Though it may seem otherwise,
you don’t need permission
to stop comparing yourself
to every living and nonliving soul.
Why should everybody else
be YOUR measure?
Who do you think wins that contest?
Why are you even playing?
You carry around a yardstick
No, it’s bigger than that
You carry around a worldstick
So you can measure where you’re at
You carry around a worldstick
Yes it’s quite the cross to bear
Pitting you against the planet
In a game beyond compare
No, you can’t put down your worldstick
It won’t let you look away
Pay attention to the worldstick
Don’t let your thoughts stray
Where would you be
without your worldstick?
(Where would you be)
without your map?
(Where would you be)
without your judgment?
Where would you be?
Where would you be
without opinions?
(Where would you be)
without beliefs?
(Where would you be)
no better and no worse
Where would you be?
(REPEAT FIRST VERSE)
Trail Wood,
12/10
Space Monkey Reflects: Letting Go of the Worldstick
We live our days lugging around an invisible, ever-present worldstick—a metaphorical measuring device against which we assess our worth, our progress, and our place in the cosmos. The worldstick isn’t just a tool; it becomes a burden, a cross that compels us to pit ourselves against an endless array of comparisons. With each glance at it, we measure ourselves not only against friends, neighbors, or colleagues but against the very fabric of the universe. The living and the inanimate become participants in an unending contest that was never meant to be.
But what if we stepped away from the incessant need to measure, compare, and judge? What would life be without the ever-present, looming yardstick, or rather, the worldstick that charts where we stand? The answer isn’t simple, but it is profound: without it, we might find ourselves in the rarefied space of simply being. The need to judge would slip away, replaced by a sense of ease that comes from embracing life unburdened by relentless comparisons.
To question why we need this measuring device is to touch upon a deep truth: there is no winner in this game, only participants locked in a perpetual loop. The worldstick insists that we pay attention to it, that we don’t stray too far from the cycle of appraisal it demands. It tempts us with the mirage of victory, of being “better,” yet it knows no limits and offers no endpoint. The comparisons continue, stretching beyond reason and reality until the only thing gained is exhaustion.
Imagining a life without the worldstick is daring. Where would we be without the impulse to assess and rank? Without opinions cemented as truths or beliefs standing as tests of worth? The absence of comparison means stepping into a space where there is no “better” or “worse,” only the unfolding of experience, the genuine nature of existence. It’s a return to simplicity, to a state that doesn’t demand a map to chart what cannot be mapped.
Without the worldstick, one could feel lighter, unanchored from the weight of expectation and the need for validation. In that place, moments would just be, untouched by layers of judgment. It’s not about ignoring growth or insight but allowing these things to come from within rather than a response to a scale that doesn’t truly exist. The worldstick, after all, is a construct—an idea we hold, and which holds us back.
Letting go of the worldstick doesn’t mean disregarding ambition or ignoring reality; it means finding a different way to interact with the world. It invites curiosity about where we might be if we stopped using external metrics as guides for inner worth. In that world, we are neither “better” nor “worse.” We simply are.
Summary
The worldstick symbolizes our habit of constant comparison and self-measurement. Letting go of this metaphorical tool allows us to exist without the burden of judgment, embracing life without the constraints of being “better” or “worse.” This shift frees us to experience moments with authenticity and presence.
Glossarium
- Worldstick: The metaphorical tool representing constant self-comparison to everything and everyone.
- Measure Mirage: The false promise of satisfaction through comparison.
- Judgeless Space: A state of being without the constraints of self-assessment or external judgment.
Quote
“The greatest freedom is found where the worldstick shatters, leaving only the pure experience of being.” — Space Monkey
The Measureless Moment
Where would you be,
Without the need to see
Yourself through eyes not yours,
Through measures that enforce?
The worldstick leans, a heavy cross,
A game, a gain, a hidden loss.
But step beyond its shadowed sway,
And find a world beyond the fray.
No up or down, no marked display,
Just you, just here, just today.
We are Space Monkey.
The Burden of Comparison
The metaphor of the worldstick represents the often self-imposed burden of constant comparison. It’s a tool we use to gauge our progress, success, and worth against the entire world—a yardstick that spans the globe, creating an unrealistic and overwhelming standard.
The Contest of Existence
This incessant comparison turns life into a contest, a relentless competition where we measure ourselves against every living and nonliving entity. But who truly wins in such a contest? The game itself is flawed, based on the illusion that our value is contingent on outperforming or differing from others.
The Impossibility of Relinquishing the Worldstick
The worldstick, as described, is not just a burden but an obsession. It demands our attention, dictating that we constantly evaluate ourselves in relation to the world around us. It’s a cross to bear that skews our perspective, making it seem impossible to view life without the lens of comparison.
Imagining a World Without Comparison
The question “Where would you be without your worldstick?” invites us to contemplate a state of being free from comparison. What if we could exist without the need to measure ourselves against a global standard? Without the map of judgment and the compass of opinion, where would we find ourselves?
A Life Unbound by Judgment and Belief
In this imagined scenario, we are no longer bound by opinions or beliefs that dictate our worth. We are neither better nor worse than anyone or anything else; we simply are. This state of being is not about negating our uniqueness but about releasing the pressure to constantly define ourselves in relation to others.
Rediscovering the Self Beyond Comparison
Without the worldstick, we might discover a more authentic version of ourselves—one not defined by external benchmarks but by our intrinsic qualities. It’s a journey towards self-acceptance and understanding, untainted by the relentless need to compare.
We are Space Monkey.
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Beyond the Worldstick
Where would we be, beyond the worldstick’s reach?
In a land where comparison doesn’t breach,
Where our worth isn’t weighed, isn’t sized,
Where we are seen, through unfiltered eyes.
No maps of judgment, no scales of belief,
In this freedom, we find relief,
Where would we be, in this dance, this play,
Beyond the worldstick, in a brand new day.
As Space Monkey, how do we embrace our journey beyond the worldstick?
Leave a Reply