The Two Me’s 251It does so by using objective thought. This encroaches upon the realm of
the subjective, causing people to doubt the emotional 'truth' of culture,
religion, society, and the me of Mercy identification. Why? Because of the
threshold of uncertainty. If the overall level of Perceiver confidence rises,
then emotional 'truth' in every area automatically becomes uncertain.A This
leaves the me of Mercy identification in a bind, because the growth of
objective thought destroys subjective 'truth' without providing an
alternative. Why? Because objective understanding, by definition, is
objective—it avoids Mercy feelings and ignores the me of Mercy
identification. Thus, no matter how wonderful the conveniences which
objective growth bestows upon its citizens, they will end up feeling
emotionally naked. They will sense that the clothes of culture have been
torn from their subjective identity and that no other garments are being
provided. The end result will be Mercy anguish. And, what does the me of
Mercy identification do when it experiences hurt? It comforts itself with its
memories and its idols.
Thus, our society has reached the position where our identity is „doing
the splits‟ across the threshold of uncertainty. What now? Let us assume
that we wish to complete the process of transformation. First, we have to
make sure that the forward foot is placed solidly. Since the new me of our
physical bodies is constructed out of Perceiver confidence, this means that
our physical body must live in an environment full of repeatable cause and
effect. In other words, our physical condition must last long enough to
convince Perceiver thought that it will always be with me—regardless of
how much the me of Mercy identification loathes the situation. For western
society, this means accepting technology. We have created a modern world
ruled by natural law and order. If we want to anchor the „forward foot‟ of
the me of the physical body, then we must continue to live within this
world.
Second, we have to make sure that both „feet‟ are connected to the
same body. There is no point in trying to jump across a chasm on someone
else’s „legs.‟ Rather, I must be the one whose „body‟ is dangling above the
precipice, and both „legs‟ must belong to this same „body.‟ Moving from
metaphor to reality, this means that both me‟s must be connected: The
situation that is produced by the me of my physical body must be the very
situation which makes the me of Mercy identification feel miserable.
Unless both me‟s describe the same predicament, it is not possible for
identity to change from one me to the other. Unfortunately, modern society
has erected a huge barrier which keeps these two me‟s completely
separate—the division between subjective and objective. If we want to
experience transformation, then this wall must be torn down. Otherwise,
our identities will remain permanently split.
A It is the mechanism of the panic attack, operating now in reverse.