It's far too easy to find patterns in life, to take vague shifts in the flow of a stream and anticipate tidalwaves. One might think that taking stock of one's self would be a healthy exercise occasionally, but insecurity and depression thrive on the mana that is a self-absorbed mind. Recently, I've made the acquaintance of a woman whose ideas on the subject have sparked my imagination. We briefly discussed a pair of old aphorisms, both of which, at first glance, seem valid and true. However, they are clearly contradictory, and despite their individual validity, logic doesn't seem to supply an easy way to reconcile the two.
Ignorance is bliss.
The unexamined life is not worth living. The first of the two suggests that the less an individual knows, the fewer potential worries one may have. It's a safe, easy way of getting through life, unlikely to cause pain. However, those people who aren't blessed with the capacity to find satisfaction in watching paint dry find such an approach to life less than fulfilling. Upon the inception of such a journey, however, it's difficult to say if bliss also lies at the other end of the ignorance spectrum.