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| Blogs > Jem118again > A Day in the Life |
Illusions
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Illusions Back in my younger days when finding a good book meant losing sleep I happened across something that has really stayed with me over the years. Authored by Richard Bach, “Illusions The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah” is lesser known than “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” but more relevant and thought provoking to me as an adult as it shifted my paradigm then and still does today. While the name implies it is of a religious nature it is rather the tale of a pair of barnstorming pilots traveling the countryside giving rides at fairs as one of the pilots “performs” miracles on others by altering their perception of reality. My thoughts sharing here are a few of the illusions I carried about myself and my life for a very long time. Perhaps even some illusions I still living under to one degree or other. Maybe you can relate to one or all. Or maybe you have your own. The illusion that contentment is right on the other side of….(fill in the blank). It is not. Contentment is an inside job and about acceptance more than anything. It took me a long time to figure this one out. It’s sneaky and takes many forms whether it’s a new relationship, career path or toy. It’s my attachment to the desired outcome that likes to<b> trick </font></b>my brain into thinking contentment is something to attain externally rather than cultivate from within. The illusion of permanency. I lived many expecting permanency in relationships coupled with feeling permanency in my emotions because I spent more time fighting them than allowing them. I take a completely different approach to my personal relationships and my emotional well-being now. It was an epiphany for me the moment I realized that feelings were not facts. I realize that my audience here is male so you may not be able to relate to this one. Oversimplified of course but a moment of enlightenment nonetheless that freed the ghosts of my past and fostered a desire in me to get passed small talk and find out what makes a person tick. The illusion that I in control of anything other than my own responses to people and situations. These are complicated times and every interaction unique. This particular illusion is especially true in my professional life with unpredictable clientele but applies to my personal life just the same. This one gets tangled up with my attachment for a desired outcome as well. See, I told you that one was sneaky. As always, thanks for stopping by and a special shout out to frequent visitors and guys who send me thoughtful responses both here and by email. You are the guys who keep this fun, make the rest worthwhile and give me hope. Priceless. Thank you! {=} Lady J  |
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I think a lot of people find that many of their thoughts, feelings, wants and desires are molded by perceptions. It can be hard to learn how not to try to manipulate our feelings in order to, as you put it, achieve the desired outcome. My catch phrase on the site, is something so small, yet has helped me along my journey into really understanding who I am. What I want in life, love, and all things in between. Simplifying Complexities. The more I can simplify a thought, a decision, a feeling, the more I find the outcome to be a true reflection of me. If you've never looked at it, look up Plato's Cave Allegory. You seem like the kind of person that would find it interesting and maybe even enlightening. Thanks for the interesting post. " I refuse to belong to any organization that would accept me as a member" Groucho Marx
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