Human Value II
Class 2 Presenting Value
We Are Not Safe.
This is the hard truth. Abraham Maslow looked at our process of creating security as a linear progression. He thought that people could in essence, check off boxes, like a “to do” list. We take care of our physiological needs, basic safety, and move on to bigger things; Acquiring skills, relationships, money, groceries, and a home, etc. But despite his hierarchy of needs, he made a key observation: Fear continues to plague us, no matter how far up his supposed ladder we climb.
We learn we are not safe (at least not all the time), as infants. Hunger, pain, sickness, heat, cold, eventually loneliness and boredom are part of our introductions to a world full of adversity. This context, set against our physical traits is the foundation for our presenting value.
Why does a baby cry for their mother’s breast? Why do they not go to get milk from the refrigerator and pour themselves a glass?
Presenting Value is what we do, and how we appear, in order to obtain security. We are, as we have established in the first lesson, born with infinite worth. But this is not enough to survive. We have to develop physically, emotionally and socially to continue gaining or protecting our securities, and regenerating our species. Early in our lives, we lack the psychological development, physical abilities and muscle memory to do much of anything. We may, in time, learn to pull a blanket over us for warmth, or turn on our side to alleviate stomach pain, but we are more or less helpless at birth. After a few years of development and experience, we begin to adapt within our environment.
Despite the difficulties, we are biologically wired to do most of life’s tasks, together for a period of time. There is no human equipped to live “as an island”, and most humans do not survive for more than 80 years. Humans are born with needs for interdependency. We are both competitive and cooperative. Healthy competition is beneficial to our species, and to ourselves. But, as we discussed in the last class, shame and resentment can easily emerge when when we encounter toxic adversity and trauma.
Our presenting value is neither good nor bad. It is our art and our craft. It includes how we look, sound, move, and think (among other things). It is common, within cultures and subcultures to have prejudices about presentions. Religions may use “sinful or evil” to describe a presentation… but for the sake of objective judgement- This course will deal with healthy and unhealthy presentation. You may, in time, find that using supernatural terms to describe presentating value just confuses the true nature of what a person is presenting.
Presenting value, unlike innate value, always changes depending on whether or not a person feels threatened, and how aware they are of their own innate value. Because presenting value is not only the action we take, but also, the physical traits we possess, our presentation changes with age. Everything from how many hairs are on your head, to whether or not you are sneezing right now, is presentation.
Our occupation is part of our presenting value, as are our facial features. Our brains, and current mental health is part of our presentation. Whether or not we feel thirsty or tired… All of this is just presentation. The symptoms of a disease that we may be carrying may be part of our presenting value as well… All are constantly changing, none indicative of our innate value.
Presenting value is no good indication of who a person is. It is an indication of what they are currently resisting and pursuing… You might meet a 20 year old, who is 130 lbs., wearing a liberal button on their shirt, with a poison ivy rash all over their arms, as they bus tables in a restaurant. Fourteen years later, they may have gained 50 lbs, work as an accountant, support relatively conservative candidates, and that rash has long since gone away… This person’s motive for working today, may be entirely different than it was back at the restaurant… In fact, it may be different than it was yesterday.
None of us are currently able to look at a brain and precisely assess its functional capacity, and yet we have governing bodies that have created a social contract which demands standards of presentation that we may not be able to live up to at a given moment. This class is aimed at helping us develop brain and body health that makes it more possible to abide by these standards. Also, by separating presenting from innate value, we hope that you begin to feel more empathy for others, who are presenting behaviors that you may not like.
As we move on, we will address our reception of other’s innate and presenting value. But, as far as an individual personality- we are only comprised of two parts of the “Self”. The Innate Self, and the Presenting Self. The presenting self, is the only part of us that can change.
What did you want to “BE” when you grew up?
Did you imagine this could somehow increase your internal worth?
What are some of the things that you did NOT want to be?
Whose judgements influenced your own?
Are your friends and family able to live up to their own standards of presenting value?
How many of the people you interact with confuse presenting value with innate value?
What do you resent about yourself?
Where have you failed?
Do you see how resentment disrupts your ability to see your own value?
Who else do you resent?
What power do they currently have over you?
Can you forgive their presentation?