On Trying

We were taught to think that things are not OK as they are, so we need to make them OK … which leads to seeing life as an obstacle (that isn’t there) … which leads to trying (to overcome the elusive obstacle) … which leads to stress (we can’t solve a non-existent problem) … which leads to more trying (as if it were a matter of effort to begin with) … which blinds us to other choices … which, of course, keeps us stuck in, even justifying, our trying … to the point of seeing the resultant exhaustion as evidence we’re on the right track. It’s not; it’s wasted energy. All along, the work doesn’t stress us; the trying does. “Trying” is not a problem to be solved, but a signal you’re off track. Figure out why you’re off track, and fix that instead.