The complexity of our brains yields very profound thoughts. Although we can influence our thought processes, it is not something we can have complete control over. With this being said, I agree with Arthur Schopenhauer that self-consciousness and the ability to think are the greatest sources of suffering in the world. Whether the suffering we feel is physical or psychological, it is our ability to think that allows this suffering to manifest. Similar to the ability to think, self-consciousness can act as a major detriment to our happiness or pleasure. Being too aware of ourselves brings about judgement and criticisms onto ourselves. I believe that all the greatest suffering felt in the world are due to both these things. “I think therefore …show more content…
Although I would not have a product if I could not think, I am consumed by the negative thoughts. Will I get it done in time? Will I get a good grade? Am I smart enough? As hard as I try to rid myself of these thoughts they linger in my mind and torment me. Not only in this moment do these things affect me but also the entire process of this assignment has been affected. When asked to prepare a short paragraph on our chosen essay topics to read aloud in class I was immediately struck with panic. I could not bare the thought of having to share my ideas publicly. When the class finally arrived I hoped I would have enough courage to present my topic. Unfortunately, self-consciousness took over and I was unable to do this. I became too aware of myself and feared that everybody would begin to analyze me under the same microscope that I was analyzing myself under. I started to believe that everybody else would criticize me as much as I criticized myself. Even though I did not end up speaking, the thought of it alone was enough to make me feel anxious and uncomfortable. Reflecting on the memory too brings back part of that anxious feeling. The ability to think and self-consciousness are so powerful that even in situations as miniscule as offering a brief statement in class can bring great …show more content…
In any given circumstance, at any given time, both these things can affect anyone. In situations as small as, in a general sense, walking down a hallway can bring about the same amount of fear, anxiety, and suffering as getting into a car accident for some people due to their thought process. Sometimes this sense of suffering is brought upon by situations that do not even exist. Our minds can cause us to fear things that have already happened and are no longer there. Our minds can also cause us to fear things that have not yet happened and may not ever happen. Even in the most positive situations our minds can create something bad and solely focus on that one negative. Like-wise self-consciousness can affect us in any type of situation. People can often feel self-conscious about things they have done and their actions but sometimes people feel self-conscious simply because of whom they are. It could be personality traits, physical traits, etc. Whatever it may be, people can feel ashamed of things that are completely out of their control. Sometimes people are so aware of who they are that they do not even have to do anything in order to criticize themselves because they see who they are as a person as a good enough reason to feel that