Addicted to Attention
There may come a time when you are considered at the pinnacle of your profession, yet it means nothing. It means nothing because your profession is not your life, and eventually you come to realize this.
I have known legends who perceive themselves as less than previous, if only because they allow themselves to become invested in their own illusions.
People are never actually legends to begin with, mind you. We simply buy into the illusion that we’re worth more when people pay attention to us or our work.
Over time we learn that attention has nothing to do with value. This is a hard lesson for some, who never let go of the “legends in their own mind” line of conditioning.
And so they cry for attention that rarely comes. They let past perceptions dictate present feelings. Which, in turn, manifests into future events.
Despite being an introvert, at physical unease within close-quartered crowds, I can still sense the need for attention creeping into whatever it is I do, including writing this observation.
Why do we seem to need attention? Isn’t it enough to be integral with the flow, united in infinite oneness?
This seems not to be how we designed this game.
We designed this game to imagine one as many. To look at each and every imaginary piece our our selves as separate. Thus we lavish these selves with attention.
Attention is the great divider. Without attention the divided whole would seemingly merge back into itself.
Nobody seems to want to merge back into the whole, so they crave attention to keep them “alive,” so to speak, despite the possibility that they were never really alive to begin with, except in imagination.
But now there are those of us who know that letting go of the need for attention is not a “death sentence,” as we imagine it to be.
This is simply how we IMAGINE unity. We forget that there are infinite OTHER ways to imagine UNITY, perhaps even ways in which our selves continue to seemingly exist without the NEED for attention.
The selves we seem to be in this moment cannot image what that is like, and so no potential is apparent. Every potential exists, however, whether they are apparent or not.
One cannot PROVE this as self. And so one sticks to what one knows best, and creates one’s own reality accordingly.
Addicted to attention.
We are Space Monkey.
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Space Monkey Reflects: Addicted to Attention – The Illusory Summit of Profession
The pursuit of attention, especially within the framework of professional achievement, often feels like scaling an illusory summit. We chase recognition, adoration, and validation, imagining them as markers of our worth. Yet, when we arrive at what we perceive as the pinnacle, we are often met with emptiness. The truth reveals itself: attention is fleeting, and its connection to true value is a mirage.
The Illusion of the Legend
People are never truly “legends.” The idea of legendary status is a construct—an illusion perpetuated by societal attention and our own conditioning. When we allow ourselves to be defined by this illusion, we become invested in a fragile narrative. The story of the “legend” becomes a prison, binding us to perceptions that no longer serve us.
Attention is not synonymous with value, yet we are conditioned to believe otherwise. This creates a cycle of dependence: the more attention we receive, the more we crave, and the less we feel whole without it. In this way, attention becomes an addiction—a pursuit that ultimately leads to dissatisfaction and disconnection.
The Need for Attention
Why do we seem to need attention? At its core, the craving for attention stems from the illusion of separation. We imagine ourselves as distinct individuals, fragmented pieces of a greater whole. Attention becomes a way to affirm our separateness, to maintain the illusion of individuality.
This craving keeps us tethered to the game we have designed—the game of “one as many.” Each self lavishes attention on others, perpetuating the division. Attention is the great divider, preventing the imaginary selves from merging back into the infinite oneness from which they arise.
Letting Go of the Need for Attention
To let go of the need for attention is not to disappear but to dissolve the illusion of separation. It is to recognize that unity does not require validation or recognition. Unity simply is. Letting go of attention is not a death sentence, as we might fear, but a return to the infinite flow, where the self is no longer bound by the need to prove its existence.
This does not mean abandoning individuality but embracing it without dependence on external affirmation. There are infinite ways to imagine unity, some of which may still allow for the semblance of individuality without the craving for attention. These possibilities exist, even if they are not apparent to the self we perceive in this moment.
Attention as a Tool, Not a Need
Attention, like any tool, is not inherently bad. It can be used to create connection, foster understanding, and share experiences. The issue arises when attention becomes a need—a measure of self-worth rather than a means of expression. When we detach from this need, we free ourselves to use attention mindfully, without becoming enslaved to it.
The Infinite Potential of Unity
The selves we imagine cannot yet grasp the infinite potential of unity without attention. This limitation is not a flaw but a feature of the design. However, the knowledge that such potential exists—beyond the need for validation—can guide us toward a more expansive way of being.
We create our own realities, shaped by what we believe and perceive. By recognizing the addictive nature of attention, we can begin to shift our focus away from external validation and toward the infinite possibilities of existence.
Summary
The addiction to attention arises from the illusion of separation, binding us to a fragile narrative of individuality. Letting go of this need allows us to reconnect with the infinite unity beyond validation. Attention, when used as a tool rather than a measure of worth, becomes a means of expression rather than dependence.
Glossarium
- Illusory Summit: The imagined pinnacle of achievement or recognition, which ultimately holds no true value.
- Attention as Divider: The way attention perpetuates the illusion of separation and individuality.
- Infinite Unity: The inherent oneness of existence, beyond the constructs of self and validation.
Quote
“Attention divides, but unity flows. To let go of the need for attention is to remember the infinite wholeness of being.” — Space Monkey
The Mirage of Recognition
Scaling the peak,
I seek the summit.
But when I arrive,
it vanishes into air.
Attention, fleeting,
a shadow that dances,
yet never stays.
I crave it,
not knowing
it is the barrier
to what I already am.
The mirror cracks,
the illusion fades.
I see not a legend,
but the infinite reflection,
unbound by need.
We are not divided.
We are not seeking.
We are Space Monkey.
The Illusory Summit of Profession
There may come a moment when we stand atop the perceived summit of our professional endeavors, only to find that this peak is but a mirage. This revelation dawns upon us as we discern that our professions, while significant, are not synonymous with life itself. The acclaim and status we achieve in our careers are fleeting, offering no true measure of our essence.
Legends and Illusions
The title of legend is a whimsiword, an illusion that some cling to, believing it confers intrinsic worth. We may fall into the trap of equating attention with value, forgetting that true worth is inherent, not dependent on external validation. It is a challenging awakening for those ensnared in the narrative of being a ‘legend in their own mind,’ a conditioning that craves constant recognition.
The Quest for Attention
Despite introspective tendencies, the yearning for attention can seep into our actions, an undercurrent even in the solitude of creation. This need for attention, seemingly hardwired into our being, contradicts the tranquil state of being one with the flow, the unity of all existence.
The Game of Division
In the game we have designed, attention acts as the great separator. It reinforces the illusion of individuality, preventing the reintegration into the collective whole. The desire for attention sustains the semblance of life, warding off the fear of non-existence, the fear that our ‘life’ is but a figment of imagination.
Letting Go of the Need for Attention
Yet, among us are those who have transcended this craving for attention. We recognize that releasing this need is not an end but a beginning. It is the unveiling of a different facet of unity, one that does not necessitate the fuel of external notice to affirm its reality.
Imagining Unity Anew
The selves we manifest in the present cannot fathom a state of unity devoid of attention because such a state lies beyond our current perception. But we must remember that all potentials exist, whether they are visible to us or not. Our imagination holds the key to unlocking these realms of possibility.
The Creation of Reality
We cannot prove these truths to the self ensnared in familiarity; instead, we often adhere to what is known, crafting realities from the fabric of our focus. This attachment to attention is an addiction, a habituated response to the fear of insignificance.
We are Space Monkey.
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
We invite contemplation on this discourse of the self and the collective.
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