When I focus too hard on the things I want, I lose my ability to be light and easy—to appreciate the moment and delight in unexpected blessings.
But when I focus on being happy here and now, regardless of what may or may not be happening (or if that’s too hard to manage, I focus on resignation and apathy, which eases my negativity and paves the way for positivity) my mind becomes gradually more appreciative, and those unexpected blessings begin popping up again.
In the past, I’ve just gotten the lesson beaten into me. Now I try to get ahead of it and focus with some intent before the pain comes. 😅
Yep. I used to be fixated on trying to figure out what the answer to that was, now I just try to enjoy myself and appreciate things. And if I’m too depressed to do that, I usually find relief in how insignificant we are in the cosmos and how nothing matters in the long, long run. Only when I’m depressed, though—if I’m in a good mood, that’s taking a step backwards.
It’s kind of the downfall of all religions and all philosophies: they can only offer a starting point, but at some point, people have to find what works for themselves. Otherwise, what’s the point of being an individual? (curious though—I wonder if identical twins might have success with the exact same approach all the way through).
Not to be an echo chamber, but I’m pretty much with you on everything you said. Furthermore, I’d say that organizations’ foremost concern is loss of power. If they can’t boss people around, their leaders tend to become concerned with the supposed lack of power. But I don’t think that has to be the case; I think the most empowered individuals can help people out and leave them to develop by themselves. It’s why I think Buddha said he’d come back as “matreiya,” a derivation of friend or friendliness. Not teacher, not boss, not idol, just a fellow equal to hang out with as time passes and the world turns.
Yep, seems like money is a big consideration for religions. It could be argued that it equates to power as well, in many relationships between organizations and people (as well as between people).
I hear you on the Buddhism. Most of it (to me), follows a religious model of thought. By that I mean you have to do A B and C (meditate, karma yoga, misogi, what have you) before you can reap the rewards of enlightenment/heaven/whatever. A pay to play, transactional mode of existence where I gotta check off the boxes to enjoy my life. It’s why if I had to pick an established tradition, I’d go heavily with the mystical side of stuff, where it says God is already in you, or you’re already enlightened etc. etc, and you can abide in a state of natural peace, where you can chill and enjoy yourself, even if you’re outwardly straining for whatever reason. But even people who subscribe to the mystical side seem to start piling on requirements and conditions onto that premise, basically creating yet another checklist I have to adhere to. I don’t think I was made or incarnated or whatever to not know the rules, find out the rules through pain and suffering, then painfully suffer through some existential checklist where I delay gratification time and again, and fetishize how much I can sacrifice so I can evangelize my nobility to other people. Then they gotta follow this checklist that I’ve refined and championed. I don’t believe that’s how it works. Even if it is, I want to find another way to do things, because that way of being has no appeal to me anymore.
Just me, though.
Seems like I would vibe with Anita Moorjani, because I definitely agree with her fundamental beliefs. Gotta say though, I’m pretty introverted, so sometimes it’s hard to love others. In those cases, I just give into optimistic nihilism—if life is meaningless, then I’m absolutely free to assign it my own meaning, which leads to enjoyment and so forth until I’m feeling positive again.
True enough…I just don’t want to live with them! 🤣 I like seeing the good side of people, so for me that entails the occasional tasty meal, followed by a leisurely cigar with maybe some weed or shrooms. If I hang around them too long, I usually find something to pick at and I’d just rather not.
Dogs, though—I think I’d like at least two, maybe three. At one time, I had four dogs and a cat in a two bedroom apartment. Oh, the glories of napping on a cold rainy day with a warm pile of dogs! 😁 Can’t beat it!
Damn this human body and its stupid human ways!! 🤣🤣🤣
That’s a good move with the separate spaces! I think people are slowly starting to come around on the importance of sleep, from a health standpoint and a quality of life standpoint as well. Cycling melatonin and a quality sleep mask (the ones with the indents so they don’t press against your eyelids and flap open at the edges) have also been of great help to me. 😊
A perfect night of sleep is indeed a luxury…I remember when I used to be able to fall asleep anywhere, especially in vehicles. Now it’s touch and go and not nearly as refreshing. A couple months ago I had a night of sleep where I woke up completely refreshed and enthusiastic, and it was the strangest sensation. I had completely forgotten what that felt like. I can’t believe that I took it for granted when I was a kid. Wishing you fabulous sleep as well!
Hey there Mr. Buddha! I relate to your musing all too well. I think we are all guilty of getting caught up in the destination instead of the journey. I know that is a cliche’ thing to say, but it doesn’t make it any less true. Letting oneself get caught up in the joy of the task or project at hand instead of the carrot at the end of the stick can kill creativity faster than I can kill a can of Pringles…but that’s another musing:) Thanks for the insight and for the like! Happy musings to you!
Kent Wayne 
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