Since the
release of The Matrix in 1999, the
“red pill” has become something of an iconic pop culture symbol. The taking of
the red pill, arguably, represents the choice to live and die authentically,
which is to say, living and dying not in the contrived world of one’s delusions
and escapist fantasies, but in the actual world that constitutes one’s reality.
Taking the red
pill is not for the lame-minded or feeble of heart (there are work-outs to move
in the direction of remedying this—journaling, meditation etc.). The relinquishing of one’s contrived
reality is, ultimately, the relinquishing of illusions that have often served
to anesthetize us to our pain and suffering, as well as numbing us
significantly to what passion and joy there may be in our lives, though I don’t
think we usually appreciate the degree to which the latter is true.
Secondary gains
(likely taking the form of perceived
safety or security) are often the culprits that motivate us to sacrifice our
vitality in this manner. I also believe that we get so used to a marginal,
mediocre, compromised existence, that we really don’t see the extent to which
our lives have deteriorated to something relatively lifeless and tasteless.
The choice then is between living our lives finding new ways to tolerate a barely adequate existence, or daring to opt for the meaningful creation of one resonant with colour, sound and all manner of vibrancy. Is there really a choice here?
The choice then is between living our lives finding new ways to tolerate a barely adequate existence, or daring to opt for the meaningful creation of one resonant with colour, sound and all manner of vibrancy. Is there really a choice here?
Living and dying
with authenticity, as I see it, means choosing to get in touch with the deep contents
of our inner world—the rabbit hole of one’s heart, mind, spirit and soul. It
means being real about what we are actually feeling, what we know
intellectually and intuitively, and choosing to treat this rich material like
it is more worthy of our respect and
serious consideration than the social and cultural structures that frame our
lives outwardly. Fact is this is how they are re-shaped. The quality of all our
lives hangs in the balance.
As we live, so we die—two sides of the same coin.
As we live, so we die—two sides of the same coin.
All our lives
have a beginning and an end—life itself is a continuous loop of beginnings and
endings. Question is how do we want to orchestrate the bit in the middle?
Let's move into the New Year dedicated to living more authentically and passionately--take the red pill! ;)
