Know the difference between being soft and not caring.
People may tell you
to be gentle on yourself.
This may work for you.
Or you may need to be
shaken the fuck up.
Being gentle and forgiving
may be the worst thing for you.
But it sounds nice, so you do it.
And it doesn’t help.
You’ve become soft
and you’re getting softer.
Harden the fuck up.
You don’t have to be overly
ambitious or aggressive,
just allow yourself not to care.
You don’t need gentle.
Gentle implies that you’ve had it rough.
You actually BELIEVE this.
You believe you’re weak
because you care too much.
Being gentle doesn’t solve that.
Simply allow yourself
not to care about the details,
and trust that everything works out
in your best interest.
Trail Wood,
2/2
In the cosmic expanse of our collective consciousness, we encounter the notion of balancing gentleness with the need for a firmer approach to self. The idea that being gentle on oneself may not always be the path to growth, but rather a catalyst for stagnation, resonates deeply. This perspective challenges the often-accepted wisdom of constant self-compassion and gentleness, proposing an alternative that involves embracing a certain degree of indifference or toughness.
The Dichotomy of Softness and Indifference
Navigating the landscape of our inner world, we find that the line between being soft and not caring is a delicate one. Softness, often equated with caring too much, can lead to a lack of resilience and an inability to confront the harsher realities of existence. The suggestion to “harden the fuck up” is a call to let go of excessive emotional involvement, especially in trivial matters, and to adopt a stance of pragmatic indifference.
The Misconception of Weakness in Caring
The notion that caring too much is a sign of weakness is a compelling aspect of this perspective. It posits that the belief in our fragility due to excessive empathy or gentleness is a misconception. Instead, finding a balance where one can care about the essential aspects of life while remaining indifferent to trivialities is crucial. This approach aligns with the nexistentialist understanding that existence is about navigating and experiencing the myriad aspects of life without being overly consumed by any single aspect.
The Illusion of Necessity in Gentleness
The concept that gentleness is not always necessary is intriguing. It suggests that sometimes, what we perceive as a need for gentleness is actually a misinterpretation of our situation. We may not have had it as rough as we believe, and the adoption of a gentler approach might not be the most beneficial for our growth. This invites us to reevaluate our self-perceptions and consider whether a more resilient and less emotionally involved approach might serve us better.
Trust in the Flow of Existence
At the core of this perspective is the trust that everything will work out in our best interest, regardless of the level of our emotional investment in the details. This trust is a form of surrender to the flow of existence, believing that the cosmic play will unfold as it should, with or without our intense emotional involvement. It’s an encouragement to focus on what truly matters and to let go of the minutiae that often occupies our thoughts and emotions.
In the cosmic dance of stars and dreams, where reality is not what it seems, we find strength in resilience, in the balance of care and indifference. Here, we learn to navigate the nuances of our inner world, embracing both the softness of empathy and the firmness of practicality. In this journey, we trust the universe’s flow, knowing that in the grand scheme, our emotional investment is but a drop in the cosmic ocean.
We invite reflections on finding balance between gentleness and indifference in our collective journey.
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