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                %CREATIVE IMAGINATION WITHOUT GUILT 871109

     In  a conformal society people learn to do only  what
is  expected of them.   They learn that it is wrong to  do
what is not expected of you,  and to feel guilty for doing
what is not expected of you.   Guilt is self rejection for
failing  to conform.   People in a conformal society learn
to  reject themselves for doing what was not  expected  of
them.    In  a  conformal society  the  only  grounds  for
personal acceptance is conformity.  Conformity presupposes
expectations,    and   in  the  absence  of   expectations
conformity is not possible.

     Creativity  and  imagination  lead  to  non-conformal
experiences,   and  in a conformal society  they  lead  to
rejection,   self  rejection and so to guilt.    Guilt  is
personally and communally disintegrative.   Guilt does not
lead   to  either  personally  or  communally  integrative
processes.   Guilt as a disintegrative experience is  evil
and does not serve integrative purposes.  Guilt undermines
creativity  and imagination which are essential to dealing
with new situations which may threaten the integrity of  a
community and its members.

     Disintegrating  communities  need  to  find  ways  to
transcend    their    conformal   values    and    ideals.
Disintegrating  communities are often addicted to  ideals,
values,  attitudes,  expectations, self-conceptions,  etc.
which  lead to both personal and communal  disintegration.
The   persistent  refusal  to  honestly  deal  with   that
possibility  is  sure to lead to total disintegration  and
death.   A decision to honestly deal with that possibility
offers  real  hope  for recovery from  addictive  behavior
patterns.    The  decision  can shift attention to  future
possibilities  in the light of past experiences,  and away
from preoccupations with assigning blame past  failures to
fulfill  possibilities.    The  decision can open  up  the
possibilities  of forgiveness and reconciliation,  and end
the threats of resentment and revenge.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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