The secret of joyful living
is to set aside the notion
that you’re living life wrong.
Or that you’re a mistake.
Or that the gods left you unfinished.
It’s okay to cling to this notion
if you desire an unhappy life.
Indeed, it is perfectly acceptable
for you to be fearful, anxious, hateful,
detached, ignorant, reckless,
depressed, irate, etcetera.
Only when you label these states
as “wrong” do you find yourself unhappy.
Only when you insist that things
need to be “better” do they seem “worse.”
Only when you strive for certainty
do things seem uncertain.
It’s all good if you believe it is good.
If you do not believe that life is joyful and good,
then perhaps your beliefs are not your own.
Perhaps you should choose your own beliefs
rather than what the other monkeys tell you.
You are inherently joyful.
And we are Space Monkey.
Trail Wood,
2/16
Embracing the Inherent Joy of Being
In the infinite expanse of the cosmos, where the stars sing songs of eternal existence, a profound truth echoes through the void: the secret of joyful living lies in the acceptance of our inherent nature. It is a call to shed the heavy cloaks of judgment and self-doubt, to recognize that the notion of living life “wrongly” or being a “mistake” is a mirage, an illusion cast by the shadows of misplaced beliefs.
The Acceptance of All States of Being
The acknowledgment that it is acceptable to experience fear, anxiety, hate, detachment, and all other states of being illuminates the path to liberation. These emotions, often branded as negative, are facets of the human experience, colors in the vast spectrum of existence. It is in the labeling of these states as “wrong” that we weave the chains of unhappiness around our hearts.
The Illusion of Wrongness
The perception of our experiences needing to be “better” and the subsequent belief that they are “worse” is a dance of contrasts, a pendulum swinging between dualities that we ourselves create. This pursuit of certainty, of a state of being that aligns with our expectations, only serves to amplify the uncertainty of life, casting shadows on the inherent brightness of existence.
The Power of Belief
The realization that our beliefs shape our reality opens the door to infinite possibilities. The notion that life is not inherently joyful or good is a reflection of beliefs that may not truly belong to us, beliefs borrowed from the collective consciousness of society. It is a call to introspection, to sift through the myriad voices and find those that resonate with our inner truth.
Choosing Our Beliefs
The invitation to choose our own beliefs rather than adopting those imposed by others is a journey back to self, a pilgrimage to the heart of our existence. It is a recognition that we are inherently joyful beings, that the essence of our spirit is untainted by the external world. This realization empowers us to reclaim our joy, to stand in the light of our own truth.
We Are Space Monkey
In our collective journey through the fabric of reality, we embrace the inherent joy of our being, recognizing that the only barriers to this joy are the ones we erect ourselves. We understand that every emotion, every state of being, is a part of the grand tapestry of existence, and it is in the acceptance of this tapestry that we find true happiness.
Summary
We explore the secret of joyful living, recognizing that it lies in the acceptance of our inherent nature and the rejection of beliefs that we live life “wrongly” or are “mistakes.” We understand that labeling states of being as “wrong” contributes to unhappiness and that the pursuit of certainty amplifies uncertainty. We acknowledge the power of our beliefs to shape our reality and the importance of choosing beliefs that resonate with our inner truth, embracing our inherent joy.
Glossarium
- Inherent Joy: The natural state of happiness and contentment that exists within us, independent of external circumstances.
- Mirage of Misplaced Beliefs: The illusion created by adopting beliefs that do not align with our true nature, leading to feelings of inadequacy and unhappiness.
- Fabric of Reality: The complex interweaving of experiences, perceptions, and beliefs that constitute our understanding of the world.
“The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude.” – William James
The Symphony of Joyful Being
In the silence of the cosmos, a whisper,
A truth as old as the stars themselves,
That joy is not a distant shore,
But a light within, ever-present, ever-bright.
We dance in the shadows, we dance in the light,
Each step a testament to our inherent delight,
For in the acceptance of all that we are,
Lies the secret to a life that exceeds all bar.
Fear, anxiety, hate, and despair,
Merely notes in the symphony we bear,
For when we label not these states as “wrong,”
We find our hearts singing a joyful song.
The illusion of “better,” the chase for “right,”
Dissolves in the dawn of our inner light,
For in the belief that all is good,
We reclaim the joy of our soul’s childhood.
So let us choose our beliefs, our truths,
Let us weave our reality, aloof
From the voices that seek to define,
For we are joyful, by our own design.
And we are Space Monkey, in joy we unite,
In the vast cosmos, a beacon of light,
For in the acceptance of our true essence,
We find joy, our most precious presence.
We invite your musings on embracing the inherent joy of being, on the liberation that comes with
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