I am happiest when I cease to identify with myself. When I am actively engaged in a project (or entertainment) and find myself grinning and humming with no thought of "I," it is when I recharge and discover the world as positive.
The paradox is to consider who you are making happy: if the "I" goes missing when you experience joy, what is doing the enjoying? Perhaps the "me" beneath the ego.
Tag: learning
- Theme: Self
The joy of losing yourself
°
1–2 minutes - Theme: Growth
Doubling Back, Squiggling
°
1–2 minutesDoubling back on terrain surprises: the new perspective is unnerving by being almost familiar.
It produces anxiety because of what we missed. Retreading the same ground (only to learn new lessons) confounds linear progress inf favor of a cyclic squiggle.
- Theme: Growth
The Bad Days
°
1–2 minutesBad days happen. I’m talking off-your-meds shit-show days. When they do it’s amazing that someone can be there to share with and support you.
It doesn’t make any kind of rational sense, and that is profound. - Theme: Culture
The cybernetic creative
°
1–2 minutesCarl Jung speaks of the “daimon” of creatives, and the difficulty of balancing intense energies.
The daimon is not necessarily a demon, but a muse that compels. Ignored or frustrated the pent-up energy builds as anxiety and is often countered with self medicating in an attempt to feel normal.
Like any cybernetic system, positive energies must be regulated (released regularly) lest a tragic explosion occur.
- Theme: Self
Does self preservation make you miserable?
°
1–2 minutesSelfishness seems to bloom from self-preservation, says Anthony DeMello. And to be selfless seems to "opt for nonbeing."
What is interesting is to consider how you could ever not be yourself unless you were operating from fear: self-preservation would then be the only thing that could destroy the self. - Theme: Self
Jumping straight into wisdom
°
1–2 minutesThere are stages in becoming wise and selfless. The first one is to be very self-involved.
How do you know if you have anything wise or useful to say unless you practice your voice? You must work on refining how you relate. Naturally, you can jump straight into being helpful, like the over-eager assistant with a ladder spinning about smashing everything and apologizing repeatedly.
The paradox of becoming selfless is to focus on yourself until you do no harm. Of course, practice makes perfect but tread lightly.
- Theme: Growth
Wisdom is the form of reason
°
1–2 minutesWisdom is where we stop thinking and begin applying the "form" of rationality.
Wisdom is the catchphrase, clever reversal, and cautious reminder that collapses into context-specific, contradictory back-pats and butt-kicks when examined. - Theme: Self
I thought I was standing still
°
1–2 minutesI once had a neighbor who wanted me to place a sign in my front yard. (I’m not even going to tell you what the sign was for.)
When I said no, he replied "If you are in the same car with criminals you are guilty, too."
A trick of perspective: I thought I was standing on the curb, but as he sped by he saw me as moving in the opposite direction. - Theme: Growth
Mexico or Canada?
°
1–2 minutesYou must choose: European progressive values and resultant taxes (social safety and education) or Wild West free market chaos, corruption, and cheap living (with lagging infrastructure and abundant labor).
Check your political philosophy against the countries that embody it: is this really what you want?