“We cannot fix the world, we cannot even
fix our own life. By accepting failure we express our willingness to begin
again, time after time. By recognizing failure we change, renew, adapt, listen,
and grow. It is only by participating without expectation of success that we
can ever truly open to the world, to suffering and to joy.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
Which is to say,
that success isn’t something to outline as a goal. We don’t go after things
because we are looking for success, we go after them because we are in love,
alive, resonant, passionate, about whatever it is that we do.
Success is not
what is important here. Engagement is. Connectedness is. Success is immaterial.
If it comes, so much the better, if not we are still in love, alive and
passionate.
And is that not
the larger part of the point in being alive at all?
The emphasis on
success, the idea that we are only worthy to the degree that we are also
perceived as conventionally successful, is troubling to me.
Does not a fine
piece of art remain a fine piece of art whether or not it receives acknowledgment
as such?
We need to tone
down our expectations. We can’t fix the world. Shit is always going to happen.
The only thing we get to decide is how we are going to move through the ups and
downs that comprise it.
Are we going to play the role of victim, or are we going to thoughtfully look at what we’ve got to work
with, and ask ourselves: “What does this experience want from me? I wonder if I could turn this into something that might be of
use to someone—that might be beautiful, educational or fun?”
Best to give up
on the idea of fixing ourselves too. For how can any of us, blind and ignorant
as we will always be, delude ourselves that we can fix ourselves or, God forbid, others? The logic
doesn’t follow.
We need to acknowledge our fundamental ignorance.
We need to acknowledge our fundamental ignorance.
The
well-intended arrogance that allows some (and regrettably I have to count
myself in here) to provide 3 step-type solutions to any human problem, is LUDICROUS!
Apologies.
It’s kind of
cute that we try though …
But seriously, I
think it would probably be best to give up on any ideas of spiritual and
psychological hygiene and just learn how to be more human instead.
True success is
being a better failure. Becoming more
human, not less.
Simple. Neurotic. Full of heart. Real.
