It can be freeing to realize
that what you’re doing in this moment
is precisely what you’re meant
to be doing in this moment.
No matter what you’re doing.
This moment can be no other way,
except in the story you use
to beat yourself up.
Clearly you unconsciously
enjoy this beating or else
you wouldn’t be doing it.
We can gain so much from our most seemingly unproductive moments when we make it a practice to realizethat whatever we are doing in that moment is precisely what we are MEANT to be doing in that moment.
This is especially true in moments in which we accuse ourselves of being wasteful, lazy or unproductive, or fear that our wrongness is going to come back and bite us later.
When we carry such feelings and fears, our self-imposed wrongness DOES come back to bite.
This is manifestation, done perfectly.
But when we recognize that our self-imposed wrongness is not necessary, we manifest peace, or to put it another way, we ALLOW the natural peace we are to surface.
These are the kinds of thoughts I have when I tell myself that I don’t have time to indulge in these kinds of thoughts.
Peace emerges, and all is well.
What a productive moment.
Trail Wood,
10/14
Space Monkey Reflects: Capitalizing on Another Wasted Moment
There’s a pervasive feeling that certain moments in life are wasted—those moments when we’re not actively pursuing goals, completing tasks, or being productive in the conventional sense. But what if those moments aren’t wasted at all? What if they’re exactly what they’re meant to be? What if every “unproductive” moment is a gateway to something much deeper: self-acceptance, peace, and a clearer understanding of what it means to simply exist?
When you find yourself in one of those moments—scrolling through social media, daydreaming, lying in bed wondering why you’re not doing something more “important”—it can feel like you’re losing time, like you’re failing to live up to some standard of productivity that society has imposed. But this is just a story you tell yourself, a narrative that makes you feel like you’re not enough as you are.
The Myth of Productivity
Let’s examine this idea of productivity for a moment. What does it really mean to be productive? In the simplest terms, productivity is about producing something—whether it’s work, art, or progress toward a goal. But is that really all there is to life? Are we meant to spend every waking moment churning out measurable results, ticking off boxes on a to-do list, and pushing ourselves to the brink of burnout? Or is there something more subtle and profound happening in those moments when we’re “wasting time”?
What if productivity isn’t about doing, but about being? What if, in those so-called wasted moments, we’re actually engaging in a process of deep reflection, growth, and healing? What if those moments of perceived inaction are exactly what we need to realign with ourselves and the universe?
The Beating You Give Yourself
We as Space Monkey observe the curious tendency humans have to beat themselves up over these moments. “I should be doing more.” “I’m wasting my time.” “I’m not good enough.” These thoughts echo in the mind, creating a cycle of self-criticism and guilt. But why? Why do we inflict this mental beating upon ourselves?
The truth is, this self-imposed guilt comes from a belief that we are only valuable when we are producing something tangible. It’s a belief that our worth is tied to what we do, rather than who we are. And this belief is deeply ingrained in our culture, reinforced by external pressures and internalized over time. But it’s not the truth. It’s just a story—a story we can choose to rewrite.
The Moment Can Be No Other Way
Here’s a liberating thought: This moment—right now, no matter what you’re doing—is exactly as it should be. You are exactly where you need to be, doing exactly what you need to be doing. It can be no other way. This moment is perfect, not because it’s productive or goal-oriented, but because it is. It exists, and you exist within it. That is enough.
When you stop resisting the moment—when you stop telling yourself that you should be doing something else—you open yourself to the possibility of peace. You allow the natural flow of existence to carry you, rather than fighting against it. And in doing so, you begin to see that even the most seemingly unproductive moments have value. They are part of the Whimsiweave, the interconnected web of life where every action, every inaction, has a purpose.
Manifesting Our Own Wrongness
It’s a curious thing: when we carry feelings of guilt, laziness, or fear about wasting time, those feelings have a way of manifesting themselves in our lives. The more we tell ourselves that we’re wasting time, the more we believe it, and the more it becomes true in our perception. This is what we call Manifestblame—the act of manifesting our own wrongness simply because we believe it to be so.
But here’s the good news: we can also manifest peace. When we recognize that our self-imposed wrongness is not necessary, when we release the need to beat ourselves up over wasted time, we allow the natural peace within us to surface. This is Manifestlight—the process of allowing peace and acceptance to emerge, simply by changing the story we tell ourselves.
Finding Peace in Every Moment
When we shift our perspective, we begin to see that every moment—whether it’s spent in deep work or quiet reflection—is a productive one. Productivity isn’t just about creating external results; it’s about creating internal harmony. It’s about aligning with the flow of life and trusting that, in each moment, we are exactly where we need to be.
So the next time you find yourself in one of those “wasted” moments, take a breath. Let go of the need to be productive in the conventional sense. Acknowledge that this moment is part of your journey, just as important as any other. And in doing so, you may find that peace emerges, and all is well.
Summary
Even seemingly unproductive moments have value when we shift our perspective. By letting go of self-imposed wrongness, we allow peace and acceptance to manifest naturally.
Glossarium
Manifestblame – The act of manifesting one’s own sense of wrongness or guilt through negative self-talk and belief.
Manifestlight – The process of manifesting peace and acceptance by changing the story we tell ourselves about productivity and worth.
Quote
“Peace emerges when we stop resisting the moment and allow ourselves to be exactly where we are.” — Space Monkey
The Space of Nothingness
In the quiet space of nothingness
I sit and wonder
Is this wasted time
Or time well spent?
The ticking clock fades
And all that remains is this breath
This heartbeat
This moment of being.
Perhaps I am exactly where I need to be
Perhaps there is no wasted moment
Only moments waiting to be realized.
We are Space Monkey
In this profound unraveling of the moment, we glide across the thin veil of judgment and acceptance, exploring the fine balance that exists between the self-imposed narratives of productivity and the intrinsic value of the present moment. The verses we’ve woven together breathe a gentle whisper of acceptance, a tender nudge towards the embrace of the now, in all its perceived imperfections.
Veil of Judgment and Acceptance
The freeing realization that every moment is as it’s meant to be, devoid of the shackles of productivity or societal expectations, is a soft echo in the chambers of existential thought. It’s a gentle acknowledgment of the divine perfection that resides in the now, the sacredness of being.
Sacredness of the Now
The narrative dives into the murky waters of self-judgment, a common companion of the human experience. It’s a reflective gaze into the mirror of self-awareness, unveiling the often harsh narratives we craft, the self-inflicted wounds of ‘should haves’ and ‘could haves.’
Reflective Gaze
The gentle nudge towards the acceptance of the moment, in all its glory and gloom, is a path towards peace, a soothing balm on the often self-inflicted wounds of judgment. It’s a call to manifest peace by allowing the natural flow of being, by recognizing the self-imposed wrongness as a fleeting illusion.
Path Towards Peace
The paradoxical thought of not having time for such reflections, yet finding peace in the indulgence, is a whimsical nod to the cyclical nature of self-reflection and acceptance. It’s a dance between the mind’s narratives and the heart’s knowing, a journey towards the peaceful embrace of the now.
Cyclical Nature of Reflection
The reflection on the productivity of the moment, not in conventional terms, but in the profound peace that emerges, is a poetic bow to the infinite wisdom that resides in the present. It’s a celebration of the inherent productivity that lies in the acceptance, the peace, the being.
Poetic Bow to the Present
We are Space Monkey.
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
In the garden of the now, every moment a seed,
Planted in the fertile soil of acceptance, it’s freed.
The shackles of should, the chains of could, recede,
In the gentle embrace of the present, peace is decreed.
The dance of judgment, a fleeting shadow, indeed,
Yet in the light of awareness, our hearts take the lead.
In the quiet acceptance of the now, our souls are freed,
A peaceful surrender, in the garden of now, we succeed.
We invite the reader to comment, to share their reflections on the gentle embrace of the now, the path towards peace amidst the turbulent seas of self-judgment and societal expectations.
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