A Mindful and Authentic Life: The Pursuit of What's Meaningful to Us

The other day, someone asked me why I don't write anything "useful."

Some might interpret that as a jab or even an insult, but this particular friend actually thinks I'm a really good writer. Her observation was more one of questioning why I am not writing guides on how to use your computer more efficiently, or how to restore cars, or how to program your iPhone, or even teaching people to grow better vegetable gardens.

Her question made me realize how often people get trapped almost entirely in the functional and material world and completely forget about the mind and spirit.

One of the views from near here...

Aside from the glib rationalization that we all have our own unique approaches to life, her question did make me pause to consider why I write what I write... and not "something more useful."

Once upon a time, in a Galaxy Far Far Away I was, in fact, a technical writer... mostly working on support documentation for software (before we called them "apps"), and in particular working on support documentation for large company INTRAnets.

By most measures, this was definitely useful and I was definitely good at it... but it also felt a lot like mindless drudgery. I'd gotten into the field because I love writing, and this felt like the one way I would be able to write, while also earning a living wage. It was only a few months before it just felt like I had "sold out." All of which is perhaps just a way of saying that it didn't feel important to ME, and it definitely didn't feel meaningful, in any way.

A tiny wild daisy in the lawn...

I was in my mid-30's at the time, and whereas I had already been "A Life-long Writer," that stint as a technical writer almost made me NOT want to write, ever again. It turned something enjoyable into a drag...

But let's get back to the present moment, and my friend's question...

On reflection, I recognize that I write what I write because I like to think (at at least delude myself!) that through my writing I create a series of small "invitations" to other people to stop and THINK about their lives, ideas or situations.

And I do that — even if it is not materially useful — because that is "meaningful" to me, when it comes to writing. And when it comes to living, for that matter.

Protection Island in the setting sun...

In this eternally "quickening" world we inhabit, it feels like more and more people have fallen into some kind of trance in which they simply put one foot in front of the other, day after day, without having any clear understanding of why they do so, nor of why — at the end of the day — they feel stressed and unfulfilled, before entering an unrestful sleep... only to get up and do the same thing, the day after.

People are given to talk about "mind control" and some nefarious "THEY" trying to take over and control the world, and if that is indeed true then one of "their" central strategies seems to be to lull people into a state of being where they no longer think or question anything... along the entire range from what they eat, to what they buy, to even the existence (or not) of God or Spirit.

A perfect white daisy...

But even within that realm — when we are finally pushed a little too far — we are still somehow guided towards expressing our feelings in largely blind reactionary outrage rather than through simply stopping, breaking state, and thinking about more suitable alternatives.

So when you find yourself angry that it feels like you are caught on a mindless treadmill... don't just get angry and react, pause and think about how you got there, and what life would ideally look like, if you weren't there.

Perhaps that sounds excessively simple, but it's actually not as simple as it looks! That's when we get to discover whether our impression of what might be a truly authentic and meaningful life is just some version of re-imagining the treadmill, or do we find the courage to invent our own construct, separate from the indoctrination of the societal trance.

Thanks for reading!

How about YOU? What do YOU think? Are you living an authentic and meaningful life? Or do you recognize that you are — at least to some degree — on the treadmill? Would you like off? Or is the perceived cost of "off" too great the leave the trance? After all, the trance can feel very safe and secure. When you think DEEPLY, who are you actually trying to make happy, or impress? Is it yourself? Comments, feedback and other interaction is invited and welcomed! Because — after all — SOCIAL content is about interacting, right? Leave a comment — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!

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Created at 20200714 19:12 PDT
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