Our brain is wired to seek pleasure and reward and to avoid suffering.
This is the motivation for most of our actions.
Whether it is buying a new phone eating a piece of chocolate, taking drugs having people like you or becoming an important figure in life.
Most of us are searching for a state of fulfilment to feel completeness and wholeness in our lives.
Some of us are looking for a state of happiness or inner peace instead of feeling completeness.
It is good to understand that feeling.
Where does this state of completeness happen? Certainly not from some tragically written blog post or a video you found one night looking for the answers –
It happens within.
Right… but you knew that. Master Splinter told you that decades ago.
Instead of trying to find that state of completeness by getting that dude, or that great body, loads of followers or a high-paying job (not saying that these things are not cool by themselves) you know as soon as that dude likes you that sneaky feeling of emptiness is going to start strangling you again no matter how many different paddles he buys (even if he lets you call him daddy when he spanks you).
Inner peace, much like gratitude, cannot be forced, bought or bargained with.
Before you grab that piece of chocolate or that bit of nicotine, let me toss this your way:
You have been doing this your whole life. Enjoy that dopamine kick… assuming it still does anything for you. Are you alert enough to realise what you are doing (Or dead to feel that equanimity again that state of balance to balance it out)?
Let me watch this video and have a little moment of completeness again… oh wait.
Maybe stop and feel that emptiness for a second?
What does it feel like? Does it feel like you are missing something? Observe how you are feeling, despite whatever your thoughts are rambling on about.
Do not try to tell yourself that it is okay and everything is fine. Stay alert. Ignore the penguin. Do not just slide. Sit with whatever uncomfortable pins poke or warmth or cold that spreads.
All of this for an automatic response that you do not need to keep you alive?
