Please check out my new Kickstarter project:

This new project to spread some holiday cheer is admittedly smaller than the last project, but if everyone who backed the earlier project backs this one, it will fund fully! I look forward to making you some scarves! --Rich

Shameless Self-Promotion

Most bloggers write about what they do, what they like, and what they think.

So far, I have written about Nothing. 

What does this say about me?  That I do Nothing?  Like Nothing?  Think Nothing?

Yes.  No.  Maybe. (In no particular order)

The title of this blog, "Threads of Nothing" also holds a reference to another topic I enjoy:  Threads.

I don't mean threads, as in a reference to clothing: "Cool threads, dude."  I mean it as in the common threads that bind us together as human beings.  The next "Chapter" in the Users Guide to Nothing series will delve into that hot topic.

But for now, I am going to digress, and tell you about a hobby of mine, that does deal with threads.  Lots of them, spun into yarn, actually.

I like to knit and to crochet, and to make "friendship bracelets"

In fact, my first kickstarter.com project involves yarn.  Check it out, and support it if you like it.

Exercise 1. Transformation of Nothing

Exercise 1:

Transformation of Nothing

(Note -- before doing this exercise, you may want to read the intro to this series, and the Chapters that have lead up to it.)

 

For this exercise you will need a container of some sort.  It need not be anything fancy, and it can be any reasonable size.  An empty cup, shoebox, or even a laundry basket will do.  Something you can freely manipulate is best. 
(If you are unable to obtain an empty container, or are unable to manipulate physical objects, feel free to imagine one instead, and follow along with the exercise in your mind.)

You will also need some sort of small object that will fit within the container.
(Once again, an imaginary object will do just fine.)

Examine (or imagine examining) your empty container.  For the purposes of this exercise, imagine that the container represents the boundaries of the entire universe.  Within those boundaries rests everything that exists in the universe.  At present, there exists only Nothing.  There is nothing other than Nothing.  There is no past, no future, nor even time to measure them by.  There is no good, no bad, nor even judgement to measure them by.  Only Nothing.  There is no hope, no despair nor even any wish that things be other than they are.  All there is, is Nothing.  In a sense, Nothing is Everything.

Now, place (or imagine placing) a small object in the container.  The container  itself - representing the boundaries of the universe - has not changed.  However, the contents of the container - everything that exists in the universe - is now very different from what it was just a moment ago.  In fact, prior to the introduction of this object into the universe, there was not even the concept of "a moment ago." Prior to this, one could not have even described something in terms of what there was "prior."  The very concepts of time and past and future sprang into being the moment that object was introduced to the universe. 

Interestingly, this effect - this conceptual creation - has far-reaching effects, both forward and backward in the (newly created) concept of time.  By creating the concept of a past in the present, we also have created the concept of a future in the past.

To illustrate this, think back on the original state of the universe, when Nothing was Everything.  Notice there now are things there that were not there before.  There is now a Future distinctly and tangibly different than the Present.  In fact, the very concept of Tangibility exists where there was no such concept before, (although its presence is at that particular moment felt only by its absence).  That a future now exists distinctly different from the present means that the concept of Possibility now exists.  All these fundamental changes in the original state of the universe have forever changed the nature of Nothing, and our relationship to Nothing.  Now, when we see Nothing, we are also seeing the Possibility of Something.

Now, once again examine (or imagine examining) the container and the object in it.  In that state, the universe (the contents of the container) clearly contains Something.  No longer is the universe filled with Nothing.  In fact, Nothing (in its original state) no longer exists in that universe, anywhere.  Even the space remaining in the container is no longer filled with Nothing.  That space now contains several other concepts, such as Distance, Direction, and even the concept of Space itself.  Nothing itself, however, is gone.

Gone where, though?

Now, remove (or imagine removing) the object from the container.  Suddenly, Nothing has re-emerged.  However, this Nothing is not the same as the original Nothing.  This Nothing now holds the concepts associated with that object, in the form of Possibility.  For example - the object had Length, so now the Nothing that exists here now represents the Possibility of Length.  Likewise, Nothing now represents the Possibility of Color, and the Possibility of Mass.  Every aspect that the object could have been measured by - every concept that has ever been present in that universe is now present in the original state of the universe, as a Possibility, in Nothing.

In addition to the concepts of Past, Present and Future, the appearance and subsequent disappearance of the object have distinguished other new concepts:  Change, and the Possibility of Change.

If you introduce multiple objects into your container, concepts like More and Less become distinguished and projected as Possibilities into Nothing.

Each time a new object is introduced to the universe, new possibilities are integrated into Nothing.  Ultimately, if this exercise were drawn out enough, one conceivably could transform Nothing from its original state (when Nothing = Everything) to a decidedly different state, where Nothing = the Possibility of Anything.

This gives us a whole new way to relate to Nothing, which we will explore more deeply in the chapters to follow.

Chapter 2. Nothing is No Problem. I Have a Problem with Something. Now What?

Nothing is No Problem.
I Have a Problem with Something.  Now What?

(Note -- before reading this, you may want to read the intro to this series)

If the previous chapter left you confused about Nothing, it is suggested that you re-read it.  Moving forward with a misunderstanding of Nothing will likely lead to additional confusion and potential conflict.

This chapter leads to the first exercise that demonstrates some of the peculiar properties of Nothing.  With an understanding of these properties, we will be able to be more effective in our dealings when we are confronted with Nothing.

Many readers are now thinking, "Confronted with Nothing?  What does that mean?  How can a person be confronted with Nothing?"

In actuality, we are confronted with Nothing quite often, without realizing it.  A problem presents itself that immediately and automatically becomes categorized in our minds as a "problem with X".  We then try to solve the problem with X.  Our behaviors begin to be dictated by the belief there is a flaw in X.  Even our expectations of X's future performance begin to be shaped by the perceived problem with X.  If "X" is an individual, they may even notice our changing behaviors and expectations, and as a result, their own behaviors and expectations of you may become altered.  All this can lead to even more things being categorized in our minds as "problems."

That original mental miscategorization is sort of like turning to the user's manual for your VCR to troubleshoot a problem with your television set.  You may come up with a solution, such as making sure the device is plugged in to a working power source, but more often there will be no actual solution to the issue, or the potential solutions suggested may create additional problems.

Properly recognizing a problem as being a problem with Nothing is essential then to begin to effectively address the problem, and reach the desired outcome.  In order to do this, we must first be able to determine where in the process Nothing was miscategorized as Something.

Ultimately, "Problems" arise from the presence of unfulfilled expectations.  These could be conscious expectations, or unconscious ones.  To illustrate this, imagine that expectations are like mental containers waiting to be filled with specific results.  When the results are first perceived, they get automatically filed into the awaiting vessels.  Problems become evident when a result doesn't match the expectation and it gets filed in a new mental container created to hold the actual result.  This leaves the container for the expectation unfulfilled.  The mental vessel that was created to hold the expected result has Nothing in it.  Even if the expected result might have partially fulfilled the expectation, the expectation is still not fulfilled.  There is no middle ground.  Expectations are either fulfilled or not.

This unconscious mental dynamic invariably leaves us with a vast collection of unfulfilled expectations over the course of our lifetimes.  Ironically we become bogged down by the cumulative effect of Nothing.

How then do we rid ourselves of this effect?  If we aren't consciously aware of our unfulfilled expectations how can we consciously alter the undesirable outcomes they have on our behaviors and on our future expectations?

Simply put, we must transform the very nature of Nothing.

Many of you are now thinking something like, "Wait a minute!  I just figured out what you meant by Nothing.  Now we need to change it?"

Yes. 

And no. 

Earlier in this chapter, we mentioned "peculiar properties of Nothing."  In the points to consider at the end of Chapter 1, we suggested that "Nothing is neither fixed nor changeable."

We are not going to change Nothing.  Aside from that sentence sounding like poor grammar, trying to change Nothing would fly in the face of the suggestion above.

What we can change is our relationship to Nothing.  How we relate to Nothing, and all the subconscious emotional baggage we bring to that relationship is what needs to be changed.  Not merely changed like the way we change appearances with clothing, jewelry, hairstyle or body art.  What is needed is a more transformative change like that of an inchworm into a butterfly.

Since we have already distinguished Nothing as a personal, conceptual construct created in human thought, we can see that by altering the way we think about Nothing will have the effect of changing the very nature of Nothing.

When you feel you are ready to attempt to transform the very nature of Nothing, proceed to Exercise 1. 

Chapter 1. Distinguishing Nothing

Distinguishing Nothing

(Note -- before reading this, you may want to read the intro to this series) 

Presume first that these Chapters and Exercises make up "The Users Guide to Nothing".

To begin to deal effectively with Nothing, we must first distinguish what we mean when we use the term "Nothing" from whatever other definitions or preconceived notions you may already have about the concept of "nothing."

If this were a users' guide to a television set, the manufacturer would be able to distinguish what television is dealt with in the guide by citing which model number(s) the guide applies to.

Distinguishing "Nothing" from "nothing" is not quite as easy.

For the purposes of this users' guide, let us presume that "Nothing" is a concept, representing a perceived lack of anything.  Perception is the key.  An empty jar might be said to contain Nothing for one observer, but to another observer, with a different threshold of perception, that same empty jar might be seen to contain a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen and other gaseous particles.  The presence of these particles allows for other features as well.  These features might be measurable, such as temperature, odor or pressure, or they may be conceptual features such as worth, beauty or importance.  The important thing to note, is that "nothing" (lowercase n) is has different meanings, based on an individual's own perceptions, preconceived notions, and degree of understanding.

"Nothing" (capital N), then, must be distinguished in our minds as a conceptual construct, not a measurable phenomenon.  Since conceptual constructs are created in human thought, and since no two people think exactly the same way, the concept of "Nothing" will by design be personal, differing in meaning from one person to the next.  For purposes of discussion in this guide, consider that if you would consider it to be nothing yet someone else might consider it something, that is the sort of Nothing this guide will deal with.

Points to Consider:

• Nothing is neither good nor bad.
• Nothing is neither desirable nor undesirable.
• Nothing brings neither joy nor suffering.
• Nothing brings neither shame nor pride.
• Nothing has neither a future nor a past.
• Nothing is neither fixed nor changeable.
• Nothing is Nothing.

Give yourself time to reflect on these statements, and then continue to Chapter 2. Nothing is No Problem. I Have a Problem with Something. Now What?

Users Guide to This Blog: Definitions, Table of Contents and General Tips

Nothing.

This is perhaps the most overlooked, underestimated, misunderstood, and maligned word in the history of the English language, perhaps even in the history of language itself.


Definitions:
Lets take a moment to try to understand what is meant by "Nothing"

Merriam-Webster defines "nothing" in its varying uses. It can be used as a noun, pronoun, adjective and adverb, having its first known usage in Old English sometime prior to the 12th century.  Some definitions include, "...something of no value...", "of no account" and "Worthless".

That is not what we mean here, when we talk of Nothing.  Ironically, under their definition of "nothing", their definition itself is nothing.   That is to say, their definition of nothing is "of no value" when it comes to understanding the nature of Nothing. 

That's Nothing with a capital N.  Distinct from the nothing we are all born wearing.  Distinct from the nothing on a blank sheet of paper.  It may seem of little consequence, but how we deal with this sort of Nothing actually forms the basis for how we deal with many of life's challenges.   See Chapter 1 for more discussion on the distinction of Nothing, and how it differs from its lowercase cousin, "nothing".

General Tips:
While reading these articles, you will be presented with some simple and practical exercises that will help demonstrate effective ways of dealing with Nothing.

While many of the exercises may seem outwardly simple, following them may allow you to discover that the techniques revealed will inter-connect with other exercises, and may be applicable (to varying degrees) to help successfully resolve other issues for you as well.

To help you uncover the interconnected value of these exercises, a series of questions or points to consider appear at the end of every "Chapter." These questions and considerations have no right or wrong answers, and are intended to be thought-provoking, to guide you in the direction your own issues take you.

Comments, Questions and Discussions are encouraged,  I ask that those who comment limit their comments to the topic of the original post, and to exercise what is generally considered acceptable use of language.  Comments that are deemed inappropriate or off-topic will be removed when possible, and archived in a separate thread.  Those that later wish to review the removed comments may do so.  This is not intended to stifle any free expression.  It is intended to keep the conversations relevant, civil, and appropriate to all audiences.

Table of Contents:

• Chapter 1. Distinguishing Nothing    
• Chapter 2. Nothing is No Problem. I Have a Problem with Something. Now What?
• Exercise 1. Transformation of Nothing