Thank you! This is so helpful! And the Tree of Life imagery was indeed a jump scare 😬. It was validating for you to acknowledge that it would be in the image caption!
I can't believe there aren't more likes, this is sooo good and sooo needed!
By the way, what you describe comes close to existential anxiety: the realization that I'm totally free to choose, not my conditions, but my path forward, that I'm responsible for my choices, and the angst that comes from that realization. Then the theory is to use this anxiety as a tool to move and engage with / in life. In practice it can be hard to do ;)
And listening a little bit to the "Ok just be careful where you step in" part of the anxiety can actually be quite good ;)
I love the video from Ellen Langer. She sums up exactly my thinking. I've learned in life that there are rarely right and wrong answers to questions, just answers. And each question/answer is an opportunity to conduct an experiment. I will often approach a question or decision with, "what's the worst thing that will happen if I do this?" It has taken a long time, but this approach has helped me get comfortable with uncertainty. One of the best things that has come from my faith journey is that I no longer worry if I'm following the orthodoxy check list to get into the highest kingdom of heaven and getting the right answers to the questions. It has been very freeing. Instead my focus is on what brings me and my family lasting happiness in life.
I find a lot of solace and peace in music. You're post made me think of 2 songs: Any Road by George Harrison and Seven Story Mountain by Railroad Earth. Highly recommend listening to them if you aren't familiar. The best version of Seven Story Mountain is on the live album Elko.
You bet. Glad you like the songs. I've been listening to Seven Story Mountain a lot since I read your piece. It always amazes me how the same song lyrics can take on different meanings depending on life experiences. The lyrics in this song that really stand out to me now are:
"But the road that led me here, it's begun to disappear. Sometimes I wonder who I am."
and
"It's a seven story mountain. It's a long, long life we live. Got to find a light and fill my heart again."
My analogy for having the One True Path is that missionaries are knocking on people’s doors and selling them a One-Stop Complete Spice Mix. They are asking people to empty out their spice cupboards and replace it with a one-size fits all use-it-for-everything spice mix. Just pour this complete spice mix on everything instead of thinking about what makes sense in each situation. Clearly a bad idea.
Thank you! This is so helpful! And the Tree of Life imagery was indeed a jump scare 😬. It was validating for you to acknowledge that it would be in the image caption!
Ha I jump scared myself by googling it
I can't believe there aren't more likes, this is sooo good and sooo needed!
By the way, what you describe comes close to existential anxiety: the realization that I'm totally free to choose, not my conditions, but my path forward, that I'm responsible for my choices, and the angst that comes from that realization. Then the theory is to use this anxiety as a tool to move and engage with / in life. In practice it can be hard to do ;)
And listening a little bit to the "Ok just be careful where you step in" part of the anxiety can actually be quite good ;)
"Follow your heart but take your brain"
Great advice! Thanks so much Emeric!
I love the video from Ellen Langer. She sums up exactly my thinking. I've learned in life that there are rarely right and wrong answers to questions, just answers. And each question/answer is an opportunity to conduct an experiment. I will often approach a question or decision with, "what's the worst thing that will happen if I do this?" It has taken a long time, but this approach has helped me get comfortable with uncertainty. One of the best things that has come from my faith journey is that I no longer worry if I'm following the orthodoxy check list to get into the highest kingdom of heaven and getting the right answers to the questions. It has been very freeing. Instead my focus is on what brings me and my family lasting happiness in life.
I find a lot of solace and peace in music. You're post made me think of 2 songs: Any Road by George Harrison and Seven Story Mountain by Railroad Earth. Highly recommend listening to them if you aren't familiar. The best version of Seven Story Mountain is on the live album Elko.
Oooh thanks for the song recs Steve! Just listened and they are both so good!
You bet. Glad you like the songs. I've been listening to Seven Story Mountain a lot since I read your piece. It always amazes me how the same song lyrics can take on different meanings depending on life experiences. The lyrics in this song that really stand out to me now are:
"But the road that led me here, it's begun to disappear. Sometimes I wonder who I am."
and
"It's a seven story mountain. It's a long, long life we live. Got to find a light and fill my heart again."
My analogy for having the One True Path is that missionaries are knocking on people’s doors and selling them a One-Stop Complete Spice Mix. They are asking people to empty out their spice cupboards and replace it with a one-size fits all use-it-for-everything spice mix. Just pour this complete spice mix on everything instead of thinking about what makes sense in each situation. Clearly a bad idea.
Clearly. A bad idea and a boring idea.