Curiosity is a state of presence. It’s something we can cultivate. I consider myself a curious person and at the same time, I hate to admit it, I can also be judgmental. I think it’s because I’ve been conditioned to feel that I must make quick assessment, scanning the field for danger as a survivor to keep my out of harms way. It’s very much a ‘fear based’ way of orienting towards the world.
I am challenged by ‘anticipatory anxiety’ — fearing the possible worse outcomes as if that we’ll give me a greater sense of control. It’s an illusion though. Anxiety doesn’t serve me. It took the longest time to come to that basic reality.
The election outcome hasn’t exactly made me feel any more secure. The 24/7 news cycle isn’t helpful either as it’s not offering anything particularly hopeful. Just more doom and gloom.
I appreciate Zhuangzi’s prescription for dealing with uncertainty with laughter. It seems to be the ultimate in surrender. Sometimes, I can go there. Other times, I just want to cry. I want to mourn. But, this is not encouraged in our culture. We’re told to ‘laugh’ it off. I’m not sure that’s always the best approach when we’re faced with oppressive forces from our present or our past. If we haven’t processed the past, I don’t think there’s an appropriate framing for the future.
I feel that there are no spaces to grieve, to process, to mourn, to self reflect, to gather, to connect with others, in part, because there’s a continual emphasis on efficiency, the lack of time, the need to be ‘on top’ of all the latest news, all of the ‘developments’. It’s a constant chase to catch up.
What am I chasing?
Time for me to slow down. Time for me to meditate. Time for me to mourn. I find it’s time to read ‘The Wild Edge of Sorrow’ at a time it feels that the world is coming unglued. That feels honoring.
I guess I’m in another space right now. And I do appreciate your perspective.
Wise words, Diamond-Michael. Thanks for the reminder. I’ve always been a highly curious person by nature, but I admit this recent election result has me quite concerned.
The image for this post is, appropriately, more enigmatic than many. We have a Sino-Sisyphus sporting sneakers attempting to roll a 50 gallon (10 decaliter?) drum up a mountain, but the drum is part of the mountain! Unless the drum was rolling down and our two sash guy is keeping it from unraveling catestrophically. There are other details....I wonder...hmmm
I enjoyed this article. Ive been having a lot of hypothetical bad things playing out in my head about what is to come. Some are insane and unlikely and others might really happen. Im trying to ignore all of them. Why waste time living in a hypothetical future? 5 years ill be able to conjure up some new horror to worry about but Ill be no happier or wiser. curiousity is a great antidote and glad you pointed it out. While I still want to remain vigilant and not ignorant, I also need to find that balance that brings happiness, even admidst whatever strife the day brings.
I heard the phrase “outrage addiction” the other day. It struck me hard. So many people I know (myself included from 2016-2020) have some degree of this, caused in large part by social media and media in general. When you have outrage feeding the catastrophizing it’s just one big loop of cortisol, anger, distrust and divide. I don’t know if it’s that the first frump administration drained me of all the outrage I had, or that now I have two kids (7 and 8) who by now have an awareness of things outside of themselves that I feel very different this go around. I see my greater responsibility now is to not indulge in outrage and catastrophe, but to show them strength, thoughtfulness, self care, love, how to cultivate harmony/balance and curiosity.
Curiosity is a state of presence. It’s something we can cultivate. I consider myself a curious person and at the same time, I hate to admit it, I can also be judgmental. I think it’s because I’ve been conditioned to feel that I must make quick assessment, scanning the field for danger as a survivor to keep my out of harms way. It’s very much a ‘fear based’ way of orienting towards the world.
I am challenged by ‘anticipatory anxiety’ — fearing the possible worse outcomes as if that we’ll give me a greater sense of control. It’s an illusion though. Anxiety doesn’t serve me. It took the longest time to come to that basic reality.
The election outcome hasn’t exactly made me feel any more secure. The 24/7 news cycle isn’t helpful either as it’s not offering anything particularly hopeful. Just more doom and gloom.
I appreciate Zhuangzi’s prescription for dealing with uncertainty with laughter. It seems to be the ultimate in surrender. Sometimes, I can go there. Other times, I just want to cry. I want to mourn. But, this is not encouraged in our culture. We’re told to ‘laugh’ it off. I’m not sure that’s always the best approach when we’re faced with oppressive forces from our present or our past. If we haven’t processed the past, I don’t think there’s an appropriate framing for the future.
I feel that there are no spaces to grieve, to process, to mourn, to self reflect, to gather, to connect with others, in part, because there’s a continual emphasis on efficiency, the lack of time, the need to be ‘on top’ of all the latest news, all of the ‘developments’. It’s a constant chase to catch up.
What am I chasing?
Time for me to slow down. Time for me to meditate. Time for me to mourn. I find it’s time to read ‘The Wild Edge of Sorrow’ at a time it feels that the world is coming unglued. That feels honoring.
I guess I’m in another space right now. And I do appreciate your perspective.
Appreciate your reflections here. So well articulated and expressed. Let’s continue to share.
That sounds like a plan! 😊
Wise words, Diamond-Michael. Thanks for the reminder. I’ve always been a highly curious person by nature, but I admit this recent election result has me quite concerned.
I've been skipping the catastrophe posts post American election because I don't want to get caught up in that state.
I'd much rather strategize, and keep some semblance of sanity.
Thanks for this encouraging post, Diamond-Michael.
Agree 👍
The image for this post is, appropriately, more enigmatic than many. We have a Sino-Sisyphus sporting sneakers attempting to roll a 50 gallon (10 decaliter?) drum up a mountain, but the drum is part of the mountain! Unless the drum was rolling down and our two sash guy is keeping it from unraveling catestrophically. There are other details....I wonder...hmmm
So it sounds like I may have achieved my aim in capturing your curiosity.
Yes! Sort of like Alice's catchphrase in Wonderland
I enjoyed this article. Ive been having a lot of hypothetical bad things playing out in my head about what is to come. Some are insane and unlikely and others might really happen. Im trying to ignore all of them. Why waste time living in a hypothetical future? 5 years ill be able to conjure up some new horror to worry about but Ill be no happier or wiser. curiousity is a great antidote and glad you pointed it out. While I still want to remain vigilant and not ignorant, I also need to find that balance that brings happiness, even admidst whatever strife the day brings.
I heard the phrase “outrage addiction” the other day. It struck me hard. So many people I know (myself included from 2016-2020) have some degree of this, caused in large part by social media and media in general. When you have outrage feeding the catastrophizing it’s just one big loop of cortisol, anger, distrust and divide. I don’t know if it’s that the first frump administration drained me of all the outrage I had, or that now I have two kids (7 and 8) who by now have an awareness of things outside of themselves that I feel very different this go around. I see my greater responsibility now is to not indulge in outrage and catastrophe, but to show them strength, thoughtfulness, self care, love, how to cultivate harmony/balance and curiosity.
Thank you. A timely reminder.