Unsettling Contentedness

In the mundane rhythm of life, the tick of a watch can be a dangerous companion, a ruthless enemy and an unexpected inhibitor of order in your life. It's not that rest and relaxation is not important in life or that we need to be 24hour goal reaching machines, but a surefire way to have a dull life is to slump into contentedness.

What's so unsettling about being content?

Being in a state of peaceful happiness sure seems great, and it is our body's natural inclination (at least mine) to revert back to this state as often and as quickly as it can. Peace in itself is also a value that is considerably grand to pursue, and ought to, but if peace is pursued in forfeiting adventure, courage and the living of life itself...we trek on dangerous grounds. Happiness as a value is equally admirable, but desire for a life filled with happiness can also lead to ultimate disappointment.

If then, upon the dissection of the meaning of contentedness, we find that it can easily be likened to a mirage. Where being completely happy and peaceful at all times and in every situation seems to be the figural oasis we run to in the desert, only to find upon closer inspection that in the place of our oasis we find what we've had the entire time, more sand.

So, once we truly inspect our deepest feeling about the futility of contentedness and we begin to feel this unsettling heartburn churn to the top of our throats, we can begin with a new and blank slate and ask ourselves: What do we pursue then, if anything?

The rush of the rush.

The feeling of the rush of life is addictive, and understandably so, because although seeking the feeling that adrenaline gives you often, is not officially classified as an addiction, there are very similar traits people exhibit to actual substance abusers. Life is an endless to-do list and Keeping up with the Jones' party, so falling victim to busyness is not something to be ashamed of. It is however, something to be aware of and something to most certainly be placed on an automatic 'watchlist' in your brain. The dangers of the rush creeps in unexpectedly and consumes one with an obsessed enthusiasm only a leach could have.

There is one surefire way of knowing when you are too deep in the rush, the chasing of the oasis becomes more engrossing. The pursuit of peace and quiet becomes an internal fight with the consequence of the very cause we are trying to flee from...more anxiety. When we can let go of the rush and the pursuit of wanting and thinking we need everything, we take a closer step to ultimate freedom.

If not contentedness and not the rush, then what?

Whatever we do in life, according to Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator, echoes in eternity. In this fictitious character's words, we can find a starting point for what to pursue. If any pursuit we make will echo in eternity, shouldn't we aim to make it purposeful and intentional? Would late nights, hair pulled out and nails bitten to the flesh echo? Highly unlikely...then don't pursue it. Would a molded shape of your bottom in the couch, because of the frequency of your visits to it, echo? It would, but what message would it send?

If the echo of our lives in some distant point in the future becomes the yardstick by which we base our behavior on now, we are likely to do life with more of an inherent sense of meaning. Furthermore, once either the creeping contentedness of life or rush of the rush comes knocking at our door, we must be able to stand tall with purpose and intent and say: 'Not today ye bastards, not today.'

TF