There’s tons of value in identifying what I don’t like, and taking measures to avoid/minimize it in the future. But I don’t want to define life through my aversions. After living most of my life in exhausting paranoia, distrust, and judgmental analysis, I’ve found I’d rather trust in an underlying benevolence and positivity, even though that could be argued as foolish. I want to believe that if I direct time and focus toward my dreams–even if it’s only a few minutes here and there–that existence will take note and assist me with synchronicity. Maybe I’m wrong, inefficient, or confirmation-biased, but that seems to get much better results than my previous states of mind. It’s also less stressful and way more fulfilling.
Dirty Sci-Fi Buddha 
Yeah I get ya.
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I think you’re right to live in such a positive way – the alternative is too exhausting.
Gwen.
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Indeed it is! I tried it for way too long, lol!
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“There’s tons of value in identifying what I don’t like, and taking measures to avoid/minimize it in the future.”, that’s one of the more powerful ways to improve ourselves. The only factor that you can affect, in most cases, is yourself, so looking for ways to improve is the way to go.
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Yep, it’s like pushing down on a lever at the right point and getting an effect
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There’s a lot to be said for greeting the world with patience and a smile. Chances are, the world will smile back…and not spit in your soup.
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Indeed! It’s just less stressful in general. Too much baggage makes an adventure into a slog.
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Indeed.
And less stress changes your whole perception of a situation. Opening up a whole new view of reality.
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That’s very true and often overlooked!
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Indeed, a great attitude to have and a better way to live.
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Dare I say . . . growth?
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I suggest that each of us finds different ‘challenges’ that bring spice to life: make it less bland. For some, that spice will be found in physical strength or acuity. For others, in mental strength or acuity. And for yet others, in emotional strength (courage) and discernment. What you describe is courage: at least, that’s how I would describe it. Feelings of distrust and judgement are the negative side of this asset, so “Yay! Go for the positive!” Most people are of this type – the emotional type – and many find that their sensitivity mires them in negativity. What they need is courage, and their sensitivity will then become discernment.
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Well put! For me, personally, I like to accept negativity if it arises spontaneously, without amplifying it through conscious rationalization/justification, or trying to suppress through it with those same tools. It can be a fine line at times. Healthy processing and restoration of perspective are the basic goals.
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That’s a fantastic perspective! It’s important to acknowledge what you dislike and use it to steer your course, but dwelling on negativity can be draining.
It’s refreshing to hear you’ve chosen a path of trust and positivity. Even if it feels unconventional, focusing on your dreams and cultivating a hopeful outlook is a powerful strategy. There’s definitely something to be said about the energizing effects of believing in yourself and the universe’s potential to support you.
While some might call it confirmation bias, if this approach brings better results, less stress, and more fulfillment, then it’s definitely working for you. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to life, and it sounds like you’ve discovered what works best for you.
Keep trusting your intuition, feeding your dreams with your focus, and enjoying the journey!
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Yes indeed! I understand the temptation and the shallow sense of control and/or power that comes from cynicism, but until the game has been definitely proven at a metaphysical level to be rigged against us, I don’t see the point in that, especially when there’s contradicting evidence that argues for the benefits of positivity.
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a solid musing. like progress in a muffin tin!
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I think it is important to live life in a positive way – it flows better, if we allow it to 😊
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Yes indeed! Meditation has convinced me that there is a default positivity, because once I get empty, I don’t stay empty, well-being rushes in.
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I wish I could meditate more effectively without thoughts rushing into my mind. Working on it!
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I always default to acceptance, so if thoughts are coming up spontaneously, I don’t reject them or justify why they should be there (and if I do, I accept that I’m rejecting or justifying them), I let whatever arises internally do its thing. My view is esoteric, in that I believe meditation evokes a non-dual state, and in non-duality, the principle focus is acceptance, as in Buddha didn’t argue with Mara or try to justify his position, he just accepted Mara was there, much like I would imagine a saint wouldn’t try to argue with or justify themselves to Satan if they were in front of the devil. Don’t know if that’ll work for you, but acceptance of my internal phenomena as it arises is definitely my go-to.
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Thank you. Acceptance is best. I am always trying to fight the intrusive thoughts, but maybe I just need to allow them and acknowledge. 😊
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For me it’s definitely a nuanced thing. Some folks take my stance to mean I condone or endorse intrusive thoughts, or that in my acceptance and acknowledgment, I deliberately hype them up or consciously justify them. Others interpret it as a one-stop shop, where I consciously acknowledge them, and that’s the end of it, then they get frustrated when they morph into other intrusive thoughts. For me (and I emphasize me, personally), neither is the case. I “let them be” and experience them, is the best I can describe it. If I feel like punching someone for something as irrational as they don’t have what I want on the menu, I’m not going to do it, mention it, or give any outward sign of it, but I’ll acknowledge the thought exists, feel that anger without trying to rationalize it away or justify why I shouldn’t feel it, and if it morphs into another intrusive thought, I’ll do the same thing with the new intrusive thought. If it keeps morphing and it feels like it’ll last forever, I’ll accept and give in to the finality of it. Fine, this will last forever. I know logically that isn’t true, everything changes, but it’s the vibration of acceptance, if you will, that puts me back in neutral (non-duality), and lets go of negativity so I can get back into positivity. It’s a bit paradoxical, in that I’ll freely accept a negative thought so I can generate a neutral vibration, but that’s what I find effective. Not trying to tell you what to do, but that works for me. If it works for you, then great!
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It’s something to consider, and it sounds quite stoic, actually. You acknowledge it’s there, but you understand it will pass and it’s not going to be there forever to bother you. Everything is in flow, in motion. It does help to maintain a neutral stance in most situations, I’ve found. Just observing. I do this in my daily life as well.
Thanks for the detailed response and conversation, it has been most enlightening! 😊
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No problem! I suppose it is stoic, although in the past I haven’t liked stoicism because a lot of it is misinterpreted as tough-guy suppression of emotions or trying to rationalize them away. It is a bit odd, in that a part of me does observe, but I also fully feel the negativity. It’s hard to describe, but I think it automatically comes as emotional intelligence increases.
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I think we think along similar lines. I’m for anything positive and progressive.
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Absolutely. I remember growing up, it seemed cool to tear people down and not care. Now I think that was just insecurity.
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What are you insinuating? Your response has nothing to do with my comment. If you have a problem with me I’d be happy to talk about it.
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You’re right—I apologize! I was trying to reply to someone else, and accidentally relied to you. I respond to comments in the morning, when my coffee sometimes hasn’t yet kicked in
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OK. No probs.
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All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.
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I like this — might ‘borrow’ it someday!
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Use freely – no attribution required 🙂
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Couldn’t have said it better myself!
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Dig your post. I tend to get curious about who or what I don’t like because often it points to a shadow aspect of myself long masked.
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Great use of it! I think it may relate to the idea of “what you judge, you attract.”
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It’s both a challenge and a choice what one gives attention to… the positive or negative. It is a certainty, since attention is food, that whichever one feeds will grow.
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Absolutely. For me it is about abiding in acceptance vs rationalization/rejection. I used to think accepting negativity was condoning it, but it allows me to shift back into neutrality/non-duality, which allows me to get back into positivity. It can be paradoxical accepting a negative thought to reorient my emotional state, but it definitely works for me. May not be for everyone, though.
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I find it important to distinguish between acknowledging and accepting. I can acknowledge negativity, for example in my just posted discourse on gray days, without accepting it/them into my frame of mind. In fact, the acknowledgement helps greatly in not becoming entangled, as it enables me to see the negative thing as “other”, not me or mine. I only accept what I agree to having in “my” space of being.
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Thanks for stopping in at my site and liking a post. I appreciate you taking the time.
I’ve also been working on a young adult novel for some time and would love to pick your brain a bit sometime about the publishing process. Of course, I need to finish my book first…..
Thanks again!
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No problem! My email is kentwayneauthor@gmail.com Let me know in these comments after you’ve emailed me, because it often goes to spam.
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“…if I direct time and focus toward my dreams–even if it’s only a few minutes here and there–that existence will take note and assist me with synchronicity“.
So, I opened this window to your blog today in order to start reading “Unbound Realm”. And instead it took me to this previous post of yours: https://dirtyscifibuddha.com/2019/08/06/musings-1361/
What the..?
I have a collection of my favs of your Musings. So I put that one (1361) right with this previous one: https://dirtyscifibuddha.com/2019/09/12/musings-1371/
Synchronicity is definitely in the air today.
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Love it! It’s kind of like an Easter Egg or a wink from existence when I experience it. I’m glad it popped up for you! I low-key suspect it’s the engine that drives the universe. Once I allowed for it, life became a lot more fun!
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Sounds perfect. It works for me too.
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Keep dreaming! I’m right behind you with that thought.
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Very deep. I think you’re right. And I think it’s a great idea to trust in an underlying benevolence and positivity. I think that’s God. You’ll find him if you seek him with all your heart. And thank you D.S.F.B. for all your likes!
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Absolutely!
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It’s easy to get bogged down in the short term small stuff and fail to recognise how far that you’ve come. I do it often enough myself. Don’t beat yourself up
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