A Rising Phoenix or Extinction?

You’ve all probably seen illustrations of the mythical Phoenix. I don’t know a lot about birds, but from various representations I’ve seen, it seems to be a mixture of some fancy roosters and Asian pheasants. And if you haven’t been living in a cave, you’ve probably seen Professor Dumbledor’s phoenix in Harry Potter films. In any case, the prehistoric-looking birds carry a fascinating mythology of being able to be reborn or hatched from the ashes of their former bodies which were immolated. The destruction part doesn’t sound like much fun, but being able to start a whole new life certainly sounds hopeful, especially being able to use the accumulated knowledge from the former life.

While this creature is mythical, it obviously has great symbolism which can be used in our personal lives as well as applying it to many other contemporary issues. Let me first state that I am not suggesting that any one person, organization or entity deliberately attempt self-immolation or any other destructive activity to another person, group or entity. What I am saying is that sometimes we need to stop and consider if our old ways of thinking may be headed for extinction. Change for the sake of change is not necessarily a good thing (i.e., the last presidential election). However, just because “we’ve always done things that way” is not the attitude to have in our world today.

Given that most countries are experiencing difficult economic times, including the United States, isn’t it amazing that so many people refuse to compromise to bring inflated municipal, state and federal budgets back into manageable expenditures? Wisconsin’s Democrat representatives who fled the state to avoid the quorum necessary for voting to occur, are not only juvenile and pathological, but unethical and immoral. The fact that they would compromise their integrity just to stand for their “old beliefs” is an example of people who aren’t really with the program. Biology and History have both shown us that in adverse times, creatures and societies which cannot adapt become extinct. Is this really what those people and the unions want?

On personal levels, many of us persist in unhealthy habits because well, they are habits, and habits are nothing more than familiar behaviors which carry with them a certain sense of comfort. We all like to be comfortable, so why change those habits? Same process, different set of behaviors: if you’re doing something which compromises your physical, emotional or spiritual health, the self you know and love gets to disappear too.

I live in an rural area in which many people fear change. Many of these people won’t modify their beliefs because, as they say “We’ve never done that before”.  I think they believe that they will lose some of their identity or very essence, if they embrace change. It is very unfortunate that their very insecurities are what eventually will bring the destruction they fear most.

Using the metaphor of the Phoenix, we can begin to recognize that the ashes of our old ways can provide valuable insights for a rebirth leading to new hope for the future. But we must first allow the doddering convictions to slip away. The only thing more frightful than this is extinction itself.

1. 

   infometr says:

   March 8, 2011 at 3:09 pm

   Great article, i will publish that in my blog, thank you my friend.

   reply
2. 

   Alisa Hamza says:

   March 14, 2011 at 9:54 am

   my God, i thought you had been going to chip in with some decisive insght on the end there, not leave it with ‘we leave it to you to resolve’.Alisa Hamza

   reply
3. 

   axis wheels says:

   March 15, 2011 at 4:31 pm

   Excellent information once again. Thanks a lot

   reply
4. 

   Revitol Stretch Mark says:

   March 16, 2011 at 9:10 pm

   The points you provided here are incredibly precious. It had been such an entertaining surprise to get that waiting for me when I woke up today. They are often to the point and easy to understand. Thanks a lot for the innovative ideas you’ve got shared in this article. Revitol Stretch Mark Cream

   reply
5. 

   Breast Enhancement says:

   March 23, 2011 at 9:00 pm

   Look forward to reading your next article. That was one hell of an article there!

   reply
6. 

   oyun oyna says:

   March 29, 2011 at 1:10 pm

   I am typically to blogging and i really admire your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your site and hold checking for brand spanking new information.

   reply
7. 

   Elicia Clarkson says:

   October 12, 2011 at 3:39 pm

   Wow! Thanks! I all the time wanted to jot down in my website one thing like that. Can I take part of your put up to my blog?

   reply