5TP From Idealist to Cynic: 02-21-2026

A pessimist is what an optimist calls a realist.” —Ashley Williams, a character from the video game Mass Effect.

1. Thesis: Idealist/Utopian/Visionary/Dreamer. Believes in perfect and ideal forms. Sees mostly or only the good potential and positive outcomes.
2. Thesis-Incorporating-Antithesis: Optimist/Hopeful Meliorist/Encourager. Mostly positive, believes things can and likely will improve, but realistically admits some flaws and obstacles will occur.
3. Synthesis: Realist/Neutralist/Balancer/Observer. Sees both sides equally, neither strongly affirms nor denies improvement or perfection, focuses with low valence (acceptance, bare attention, cognitive distancing, defusion, detachment, equanimous observation, objectivity, stoicism).
4. Antithesis-Incorporating-Thesis: Pessimist/Cautious Skeptic/Cautioner. Mostly negative, expects things to stay difficult or worsen, but grudgingly admits that some good elements or small wins can occur.
5. Antithesis: Cynic/Nihilist/Defeatist/Detractor. All-negative, believes perfection is impossible, people and society are fundamentally flawed and corrupt; therefore, no real progress is possible.

• For more information on the Five Thinking Positions (5TP), please read Discovery Demands 5TP.

Freewill Is a Delusion: 02-20-2026

1. Freewill is a contradiction in terms.
2. Will is bound, or it is not will.
3. Will is not free, or it is not will.
4. Will is commitment, not debate.
5. Will is governed by whatever nature it is given to.
6. Before choice comes confusion.
7. Clarity provides choice.
8. Choice binds, or it is not choice.
9. Choice is not free, or it is not choice.

Calm Mind Works Best: 02-19-2026

1. A stormy mind is an erratic mind.
2. Only a calm mind can think clearly.
3. Only a calm mind can think accurately.
4. Only a calm mind can view other perspectives fairly.
5. Only a calm mind can hold competing thoughts at the same time without prejudice.

Alone You Can Share the Most: 02-18-2026

1. God is one.
2. The loner is the stronger.
3. All great artists worked alone.
4. Being alone is a gift few can bear.
5. The higher you rise, the fewer there are.
6. We are all singular and alone at birth and death.
7. If you can stand alone, you can stand for the one: God.
8. A wise man is never more alone than with a crowd of people.

Dancing Is Required: 02-17-2026

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” —Nietzsche

1. If you don’t dance internally, you don’t live internally.
2. You cannot dance with “thou shalt,” and you must dance.
3. David danced with all his might to the Lord in praise and gratitude.
4. Dancing must be ecstatic, free, and playful because it is an expression of life.
5. Dancing tunes you into energy vibrations and helps you surrender to them in all areas of your life.

That Too Is a Gift: 02-16-2026

1. Repeat “That too is a gift” when you perform well.
2. Repeat “That too is a gift” when you find inner peace.
3. Repeat “That too is a gift” when you have done an act of charity.
4. Repeat “That too is a gift” because non-doing (Wu Wei) is a fact.
5. Repeat “That too is a gift” when you are moving in the right direction.
6. Repeat “That too is a gift” until you run out of claims for doing something and the false pride that entails.
7. Repeat “That too is a gift” while you deny the chain of your claims all the way back to the actual doer, God.

Thou Shalt Do Cannot Do: 02-15-2026

1. A people that cannot dance to music is worthless.
2. You can’t sing using “Thou shalt.”
3. You can’t dance using “Thou shalt.”
4. You can’t paint art using “Thou shalt.”
5. You can’t play music using “Thou shalt.”
6. You can only act with thou must as energy, not as thinking.