“Just because we may lack the vocabulary to adequately express our emotions, it does not mean that we do not feel. Emotions are what make us human, and they are where all the magic lies.”
“The world is transitory, and nothing lasts. Change is inevitable, but growth is optional..”
This post is primarily for me, but I wanted to share my thoughts with anyone who may be listening. Self-knowledge is the only way to undo the harm caused by years of self-indoctrination at the hands of our superegos. Acting from a place of authenticity and true self-knowledge is the key to contentment. Contentment is the goal, because it is a steady state, unlike happiness which is fleeting by definition. Chasing and trying to extend happiness will only dilute moments of true happiness and leave us wanting more, making us slaves to it. Be compassionate to those who are still enslaved by the tormentors of their superegos, as we have all been there at some point.
It is important to remember that we are human beings and being human means having emotions. Just because we may lack the vocabulary to adequately express our emotions, it does not mean that we do not feel. Emotions are what make us human, and they are where all the magic lies. Intellect may be useful, but it is not the key to happiness. We have the right to feel, regardless of how “big” or “small” our emotions may seem to us. Our feelings are not comparable and have no “size”. We also have the right to express our feelings, as long as we do so in a responsible and respectful way. We should never feel compelled to suppress what we believe and feel at our core.
It is important to be kind to ourselves and to others. We should be mindful of our thoughts and ideas at all times, and be aware of how anger, greed, and disillusionment can create images and situations that prevent us from gaining true self-knowledge. We should never try to force others to be what we want them to be. Doing so will only damage the core of that person, and will spread seeds of discontent. This is especially true in relationships, where it is easy to want to create the perfect image of what a “relationship” should be.
The world is transitory, and nothing lasts. Change is inevitable, but growth is optional. We should embrace change as a tool to foster constant growth. Avoiding change means reliving the same predictable experience over and over until we die, which is a waste of our time. Instead, we should explore what is holding us back from leaving our comfort zones and embrace change from a place of true self-knowledge. Otherwise, our desire for change may be driven by a narrative playing in our heads that is based on a lie.
Ultimately, nothing matters. We can either become bitter about this, or we can use this knowledge to make the most meaning out of the time we have in this fleeting experience. Discovering meaning in life is enjoyable, and it also helps us realize how little everything else actually matters in the grand scheme of things. A healthy body and mindset are prerequisites for a content soul. Contentment cannot exist in a toxic body and mind. We should never live with the dogma and thoughts of others, and we should not attack the dogma of others unless they try to force it on us or if it is clearly harming others. If someone derives happiness from their beliefs, it is not our place to try and destroy the foundations of what makes them happy. We should not be arrogant and assume that we know better, as our own “enlightenment” may be just as silly to someone else who is even more “enlightened”. In the end, it is all bull…
Sarel Esterhuizen 