When I was 13 years old I had an existential crisis: I absolutely believed that I HAD to know whether or not God existed because if "he" did, then I needed to live a particular way, but if "he" didn't, then what? This whole discussion kind of reminds of that dilemma: getting stuck with thinking you've got to "figure it out" or else. Or else what?
"We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problems, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It's just like that.
When we talk about the good life from the usual... point of view, what we mean is that we've finally gotten it together. We finally feel that we're a good person. We have good qualities, we're peaceful, and we don't get thrown off balance... We feel so good about ourselves. We've finally tied up all the loose ends. We're happy. We think that's life. We think that if we just meditated enough or jogged enough or ate perfect food, everything would be perfect. But from the point of view of someone who is awake, that's death. Seeking security or perfection, rejoicing in feeling confirmed and whole, self- contained or comfortable... doesn't have any fresh air.
As human beings, not only do we seek resolution, but we also feel that we deserve resolution. However, not only do we not deserve resolution, we suffer from resolution. We don't deserve resolution; we deserve something better than that. We deserve our birthright... an open state of mind that can relax with paradox and ambiguity." --Pema Chodron, When Things Fall Apart
Lighten up, everyone.
You will never have it all figured out. Nor should you. I'm 41 years old and I spent 38 years thinking I could figure it all out and get it "right," and worked really hard to attain a life that was in alignment with my goals, so then I'd get what I deserved or wanted or whatever. And then it all fell apart, as it usually does, through incomprehensible tragedy. All of it was rendered meaningless and a sham. I don't get what I want just because I work hard to get it. I don't have control over the outcomes.
That's FRIGHTENING. The lesson is to relax into the fear and not try to pretend that I have it all figured it out or ever will, or that I will be somehow rewarded for figuring it out. It SUCKS when life pulls the rug out from under you like that, but, 4 years later, I am so grateful that I've learned it now rather than on my deathbed or after I've spent 4 more decades so deluded.
courtesy : reddit.com
"We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problems, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It's just like that.
When we talk about the good life from the usual... point of view, what we mean is that we've finally gotten it together. We finally feel that we're a good person. We have good qualities, we're peaceful, and we don't get thrown off balance... We feel so good about ourselves. We've finally tied up all the loose ends. We're happy. We think that's life. We think that if we just meditated enough or jogged enough or ate perfect food, everything would be perfect. But from the point of view of someone who is awake, that's death. Seeking security or perfection, rejoicing in feeling confirmed and whole, self- contained or comfortable... doesn't have any fresh air.
As human beings, not only do we seek resolution, but we also feel that we deserve resolution. However, not only do we not deserve resolution, we suffer from resolution. We don't deserve resolution; we deserve something better than that. We deserve our birthright... an open state of mind that can relax with paradox and ambiguity." --Pema Chodron, When Things Fall Apart
Lighten up, everyone.
You will never have it all figured out. Nor should you. I'm 41 years old and I spent 38 years thinking I could figure it all out and get it "right," and worked really hard to attain a life that was in alignment with my goals, so then I'd get what I deserved or wanted or whatever. And then it all fell apart, as it usually does, through incomprehensible tragedy. All of it was rendered meaningless and a sham. I don't get what I want just because I work hard to get it. I don't have control over the outcomes.
That's FRIGHTENING. The lesson is to relax into the fear and not try to pretend that I have it all figured it out or ever will, or that I will be somehow rewarded for figuring it out. It SUCKS when life pulls the rug out from under you like that, but, 4 years later, I am so grateful that I've learned it now rather than on my deathbed or after I've spent 4 more decades so deluded.
courtesy : reddit.com
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