The Contentment Dilemma

“Jump in; let’s get on the road! The route we are driving has been reported to have many curves and hills, but I chose to believe it is straight and flat, so we should be fine. Sit back and relax. I have set the cruise control at eighty miles per hour, so we should arrive at our destination shortly...”

Yes, we can all agree it would be foolish to believe a winding road is straight and set the cruise control accordingly. But is it not just as foolish to indulge in selfish pursuits and assume we will not regret it? Or fabricate and support any other lie we imagine will make us feel better?

Has av oiding the truth not always been a cruel and disappointing road to travel?

I think we can agree we had better maintain an open mind to the truth and bravely pursue it. Is anything as secure as confidently standing on the solid ground of certainty? And is anything as repulsive as struggling through the swamp of falsehoods and error?

If we hold conflicting ideas we cannot both be correct, even if we convince ourselves we are right. Considering the countless contradicting opinions that abound, we can note that many people who are sure they are right are quite wrong. That could be us. 

One might wonder, “If it is possible to know the truth about life, why are there so many contradicting opinions?”

Are diverse views not often the result of people (especially those who are highly influential) refusing to accept ideas that contradict what they want to think? This leaves them and those influenced by them with a dreadfully distorted perspective.

Many people attempt to avoid any truth that does not align with what they want to believe. These folks are not afraid to call what they want to think a fact, regardless of reality. Will we find the truth if our preferred view is more important to us than facts?

I also fight this tendency. I must repeatedly remind myself that accepting reality will be far more rewarding than believing only what I want to think.

How about you? Are you willing to discredit desirable opinions for the sake of truth?

Taking a thorough and honest look at a view that does not interest us is certainly challenging. Jonathan Swift wrote, “Reasoning itself is true and just, but the reasoning of every man is weak and wavering, perpetually swayed and turned by his interest, his passions, and his vices.” 8 What we want to believe can easily influence our reasoning. No wonder folks are confused about reality when it is so common to allow our preferences to distort our view of the truth.