Stress PART 3

Sitting down and going through the last two posts in this series has made me realize just how easy it is to forget one’s initial resolutions. In about a month, I’ve been back into hurrying and beating myself for not doing all of the things that I’ve planned to do. The truth is that the solution to this problem lies in the last post. I’ve just forgotten about it and kept on with my stressed out life. 

But I think that there is something more to say about this, before I can put it to rest.

If we try to make something of ourselves, we run up against all these obstacles. Or we have to settle for a life where we are more or less living for the weekends. Or, if we don’t work, we are dependent on the state and have very little financial freedom. At least, this is my experience so far. I was most free when I went to the university. I didn’t have a lot of money, but I didn’t have to struggle just to get by either. I could plan my days and no one cared what I did, as long as I passed the tests and turned in my papers on time.

I’ve also tried to run a business. This offered me some sense of freedom. But this freedom was overshadowed by financial stress and all of the hands that wanted to get themselves into my pockets, not least the hands of the state. 

But I know that there are other ways. Ways that don’t mean that we have to work ourselves to death before we can enjoy a little bit of freedom. Ways where we can truly take our power back. Ways where life can be fun and exciting and not just a race to keep up with the rest of the world. Do you see the problem here? We all rush to get ahead of each other, to do thing better and faster than everyone else. We try to be more beautiful, stay young longer, accumulate more money and more stuff than everyone else. Or we resign and accept a life of mediocrity. No middle ground. This is nothing new. And yet, this weird illusion is upheld by everyone. And now and then someone comes out and says “The emperor is naked”. But as long as most people agree to keep on living the insanity, the emperor can have as many or as few clothes on him as he wants to. It will make no difference. 

I truly believe that we need to put as much time and effort as we are capable of into something that we find worthwhile. And we need to do it in a way that works for us. This, I believe, is more or less unique to every individual. And we need to find the ways that work for us personally. This is something that I will explore in the next and last post in this series.