I believe that individual fulfillment is an ongoing process, attainable only through individual effort, up to (and including) my last breath. With that said, I also believe that these efforts toward individual fulfillment are a critically necessary part of parallel efforts toward universal progress and productivity. And I believe that these two tracks---(Individual Fulfillment and Universal Fulfillment)---will most efficiently move us, (as individuals and as the whole of Humanity), forward. From where I sit, these two most massive and important aspirations should work together as a sincere, organized entanglement of individual efforts toward personal fulfillment that will additionally contribute to universal progress and productivity. Smaller scale efforts toward group, organizational, social, cultural, or communal fulfillment, while potentially productive, are also potentially distracting and divisive; (thus, they are "smaller scale" in terms of potential results). These smaller scale efforts, that may include groupthink and/or conformity, may also suppress individual creativity and thoughtfulness; and they may encourage some degree of tyrannical certainty. Coercive or legislative efforts to impose individual fulfillment, based on this smaller scale mindset, may result in magical, quiescent, fairy-web strands of individual fulfillment, which, when woven together, have the potential to create a lithe web of surprising tensile strength.

George Kateb, (William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Politics, Emeritus, Princeton University), in his book "Human Dignity" says, "Every one of us, even the best, is at various times a slob, a sadist, and a moron; at our worst, we have hard hearts and jelly-like minds." I believe these characteristics to be encouraged and empowered by efforts toward group, organizational, social, cultural, or communal fulfillment. Anything less than the tandem of individual fulfillment and universal fulfillment has the potential to, (and I believe given enough time, will) turn very ugly. It is difficult to avoid the lure of small scale fulfillment; (even keeping in mind that individual fulfillment is a critical aspect of large scale fulfillment). To meet this challenge I must remember that:

1. I am better than me;
2. As a representative member of Humanity, I am no more necessary and I am no less necessary than any other past, present, or future individual; and
3. As a representative member of any group smaller than the whole of Humanity, I am part of a hierarchy that almost certainly places me, (in word and or in deed), above some individual members, and below others.

Though some further analysis is necessary, the observations above, (for me), support and confirm the differentiation between large scale and smaller scale efforts toward fulfillment.

1. "I am better than me." I will never reach an ultimate pinnacle of achievement or fulfillment, but somewhere, within reach, there is a better me; and some days I see it; and other days I touch it; and on occasion I live it. In a sense, I am my own personal aristocracy in which, through force of will, I can elevate the better part of me to ruling status and bend the baser aspects in order to maintain a large scale mindset of personal progress and productivity. Though I believe it also occasionally necessary to allow the predominant pleasure-seeking base some comfort and enjoyment in order to avoid a resentful perception of oppression and, (given the degree and duration), the inevitable attempted coup. By managing and balancing this inner give and take, I am establishing a foundation of individual fulfillment from which I can build toward universal progress and productivity. In this building process though, I often find that I am tempted to detour, taking some intermediate steps within smaller groups. I believe this will only sidetrack and delay. If I feel unprepared to contribute to universal progress and productivity, I believe my better option will be to continue building on personal fulfillment, which  is an ongoing necessity regardless. I may be surprised to find that working toward individual fulfillment contributes to the universal, in and of itself. And it is in this stage of the process that I should again remind myself of the second observation above.


2. "As a representative member of Humanity, I am no more necessary and I am no less necessary than any other past, present, or future individual." No other individual will ever reach an ultimate pinnacle of achievement or fulfillment, but every other individual, with effort, can reach a better self. In a sense, together, this makes each individual a necessary part of something much greater than oneself. And, in a sense, this means that without the individual---(without me)---the whole of Humanity would not exist as we see it, and as we feel it, and as we live it, in this moment. Yet additionally, when individual existence (as we know it) stops, Humanity, (in a different incarnation) continues. So this means that each individual should make the most of this moment by building toward personal fulfillment in order to contribute to this wonder of Humanity. Yet in this moment, this individual is up, and that individual is down; you have elevated the better part of you, and I have allowed for some base pleasure; he has contributed to universal fulfillment, and she has detoured to doctrinaire quiescence; and in the next moment it has changed. To be equally necessary is to allow (equally and in the moment) for the imperfections inherent in individual humanness; and to do so without looking back to judge previous moments, or looking ahead to anticipate future good (or bad) intentions. It is difficult, (perhaps impossible?), to forego judgement and anticipation (especially in regards to past or possible future harm), but to the extent one is able to do so, it will create efficiencies by allowing one to circle back and continue reaching for a better self, and by allowing one to recognize the wanton waste inherent in any efforts that work to justify any perspective other than equal necessity in the moment.


3. "As a representative member of any group smaller than the whole of Humanity, I am part of a hierarchy that almost certainly places me, (in word and/or in deed), above some individual members, and below others." It is within a hierarchical group context where one most easily exhibits the characteristics of "a slob, a sadist, and a moron" with "hard hearts and jelly-like minds." It is in the context of the whole of Humanity where one is able to most easily assimilate and practice opposing characteristics including, empathy, altruism, thoughtfulness, and compassion. The sheer numbers of past, present, and future individuals gives a more realistic perspective on the relative importance of any one individual compared to the next. This perspective in turn, puts into perspective the futility of fighting for position within a hierarchy; efforts are better spent toward individual fulfillment. Yet some may argue that individual fulfillment is accomplished through a group, and I have acknowledged that group efforts can be productive. But the time that must be spent playing politics within the group makes the group a less authentic, shadowy, shimmery reflection of individual fulfillment; and an identifiable group entity has much more potential for divisiveness if and when efforts are made to build toward universal progress and productivity.

As an aristocracy within myself, I may be inclined toward insolence. As a very tiny part of an immense whole, I may be inclined toward apathy and indulgence. As a player within a group hierarchy, I may be inclined toward oblivious disregard. And with awareness and effort, I may still, in any given moment, be drawn toward these improprieties; but I am also likely to find occasional moments of productive balance.