A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds”. -Emerson
The impermanence of the present can be both easy and difficult to understand.
I might not feel well today. I can think fatalistic thoughts- omg cancer or serious disease or I can think, hey, I’ll probably feel better tomorrow. Let me just take it easy today, eat well, rest.
I might be in a bad place with my job or relationship. I may think, well I’m committed to these things. Or I can think my way out of them.
If I look around, at where I am, the work I do, how much money I have, who I’m with, it’s easy to fall into the mindset of, this is where I belong. This is what I must have to do. When in reality, the series of decisions I’ve made ‘til now have got me to all of what today is.
Which also means quite frankly that I could decide otherwise. Today, tomorrow, or sometime in the future. And things would change.
They could change because the world imposes it upon me. Or they could change because I choose to change them.
What kind of person do I want to be?
I happen to life or life happens to me.
It’s an easy choice.
I choose to choose.
The brain is culturally wired to keep doing what we’re doing.
Consistency is highly valued. Inconsistent is a label, one given to someone who changes their mind. Who does something different than what they used to do or what other people do.
I’d rather be viewed as inconsistent than live a bullshit life of other people’s choosing.
But there is a cost.
The cost of new decisions are letting go of old decisions.
The cost of new relationships are letting go of old relationships.
The cost of a new job is leaving an old job.
The cost of your new life is saying goodbye to your old life.
It’s not so easily done in the present. Long after the decision of embracing the new thing and letting go of the old, it becomes a long, fond memory.
Aren’t memories nice?
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