[austintorn@aol.com]

Those who have learned a lot about the human condition, especially those who quest for Everything, see the big picture of life and its stages and connections. This lets one not get annoyed so often and feel OK.

Putting ourselves in the shoes of others when we see hurtful things—empathy—sometimes expands our consciousness, compassion, and love since we can come to know why they did it—the best that their reasoning could do at the stage they are at.

We might have guilt if we didn't feel for others, although not when they are quite hopeless and totally beyond our reach.

When we converse with ourselves, it is our Higher Consciousness—our Conscious Awareness Or 'I', that questions our lower consciousness impulses toward securing, sensation, and power, as well as hurting others through any selfishness.

Strangely, perhaps, this brings happiness, and some evolutionary benefit may follow.