Indeliberate

That which is done deliberately tends to be hollow.

And people seem to know nothing but the deliberate.

Joy, love, compassion, inspiration… these are not deliberate occurrences. They are states of being that arise without a person deciding for them to arise.

It is a tragic misstep that people then try to reach such states through deliberate action.

It is tragic because they generally do find these things, but the version they find is a shadow of the true experience.

The love that is forced is not true love.

The joy one tries to feel often carries the shadow of a frown.

Human beings live with a remarkable illusion: the idea that there is an “I” in control of a “me”.

This illusion reveals itself in concepts such as “self talk” and phrases like “pick yourself up”.

It is, truthfully, nonsense.

There is no higher self and lower self.

There is no separation between the “you” that is looked at and the “you” that does the looking.

Naturally, then, self improvement tends to be one big tail chase.

Man has become too obsessed with control.

He would rather build a swimming pool than experience the rawness of the open sea.

His days are regimented.

He wakes up to alarm bells.

Even his meals are planned in advance.

This approach has even spilled over into his inner world, where he tries to feel some emotions and avoid others.

If he is sad he will try to think happy thoughts.

He will set reminders in his phone.

And start a gratitude journal.

All in the hope that he will feel better.

What is the truth? What is the bedrock reality of a person’s inner state?

It is like a river. It has its own natural flow.

It is not something to be made flat, for that kills the natural vibrancy of life.

One may try to swim against the current for his entire life, but this will only tire him out. Eventually the river will win, because the river is not exerting itself.

The only sensible move anyone can make is to stop fighting the current.

In other words, to do nothing.

The distinction though, is that this is an informed nothing. This is an inaction that stems from wisdom, rather than ignorance.

And, as it happens, this is enough to spark a transformation within a person.