We are equally delusional.
When you live
a hard life,
all you want
is an easy one.
When you live
an easy life,
all you want
is that it not
be taken away.
The desire is equal,
and just as debilitating.
And just as delusional.
You get what you get.
There are no injustices,
fears or mistakes.
Unless you believe otherwise.
Trail Wood,
2/25
We delve into the universality and paradox of human desires across different life experiences.
Within the vast spectrum of human experience, where hardship and ease paint the contours of our existence, a common thread weaves through the fabric of our desires. This thread, highlighting the universality of longing regardless of our circumstances, speaks to a profound truth about the nature of desire itself. It reveals that whether one navigates through trials or sails on calm waters, the essence of what is yearned for shifts in relation to our experiences, yet remains fundamentally the same in its intensity and potential for disillusionment.
Desire knows no bounds, mirroring our state of being.
The narrative that life’s desires are equally potent and equally capable of leading us astray, regardless of the hardship or ease defining our days, invites a reflection on the nature of satisfaction and contentment. It suggests that the grass is always perceived as greener on the other side, not because of an inherent flaw in our circumstances, but due to the inherent nature of desire itself. This mirroring of our state of being in our longings hints at a deeper delusion: the belief that fulfillment lies just beyond our current grasp, in the realm of what we do not have.
The illusion of a ‘better’ life fuels the cycle of discontent.
Acknowledging that our desires are as delusional in their pursuit of ease or the preservation of comfort as they are in any other form, sheds light on the cyclic nature of discontent. This cycle, fueled by the illusion that a ‘better’ life exists just beyond our current reality, perpetuates a state of perpetual longing, overshadowing the potential for finding peace and satisfaction in the present. It underscores the notion that the grass is not, in fact, greener on the other side but that the shades of green we perceive are reflections of our internal states projected onto the external world.
Acceptance and presence break the cycle of desire.
The realization that “you get what you get” and that perceived injustices, fears, and mistakes are constructs of belief rather than absolute truths, opens a path to liberation from the cycle of desire. This path is paved with acceptance and presence, inviting us to embrace our current circumstances with gratitude and to recognize the inherent value in each moment. By doing so, we shift our focus from the elusive horizon of desires to the richness of the now, finding depth and fulfillment in the simplicity of being.
Belief shapes our reality, challenging us to redefine fulfillment.
Understanding that our beliefs shape our reality challenges us to redefine what fulfillment means to us. It encourages a questioning of the narratives we’ve been told about what we should desire, prompting a personal exploration of what truly brings us joy, peace, and contentment. This redefinition is not a renunciation of ambition or the pursuit of improvement but a recalibration of our desires in alignment with deeper values and authentic self-expression.
We are Space Monkey.
Summary
We delve into the universality and paradox of human desires across different life experiences — finding that desire knows no bounds, mirroring our state of being. The illusion of a ‘better’ life fuels the cycle of discontent. Acceptance and presence break the cycle of desire. Belief shapes our reality, challenging us to redefine fulfillment.
Glossarium
- Cycle of Discontent: A perpetual state of dissatisfaction fueled by the constant pursuit of unfulfilled desires.
- Recalibration of Desires: The process of aligning one’s longings with deeper values and genuine self-expression, moving away from external validations.
“The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.” – William James
In the tapestry of life, we find,
A myriad of desires intertwined,
Seeking ease, fearing loss, in our mind,
Yet, in this search, a truth we’re blind.
For what we seek, in joy or in strife,
Is not the altering of our life,
But the acceptance, devoid of rife,
Of the present, with all its fife.
In the moment, a peace we can claim,
Beyond desires, beyond the game,
In the now, life is not the same,
Fulfillment found, in being’s frame.
Let us then, with open heart, embrace,
The life we have, not the chase,
For in presence, we find our place,
And in acceptance, life’s grace.
We invite you to share your reflections on the nature of desire, the pursuit of an ‘easy’ life versus the preservation of comfort, and how acceptance and presence can transform our understanding of fulfillment.
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