There’s A Belief I Sometimes Have
A belief that if I get what I want (more money, more time, or any end point that I’m seeking) then I can relax. This belief is based on my own experience that I do relax when I get what I want.
So it’s true.
But I notice something more.
Even When I Get What I Want, I’m Not Completely Relaxed
Take money for example. When I have a good month and make what I was hoping for, I feel good. But not for long. My mind soon starts thinking about the next month, or about the spiraling costs of living.
In other words, my relaxation is short lived. Sometimes it’s so short lived that I barely notice it. I’m already back to planning for the future. This quickly becomes exhausting.
But There’s a Way To Break the Cycle
The stress for me comes from trying to avoid poverty, failure, shortage, etc. I’m literally running from this scary phantom.
Which is where The Work comes in.
The Work turns things around. Instead of running away from scarcity, and failure, I run towards it. I write down my stressful thoughts about the worst that could happen and I question them.
In my experience, nothing pierces scariness more quickly than inquiry. And whenever, I become comfortable with loss, then I am free to really enjoy any gains that I acquire. There’s just nothing to run away from anymore.
Have a great weekend,
Todd
“When people see some things as good, other things become bad.” — Byron Katie, A Thousand Names for Joy, Ch. 2.
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