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How could an otherwise civilized society like Germany become so completely immersed in what appeared to be a madman leading a nation in a trance? This was no ordinary madness; trains ran on time, children went to school, the opera performed—the veneer of patriotic normalcy was everywhere

I believe "cognitive dissonance" explains much of this. Doing one thing and believing another creates a dissonance in the mind. The mind repels dissonance and seeks to harmonize action with belief. (Thus when the conscience bites, for instance, one has to choose between changing one's behavior or suppressing - and, over time, hardening - the conscience.)

Take our present situation: Our nation is being destroyed bit by bit, yet not all are suffering the effects. If you're living in the moment, not yet affected by the destruction, and still enjoying the prosperity that remains, then acknowledging that your country is being forcibly impoverished would create cognitive dissonance. How can you admit to yourself we're in a depression when you're driving a new car to a nice restaurant and having steak and lobster for dinner? The mind seeks to reconcile action and belief.

Or another example: Ever noticed that "preppers" and "survivalists" seem anxious for the poop to hit the prop? They've devoted a great deal of time, effort, and money to preparing for such an event, and now seek justification for it. And on the opposite side, those who have not prepared must argue that there is no need to do so.

Homer said, "The blade itself incites to violence." For, why have a blade (i.e. sword, knife, etc.) designed to do violence if you're not going to use it for its purpose? The mind demands justification for the purchase and possession of weapons.

The mind seeks harmony. It demands explanation, justification, rationalization for behavior. So (back to the original question) if you're not going to oppose the direction of the society around you, if you're going to go along as if everything is normal, your mind will tend to harmonize your beliefs with that action.

Salesmen, social manipulators, advertisers, self-help gurus, revolutionaries - they all know this: If you can get people to act, even just a little, you can change their beliefs. Why? Because the mind demands harmony between action and belief.

If you can get people to act, even just a little, you can change their beliefs. Why? Because the mind demands harmony between action and belief.

We hate to admit our actions aren't our own. That we are being manipulated.

Solve this one problem of resenting, and it will free you to resolve all others. The roots of your ongoing problems begin to be starved of the energy that sustains them when you master a simple technique that enables you to no longer resent. So long as you keep feeding them with resentment, your problems will continue to grow and thrive despite your determination to rise up against them.
Roy Masters