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%BALANCED AFFIRMATIONS 780515
An affirmation contributes to the firmness, the
integrity, of that affirmed. Exclusivity undermines
affirmations, whether the exclusivity be on the part of
the focus of possible affirmation, or the source of
possible affirmations. Exclusivity undermines integrity
which is essential to firmness. Exclusivity breaks bonds
of communicative inter-connection, and so undermines the
possibility of complementary affirmations of variety and
individual differences. Exclusivity calls for the
affirmation of one value regardless of context---to the
exclusion of values other than the one demanding
unconditional affirmation. Such exclusive affirmation
occasions fragmentation and so the undermining of
integrity, as in: winning arguments by overpowering a
loser, super-patriots, militarism, racial and ethnic
discrimination, economic snobbery, educational snobbery;
and patterns of exclusivity in business, residential
neighborhoods, social gatherings, education, and religious
institutions.
Integrity is occasioned by balanced affirmations---
whether in intimate personal relationships or in more
formal social interactions. Affirmations which contribute
to the unbalanced growth of individuals and relationships
are perverted affirmations---they do not contribute to the
integrity of the individuals and relationships. They
promote cancerous growth of but a part of the individuals
and relationships. Genuine integrity involves balanced
growth of all aspects: physical, emotional, sensory,
contemplative, analytic, integrative, sexual,
individualistic, communal, intellectual, affective, etc.
Balanced affirmations promote the balanced growth of all
aspects, not the outstanding excellence of one aspect at
the expense of other essential aspects of a person and
relationships which grow with integrity.
Specialization tends to undermine balanced
affirmations. Specialists do not value integrity---they
value some narrow aspect of a whole person, without regard
for the context which affirms that narrow aspect in only
limited situations. Specialization undermines personal
integrity and the integrity of personal relationships by
unconditionally valuing fragmented aspects of real living.
Balanced affirmations are possible only by people who
recognize the idolatry of thoughtless specialization.
(c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in
www.essayz.com Search for Integrity and Honesty
(On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)
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