Man : Distinct Characteristics (Human Natural Possession)

A unique creatures among all living creatures possessing many attributes which we have taken for granted. It should become clear how special human beings are.

The many distinctive characteristics of man.

• Humor:

     §   Ability to appreciate, create and express humor. Requiring creativity and to see the odd, surreal or ironic surroundings.

• Appreciation of beauty:

     § To appreciate all kinds of beauty. Morning, sunset, a work of art, or flower.

• Self-consciousness:

§  Man can step back and become a spectator, critic or admirer of the world around. The ability to see the greater picture and analyze what needs to be done to affect his role.

• Awareness of death:

§  Has a deep respect of his mortality. Fully aware that his days will not last forever. In fact, nearly all cultures perform some form of funeral ritual. This is not found in the animal world.

• Understanding time:

§  Humans can wonder, speculate and search the annals of history for lessons, and apply those lessons to goals far into the future.

• Connections between words:

§  Man can comprehend syntax or communicate in complex sentences, while animals can understand simple words or tones. Human beings have created hundreds of languages (and thousands of dialects).

• Meaning of life:

§  What make difference and unique is the ability to ask about life’s meaning and purpose. No animal contemplates its reason for living—nor would it be willing to live or die for specific values and ideals.

• Malleability:

§  Adaptability to its surroundings : wear clothes, build shelters or modify our environment to suit our needs.

• Lack of harmony with nature:

§  Nature will reach balance and harmony when left to its own devices, only human disrupts that natural balance: deforestation, changing the course of rivers, pollution, over mining for resources, etc.

• Morality:

§      Human kind has a conscience or sense of right and wrong. Controlling his thoughts based on what he considers right or wrong.

• Character:

§       This is the ability to built character, attitude, and beliefs and knowing right from wrong, face of pressures and temptations.

• Choosing :

§  Animals react through instinct—programming, man can deviate from his course of thinking and living however he sees fit.

• Wisdom:

§      Ability to analyze actions before they are performed. This ability, known as wisdom, is unique to human beings.

§             worship:

§     No matter what part of the world or his culture, man exhibits a desire to seek, follow and worship a higher power. Animals do not.

§             Love:

§      While some animals form lifelong relationships for the purpose of reproduction, none exhibit a parallel with the human characteristics of love, in which a couple shares experiences, goals, dreams, hopes and aspirations.

Hardships That We All Endure

1) Loss (Death)

       Loss is a piece of our One Suffering: everyone endures loss.

            - there is some solemn comfort in knowing that we all share One Suffering.

2) Heartache

Many heartbroken adults endured breakup, we share heartache as part of One Suffering.

            Focus less upon the differences of our emotional pain and recognize that everyone suffers heartache.

3) Sadness

Sadness is a natural human emotion and that every human being has felt it.

Expressing the emotional anguish that we are battling is often one of the very first steps to overcoming it.

4) Fear

We fear the unknown, what hurts us, change us or death. Fear is shared as a part of humanity’s One Suffering. 

Fear is nothing more but another emotion. Appreciate that fear is just another emotion that we can endure and survive by our choosing.

5) Conflict

Every human being will endure conflict on a major scale (such as war), or a minor scale (such as personal arguments and confrontations), conflict is a natural component of humanity’s One Suffering.

Overcoming  emotional pain caused by conflict by communicating with  others and  focusing upon our differences, intently reflect and discussing our similarities.

6) Failure

 — whether it’s a fear of failure, rejection of crippling insecurity and doubt and being criticize. We are bound to encounter failure and criticism in every aspect of our lives, from friendships and relationships to business and academics.

Failure should not be the cause of great personal anguish because everyone encounters and endures failure. Discuss your shortcomings, others will open up and share their own shortcomings. You just might learn how to overcome your suffering and use failure to your benefit.

You exist here and now. That is the most beautiful and wonderful gift that anyone can have, so it is important that we do not waste the opportunity to live well.