Triessentialism

Friday, February 09, 2007

Saying what you mean

The significance of words is an emotional thing. Significance is one of the two meanings of meaning. The other meaning of meaning is definition, which is a logical thing.

For example, when I'm upset, people tell me to relax or calm down. This made no sense to me; if the problem still exists, calming down won't help it, and relaxing won't solve it. Most of the time, I can't calm down or relax if the problem still exists. The meaning by definition is nonsense to me.

However, the significance of their words is this: You are upsetting me; please stop expressing your emotions in a manner that upsets me.

I can understand that. I can dampen the expression of my upsetness. But please, people, say what you mean; express exlicitely the significance of your words.

Today, God pointed this out to me, and a lifetime's worth of stress vanished. Triessentialism is a philosophy uniquely suited to aid and improve psychology.