I have conflict sometimes within myself, because of my personal philosophy, which I borrow a lot from Taoism/Zen/Buddhist teachings.
One of the core tenents for me is that the world is as it is, and my struggle is to accept that the world is as it is, and that it's not about changing the world, it's about changing how I see the world and changing my own actions and reactions to the world. I cannot control others, I do not want to set out to change others, I must focus on myself first and foremost. People do not make me feel anything, what I feel is my own responsibility, I alone control my emotions, I alone control how I react to external forces. In the end how I react, or how I feel says more about me, then it says about others - and my personal journey is to be able to take absolute responsibility for myself. And by contradiction, that is how I change the world. (your consciousness determines your reality and the ideals of wu wei) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_wei#Philosophy
ETA: (picking and choosing the right place, and right time to exert agency).
My personal struggle is that I really wish others would do the same thing, it's like 'I'm trying to take control of my feelings and perceptions here, I know shit happens, but I take power from controlling how I react, why can't other people do the same thing?'. (whine, whine, whine, moan). I know right?! - (ETA, how hypocritical am I in thinking this, completely.)
I know that everyone has to go through life dealing with their suffering (because everyone suffers, I accept that), in their very own individual way, it is not for me to 'judge', it is not for me to control how they do this.
So it's an fundamental conflict within myself, I sometimes think it's a struggle between accepting Taoist teachings, Karma, wu wei (which is to me as an individual resonants my own truth) and worldly western ideology. Between focusing inwards and worrying about others and how they feel about me.
It's bloody hard. And racefail has really tested that, but in some ways, I think it's reinforced my personal truth, and I how I deal with myself and my journey and as a way of being true to myself, not worrying about others, and living a life which gives fundamental respect to all beings.
(or you know, I'm completely full of bullshit here, whichever comes easiest, because I fail so much sometimes).
IE, you cannot make me feel anything Sophie, I take responsibility for my own reactions, and internalising and processing my reactions to your posts have been extremely challenging. But I think that's a very, very good thing.
let me get all esoteric
One of the core tenents for me is that the world is as it is, and my struggle is to accept that the world is as it is, and that it's not about changing the world, it's about changing how I see the world and changing my own actions and reactions to the world. I cannot control others, I do not want to set out to change others, I must focus on myself first and foremost. People do not make me feel anything, what I feel is my own responsibility, I alone control my emotions, I alone control how I react to external forces. In the end how I react, or how I feel says more about me, then it says about others - and my personal journey is to be able to take absolute responsibility for myself. And by contradiction, that is how I change the world. (your consciousness determines your reality and the ideals of wu wei)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_wei#Philosophy
ETA: (picking and choosing the right place, and right time to exert agency).
My personal struggle is that I really wish others would do the same thing, it's like 'I'm trying to take control of my feelings and perceptions here, I know shit happens, but I take power from controlling how I react, why can't other people do the same thing?'. (whine, whine, whine, moan). I know right?! - (ETA, how hypocritical am I in thinking this, completely.)
I know that everyone has to go through life dealing with their suffering (because everyone suffers, I accept that), in their very own individual way, it is not for me to 'judge', it is not for me to control how they do this.
So it's an fundamental conflict within myself, I sometimes think it's a struggle between accepting Taoist teachings, Karma, wu wei (which is to me as an individual resonants my own truth) and worldly western ideology. Between focusing inwards and worrying about others and how they feel about me.
It's bloody hard. And racefail has really tested that, but in some ways, I think it's reinforced my personal truth, and I how I deal with myself and my journey and as a way of being true to myself, not worrying about others, and living a life which gives fundamental respect to all beings.
(or you know, I'm completely full of bullshit here, whichever comes easiest, because I fail so much sometimes).
IE, you cannot make me feel anything Sophie, I take responsibility for my own reactions, and internalising and processing my reactions to your posts have been extremely challenging. But I think that's a very, very good thing.