8th June, 2006
It's Not Going to Ask You To Jump In
Where I fall down is where the rug corner is a bit lifted. No wait a minute, that's where everyone falls down. Where I fall down in particular is confidence.
Now, sometimes that seems like a really stupid thing to say. How can confidence matter at all? You do what is put in front of you to do, and that is all there is. You don't have to tackle anything other than the current task, so deal with it and move on to the next one.
Right. But, I'm pretty sure that being human, at its best, has nothing to do with that... unless you really complicate what “task” might mean.
We're amazing. For instance, we don't need to know how to drink water - we just need showing where it is, and then, how to find it next time. Then, we'll work it out. That applies to almost everything. And my assertion is this: because we are so complex, so learned, so adapted, so easily masterful of our surroundings, then, yes the world is real, but all the same, every one of us exists entirely in our own heads.
And if in your head there is confidence, then you will have confidence in the real world. And if in your head there is sex in your mind, then there will be sex in the real world... or you will break the real world to make it fit your mind. And if there is damage in your mind, then you will break the real world to match your inner damage. And if there is beauty in your mind, and you don't see that beauty in the real world, well, then you might despair.
But most of us don't. We share snatches of that beauty. We might offer it in things we say, things we do, things we craft. We can manufacture captured insights of our humanity, and it might connect to, or even help to define others who are sharing our path.
So just do it. We don't get another chance. This is the show. We have to put it all on the line, and take a risk. And if it doesn't pay off, we have to take another risk. What's the alternative? At the end of the day, noone is going to say, “Awww, well, never mind, eh? Better luck next time.”
Show comments (20 so far)
shiftclick said:
I have accomplished quite a few things in my life by imagining what it would be like, sitting on my front porch enjoying the twilight, old and gray, wondering why I never took the chance to do ... (insert whatever here) I could not fathom such dreaming ... and I know that I have to try to do what I want to do NOW because NOW never happens again ...
8th June, 2006 at 20:40
Spirit of Owl said:
That, shiftclick, is called hitting the nail on the head. :)
8th June, 2006 at 22:31
Richard said:
I agree. We live in a world of billions of people and we are all basically the same, but our individual experiences are unique to each of us and in that respect the world can be a very lonely and dark place. That is why I think art is extremely important to us as a species.
Plus, on a day like today it really frustrates me to be an office sweating for "The Man"
8th June, 2006 at 22:56
Beth said:
I was just telling my husband last night about "the mind is everything" being absolutely true. How people create their world and the ones who never get ahead seem to think the OUTSIDE world put them where they are now ... or they have a condition they can never change. I believe in belief ... in yourself.
9th June, 2006 at 13:14
Spirit of Owl said:
Richard - The Man don't get The Art, and that's the truth.
Beth - You're right. On the other hand, maybe if you haven't got that belief, it's easy to think that it doesn't even exist, and there's a tendency to believe that "success" and "happiness" is for other people. The problem is, when you're in that position, it can feel that much of the world really does conspire to keep you there, so it's such a hard road out.
9th June, 2006 at 14:47
Mistress Ubermilf said:
For me, part of it is a trust issue.
When you're led to believe success comes to those who work hard, are honest, brave and true, and all that other crap.
Then you get out into the real world and see it's not true. It makes it difficult to believe you can be successful without selling your soul.
9th June, 2006 at 19:23
Spirit of Owl said:
Mistress Ubermilf - Expectations are a big problem. Life is not fair, that's a given. But at least we can be fair.
You and me (and a fair host of others), well, we're old enough to know that there's a lot of hooey when it comes to "chasing your dreams," but I'm still prepared to say this: chase them anyway. And as optimistically as possible. As I said in the post, what's the alternative?
9th June, 2006 at 23:48
Mr. Schprock said:
There are people who believe that if you meditate and visualize what you want, you'll eventually get it. I think they believe our thought are composed of matter, and this thought-matter can react with other matter (i.e, the observable world).
Why not? Could be true.
10th June, 2006 at 03:15
Mistress Ubermilf said:
I will visualize my laundry folded and my furniture moved the way I want it and my house clean.
I'll let you know if it works.
10th June, 2006 at 17:12
Beth said:
\'My garden is weeded ... my garden is weeded.\'
I thought I had already commented because of the other beth here. Haha.
10th June, 2006 at 18:38
Brooke said:
“Life is what happens when you are making other plans”. - John Lennon
10th June, 2006 at 23:18
Celti said:
Guess what? It did and I DID! :p
12th June, 2006 at 17:21
Spirit of Owl said:
Mr Schprock - I've noticed that people who meditate and visualise a lot tend to come to the conclusion that nothing has any value. I'm not sure what this tells anybody... :P
Mistress Ubermilf - Ah, now I'm betting that you visualised it, and then you did it. QED: it worked :D
Beth - You're freaking me out. Put down that bottle of weeder - because, you already did quote, and you are "the other Beth." !!!
Brooke - "I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now? " John Lennon
Celti - Great jumping beans of Tijuana! What!?
13th June, 2006 at 16:33
Kris said:
Maybe I'm way off base, but it's sort of like Battered Women's Syndrome. Once life smacks you down so many times, it's really hard to want to get up and dream again, y'know?
So the whole visualization thing never worked for me. If it had, a few ex's would've been dead and I'd be a rich woman.
But I find if I just "do" and not "think," I'm much better off. In TKD, if I think, I screw up. If I feel it and just do it, I can almost do anything. (Well, ok, I'll never kick as high as the youngun's, but I can still take out a kneecap, and that's much more handy than whapping someone in the head with your foot.)
14th June, 2006 at 03:41
Celti said:
Mighty beans of Iowa, the title! It asked me and I jumped. heh
14th June, 2006 at 16:16
NYPinTA said:
I'm printing this out!!
14th June, 2006 at 21:39
Spirit of Owl said:
kris - Aha! Now I know your weakness! Remind me to ask your views on the current fluctuations in the housing market the next time we're in a TKD bout... :)
celti - Great leaping peas of Pennsylvania, I shudder at my own dimness!
NYPinTA - Hey, if you sell any copies I'm available for signings... ;P
14th June, 2006 at 22:50
lilred said:
its hard to get perspective when your pulled into hell...
i get it and im letting my nails grow out so i can claw my way out.
thank you owl.
15th June, 2006 at 05:40
Spirit of Owl said:
Hey, I wish you well, lilred - just watch with those claws you don't accidentally scratch any hands reaching to help... :)
15th June, 2006 at 07:31
Kris said:
I don't need to be able to kick at head level. I have weapons! My rear end is a lethal weapon! *snork*
And weaknesses? I have no weaknesses! HAH! Maybe I'm just luring you into a false sense of security. Um, yeah, that's it.
16th June, 2006 at 06:32
