, central heat or other luxuries I can easily take for granted now. The fact I live in a condo with indoor plumbing, electricity, central heat, a gas range, garbage collection and other services feels like luxury to me. The further fact that I live on a budget and chose a 1 bedroom instead of two- or three-bedroom condo is a choice I make based on other current and historic choices I make and have made.
Many factors allow me the luxury of these decisions including the fact that I am a white male who has always enjoyed certain privileges in this culture. Luck, fate or the favor of the gods also affected the range of decisions I can easily make.
I have also had the luxury, for the most part, of avoiding investments in companies which are not consistent with my core values. It is also true that the amount I have to invest is relatively small and, thus, the profit from any investment would be relatively small. This means the greedy part of my brain which could easily be tempted to compartmentalize is not tempted. I have often been fond of saying that I have always been grateful for making a relatively low income because it would be embarrassing to sell my soul (core values) for this amount of money. I would like to think that I would not sell my soul for a large amount of money, but no one has ever offered me a large amount. Thus, I get no credit for resisting temptation!
I do keep money in a two banks which were owned by people in the community in which they are located and, historically, money was used locally.. It is true though that I have no control over how that money is used. The decision to have money in these banks require a certain amount of compartmentation although I do not ignore or deny my lack of control over the use of that money.
There was also a time when I attempted to not shop with any organization which made or sold products which I found morally objectionable or which treated employees poorly. This has become increasingly difficult given that one could spend a lot of time and energy tracking down the growers, producers, manufacture of raw materials, manufacture of products, shipping and transporting companies, retailer, etc. I realize that I am unwilling to completely live off the grid foregoing commercial groceries, clothes, material, building materials, and medical care which uses manufactured products, etc.
I can attempt to vote for people who seem to have a record of being intentional about the long-term consequences of decisions. I can avoid investing money in most stocks. I can attempt to avoid purchasing items at a place I have good reason to believe mistreat employees or have some other practices which clearly violate my core values. Even these intentions not always as simple as they sound. I can avoid the use of plastic bags, straws and utensils which end up destroying fish and other marine life. I can continue to be intentional about how all my decisions affect the health of the other people, all other creatures, the environment of this planet and the universe.
I can also strive to be grateful that my privilege allows me choices others do not have. Perhaps if I am thinking of sin as behavior which is hurtful or prideful, I can aaccept that none of us are in a position to be judgmental of others.
Written December 28, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
I am grateful for the fact that no matter what is going on I am normally able to compartmentalize. I can temporarily set aside my concerns in one area of my life and focus on a task in another area of my life. I also, however, want to be aware of how my decisions on where to focus affect other areas of my life. For example, some of we men, especially those in heterosexual relationships and some in same sex relationships , often expect our partners to take off work and care for the needs of the children while we do the important work of earning a living. This may be true even if our partner is making a larger income.
I am also grateful for the fact that I can earn a living without having to directly compromise my commitment to honor the needs of other people and the environment. Many people I know and care about are forced to choose between earning a living and honoring the needs of the environment and reducing the effects of climate change. They may know that long term they are supporting or being supported by an industry which will make the world a less safe place for their children and grandchildren. Some of those can see no other viable choice. If they return to school or other training opportunities, move across the country, work for less money, or work at a job they find disagreeable they and their families may struggle and even be profoundly unhappy. They do not feel they have the luxury of not compartmentalizing.
I am also grateful for the fact that my financial needs are relatively modest at this stage of my life and have been for all of my life. In many respects I am grateful that a significant part of my childhood was spent without indoor plumbing, electricity, central heat or other luxuries I can easily take for granted now. The fact I live in a condo with indoor plumbing, electricity, central heat, a gas range, garbage collection and other services feels like luxury to me. The further fact that I live on a budget and chose a 1 bedroom instead of two- or three-bedroom condo is a choice I make based on other current and historic choices I make and have made.
Many factors allow me the luxury of these decisions including the fact that I am a white male who has always enjoyed certain privileges in this culture. Luck, fate or the favor of the gods also affected the range of decisions I can easily make.
I have also had the luxury, for the most part, of avoiding investments in companies which are not consistent with my core values. It is also true that the amount I have to invest is relatively small and, thus, the profit from any investment would be relatively small. This means the greedy part of my brain which could easily be tempted to compartmentalize is not tempted. I have often been fond of saying that I have always been grateful for making a relatively low income because it would be embarrassing to sell my soul (core values) for this amount of money. I would like to think that I would not sell my soul for a large amount of money, but no one has ever offered me a large amount. Thus, I get no credit for resisting temptation!
I do keep money in a two banks which were owned by people in the community in which they are located and, historically, money was used locally.. It is true though that I have no control over how that money is used. The decision to have money in these banks require a certain amount of compartmentation although I do not ignore or deny my lack of control over the use of that money.
There was also a time when I attempted to not shop with any organization which made or sold products which I found morally objectionable or which treated employees poorly. This has become increasingly difficult given that one could spend a lot of time and energy tracking down the growers, producers, manufacture of raw materials, manufacture of products, shipping and transporting companies, retailer, etc. I realize that I am unwilling to completely live off the grid foregoing commercial groceries, clothes, material, building materials, and medical care which uses manufactured products, etc.
I can attempt to vote for people who seem to have a record of being intentional about the long-term consequences of decisions. I can avoid investing money in most stocks. I can attempt to avoid purchasing items at a place I have good reason to believe mistreat employees or have some other practices which clearly violate my core values. Even these intentions not always as simple as they sound. I can avoid the use of plastic bags, straws and utensils which end up destroying fish and other marine life. I can continue to be intentional about how all my decisions affect the health of the other people, all other creatures, the environment of this planet and the universe.
I can also strive to be grateful that my privilege allows me choices others do not have. Perhaps if I am thinking of sin as behavior which is hurtful or prideful, I can aaccept that none of us are in a position to be judgmental of others.
Written December 28, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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