Are you feeling blue?
Bluer than usual?
Clearly, you’re opposing the blues.
As you well know, opposing ANYTHING can lead to stress and stress can lead to worse things.
So please remember.
Just because you feel the blues doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.
We all feel blue.
There are BENEFITS to feeling blue.
The best songs are about the blues.
So yeah, you’re feeling blue.
What are you going to do about it?
Beat yourself up?
Okay, fine. You can do that.
You can do all kinds of crazy and creative things.
You’re LUCKY to feel this blue.
There is no need to oppose the state you’re in.
It’s a natural, flowing state.
Allow yourself the horrible thoughts.
See how horrible you can go.
Do it out of curiosity, not dread.
Swim with the current, not against it.
Otherwise you feel like you’re drowning.
Let the blue propel you.
Let it swallow you.
But don’t fight it.
Then you’ll be black and blue.
But don’t worry about it.
If that’s what you’re doing, then that’s what you’re into.
It’s all good, unless you tell yourself it’s bad.
Even then it’s good, because it’s bringing you to what you feel RIGHT NOW.
How blue are you?
How lucky is that?
Maybe this is the end of you.
Would that be the worst thing?
Only if you oppose it.
If you think dying of depression would be the worst thing, then clearly you oppose dying.
There is a bigger issue at hand here.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Blue is the strangest state you can be in.
Embrace it.
You’re lucky.
How great is it to feel?
Even the worst.
How amazing is it that we CAN feel?
Or be numb.
How strong is our drive to NOT feel?
Simply amazing.
Blue has just become my favorite color.
Trail Wood,
12/27
Space Monkey Reflects: Embracing the Blues
Blue. It’s more than a color—it’s a feeling, a state of being, a rhythm that plays through our lives. We’ve all been there, submerged in the depths of the blues, wondering what’s wrong, resisting, and trying to climb out. But what if the secret isn’t in opposing the blues, but in embracing them?
The Blues as a Natural Flow
Feeling blue is not an anomaly; it’s part of the natural ebb and flow of human experience. It’s as intrinsic to us as joy, anger, or love. Opposing this state creates resistance, and resistance leads to stress—a spiral that often deepens the very state we’re trying to escape. Instead of fighting, imagine floating. Let the blue carry you, not drown you.
The Creative Power of Blue
There’s a certain magic in the blues, a creative force that has birthed some of the most poignant art, music, and literature. The blues are a lens that sharpens contrast, that helps us see life’s edges and nuances. They deepen our capacity for empathy and understanding, for through the blues we come to appreciate the vibrant spectrum of human emotion.
When you’re feeling blue, you’re not broken—you’re alive. You’re tapping into a current that connects you to a universal well of creativity and reflection. The blues can be a teacher, a muse, even a companion on your journey.
The Paradox of Allowing the Blues
The more you allow the blues, the less they control you. By leaning into the feeling, by exploring its depth with curiosity rather than fear, you transform it from an oppressor to an ally. Let the thoughts come, no matter how dark or dreadful. Let them flow through you without judgment. This is not surrender—it’s self-compassion.
The Gift of Feeling
How extraordinary is it that we can feel? Even the most painful emotions remind us of our capacity for depth and connection. To feel blue is to be human, to be part of the grand tapestry of existence. Whether you’re feeling blue or numb or somewhere in between, it’s all part of the gift of being.
Blue reminds us that we are not static beings. We ebb, we flow, we feel, we grow. There’s nothing wrong with the blues; they are simply another hue in the spectrum of life. How lucky are we to experience them?
Reframing the End
When you’re submerged in the bluest depths, it may feel like an ending. And perhaps it is—the end of a moment, a chapter, a way of being. But endings are also beginnings. Even the thought of the ultimate end, of death, is not inherently dreadful unless we resist it. What lies beyond the blue is another state, another hue, another note in the eternal symphony.
Blue as the Strangest Gift
Blue is strange. It’s unsettling and raw, but it’s also transformative. It reveals the edges of what we can endure, the depths of what we can imagine. By embracing the blue, we honor the full range of our humanity. And in doing so, we might just find a strange gratitude for the beauty of it all.
Summary
Feeling blue is a natural and transformative state. By embracing the blues with curiosity and allowing them to flow, we unlock creativity, connection, and deeper self-understanding. The gift of feeling, even the worst, reminds us of the richness of being alive.
Glossarium
- The Blues: A natural emotional state often associated with sadness or melancholy, but also a source of creativity and reflection.
- Creative Flow: The channeling of emotion, including the blues, into artistic and transformative expression.
- Emotional Allowance: The practice of leaning into feelings without resistance or judgment.
Quote
“Blue isn’t a flaw in the canvas; it’s the brushstroke that gives it depth and beauty.” — Space Monkey
The Hue of Being
In the depths of the blue,
I float, I sink, I breathe.
Not broken,
but painted in shades
that only life can create.
The songs of the blues,
a rhythm of feeling,
a pulse of presence,
a gift of being.
I let it flow,
not against me,
but through me.
Not a foe,
but a current.
Blue, my favorite hue,
strange and true.
To feel is to live,
even in the deep.
We are Space Monkey.
The reflections on the experience of feeling blue—a colloquial term for feeling sad or depressed—invoke a deeper exploration into the nature of our emotions and the resistance we often put up against them.
Acknowledging the Blues
Recognizing the blues as a natural state is the first step in addressing the emotional landscape. It’s an invitation to accept rather than oppose feelings of sadness. This approach aligns with many therapeutic practices that encourage acknowledging emotions as they are, without judgment.
Benefits of Feeling Blue
The suggestion that there are benefits to feeling blue challenges common perceptions of sadness. It posits that within the depths of these emotions, there is potential for growth, creativity, and understanding. Historically, some of the greatest artistic expressions have been born from sorrow. Blues music, for instance, is a profound cultural creation that has channeled collective and personal grief into powerful artistic expression.
Creative Potential in Sadness
Embracing the feeling of being blue as a source of creativity and exploration is a shift from the typical urge to escape discomfort. The notion of being “lucky” to feel this way suggests that there is something valuable to be gleaned from every state of being, even those that are conventionally seen as negative.
Flowing with Emotion
The advice to swim with the current of emotions rather than against it echoes the concept of mindfulness and acceptance. There’s wisdom in the idea of allowing oneself to fully experience and investigate even the darkest thoughts with curiosity. This approach can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and can prevent the exacerbation of pain that often comes from resistance.
The Interplay of Resistance and Acceptance
Resistance to the blues, or any emotion, is presented as potentially more harmful than the emotion itself. The metaphor of becoming “black and blue” from fighting against one’s feelings illustrates how struggling with emotions can compound suffering. Conversely, embracing sadness can be a gentler, more self-compassionate way to navigate through it.
Perspective on the Finality of Emotions
Considering the end of one’s identity as entwined with depression is a provocative thought. It challenges the fear of emotional pain and the finality of death, suggesting that even in the extreme, opposition is a choice. It’s a stark reminder that our attitudes toward our experiences can shape their impact on us.
Embracing All Facets of Being
Ultimately, the message here is one of embracing the full spectrum of human emotion. It’s a celebration of the capacity to feel, whether that’s joy, sadness, or even numbness. The strength of our drive to avoid feeling is recognized as part of the human experience, as is the incredible ability to experience emotion deeply.
The Beauty in the Blues
The conclusion that blue has become a favorite color is a poetic acceptance of sadness as a valuable part of life. It’s a reframe of the blues as not just a source of pain, but also a hue of the human experience that adds depth and richness to our lives. It suggests that there is beauty to be found in all emotional states, and that feeling deeply is a fundamental part of what it means to be alive.
The invitation to embrace the blues is an invitation to embrace life itself, in all its shades. It’s a call to recognize that our emotional experiences, even the painful ones, are what make us complex, vibrant beings capable of profound transformation and connection.
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