This post will not register to most humans.
But it will, to a significant portion of the population.
The ones it will not register to, are fast asleep.
Their life is beyond repair.
The ones it may register to, are those who think they are awake.
But they are really half-asleep.
This half-asleep person is the one addressed below.
Feeling good.
Or an attempt to feel good.
This is at the center of your existence.
You wake up and usually do not like the way you feel.
You go for your cup of coffee or tea.
Or you go for a run or a workout or do yoga.
Or cater to your partner or loved ones.
The root reason behind ALL - to feel good.
You may want to argue -
What do you mean, "feel good"?
You will say something like -
What are you implying, I should not drink coffee?
or
I should not take care of my kids?
To which I will say -
I said none of those things.
But I will say one thing before continuing -
you insist to not understand
why you say what you say.
When the first set of chores around feeling good are over,
starts the second phase.
Your head straight to your work or business.
Or, to school or university.
Or, to do the chores of your house.
Or cater to some other mainstay.
Once again, all are done, for the end result to feel good -
about something, anything.
You will go haywire at this too.
You will probably say one of the following things...
My family is my temple.
My business is my passion.
My work is my life's purpose.
...
My response to this will be exactly the same as before.
This second phase takes up most part of your day.
And usually has other mini feel-good-endeavors sprinkled in.
For instance, getting lunch with friends.
"Sneaking" a workout in between.
Meditating once or 10 times.
Going for a walk.
...
The possibilities are endless.
The end goal is one - TO FEEL GOOD.
Close to the end of this second phase, you are "tired".
You are exhausted and are desperately looking forward to something.
What thing?
You know it better than I do.
The third and the most looked-forward-to part of the day
- the official FEEL GOOD phase.
There, I almost see a smile coming on to your face.
...
This, for most, is either simple socializing
or the more extravagant and thus, absolutely disgusting "happy hour",
or even worse - tethering themselves to the TV or computer.
But something tells me you are not that degenerate.
After all, you are half-asleep, not fast-asleep.
So you go for one of the more "meaningful" or "healthier" alternatives -
like the workout you postponed from the morning
or your second training for the day
or taking a yoga "class"
or sharing a jog or a walk with a friend.
...
Yes, I know you are conflicted,
how these seemingly smart choices
can also be about ... feeling good!?
And I will say yet again - deep in your conflict hides an acknowledgment that it is -
you just have not realized it.
You see this third phase starts the slippage.
In fact, the intention starts about mid-way through the second phase,
when a greater part of you is questing your existence and your direction in life.
I will spare you the end of the day,
for you know it better to know it needs no mentioning.
No holds are barred as you give in and "relax into the night"
to repeat the exact same day tomorrow.
But perhaps you are different.
Perhaps you reach out to the last ounce of "self-discipline"
and squeeze in a stretching or a meditation session,
or force yourself to take a walk.
BUT...
...
even that is to ...
...
you already know what I am going to say.
...
Yes.
Yes, dear friend.
The Mind knows no other way.
An untranscended Mind is conditioned to seek pleasure and pleasure alone.
The means almost do not matter.
You will euphemize your pleasure sources in many, many ways
to continue to defend your "balanced living".
In reality, you are holding on to an illusion in the name of "balanced living".
While getting farther away from what you really seek.
For there is no such thing as a "balanced living".
For there is either LIVING - freely, ruthlessly, and completely.
Or there is being hijacked into feel-good endeavors as your Mind.
Thank you.