This is what life is about: noticing and appreciating the small things. We seem to get caught up in “bigger” things that don’t really bring us contentment. Thank you for saying it so well.
So well, said Ryan! I love the full circle revelation here. I think it is our tendency to go to one extreme or the other, but the truth you’ve discovered balances it perfectly. I love how you celebrate your unique design and embrace it. But I equally love That having those things in your life you love, doesn’t define who you are, what you are or your experience of life. This was a great essay! Thanks!
What an affirming comment, Wayne. I feel seen; thank you! You've been working hard, cooking up some good stuff, and I'm excited for what you're building and wishing you the very best with it.
Been listening to A.H. Almaas (Hameed Ali) lately. There's a great podcast series (Deep Transformation) that dips many big toes in the deep end of his work. Anyway...
Hameed, as I understand, advocates for the importance of all the depths, from the common human experience to the depths we have yet to discover. Yes, the content matters, but only at a certain depth. There's nothing wrong with that depth. It is also important, but it's not the deepest depth of knowing.
I think I'm capturing his essential position, which is way more detailed than that. It's been a great relief to hear him speak so clearly about this, about the foolishness of denying our humanity. Spend too much time in nondualism, and this is where one lands. It feels awful, like a fundamental betrayal of something truly valuable.
We can hold many truths at one time and use wisdom to discern what's worth keeping. I also find the content is usually not it, but sometimes it is. The older I get, the more I'm okay with that.
Reading between the lines, I share your sentiment. Early on the path, I was more fundamentalist, discarding the old for the new way of seeing. But as my wisdom matures, I'm less absolute and doctrinal and more relative, and more willing to follow my own guidance, which feels good. I've discovered no single path has all the answers to life's challenges. Cheers, brother.
Beautifully written, Ryan, and so very true! I have spent most of my working life surrounded by high end trappings of this world as a self employed housekeeper for 30 years. I clean houses that I could never afford and see objects and furnishings to match. Early on in my career I was awed and envious. But I’ve grown to realize that “stuff” doesn’t equal happiness or contentment. There is zero interest in any of it. In fact, seeing the frivolity of much of it makes me feel even more grateful for the true value I seek in purchases of things and experiences.
Ryan, thank you for this eloquent essay. At this later point in my life, I’m there at last: contentment from within. I wonder how much of this has to do with being on the other side of 50 and sensing mortality up close.
Funny, I wonder the same: How much of my contentment comes from "doing the work" versus good 'ol aging. It's a humbling thought. Happy for your contentment wherever it derives from. :)
I think it’s an important distinction. And I guess it is both/and aging and doing the work. You’re on to something beautiful: “What matters is how you relate to the content. What matters is the quality of your presence. What matters is discovering that you can foster contentment, like bringing your own weather wherever you go.” Amen.
I am so glad you linked to your 4 Kinds of Happiness article. I missed it and really love the clarity of it. Bookmarking it as something to come back to. SO simple and beautiful. A liberating insight in its own right!
Feels so good to learn that it was meaningful for you, and that you even bookmarked it! Learning these has been for me, too, which is why I wanted to share them. Grateful for your reading and commenting, my friend.
This is what life is about: noticing and appreciating the small things. We seem to get caught up in “bigger” things that don’t really bring us contentment. Thank you for saying it so well.
Good wisdom, Toni. It's as if we need to experience the dissatisfaction of the "bigger" things before we can appreciate the "smaller" things.
So well, said Ryan! I love the full circle revelation here. I think it is our tendency to go to one extreme or the other, but the truth you’ve discovered balances it perfectly. I love how you celebrate your unique design and embrace it. But I equally love That having those things in your life you love, doesn’t define who you are, what you are or your experience of life. This was a great essay! Thanks!
What an affirming comment, Wayne. I feel seen; thank you! You've been working hard, cooking up some good stuff, and I'm excited for what you're building and wishing you the very best with it.
Absolutely and Thank you Ryan! I deeply appreciate your Encouragement!
Been listening to A.H. Almaas (Hameed Ali) lately. There's a great podcast series (Deep Transformation) that dips many big toes in the deep end of his work. Anyway...
Hameed, as I understand, advocates for the importance of all the depths, from the common human experience to the depths we have yet to discover. Yes, the content matters, but only at a certain depth. There's nothing wrong with that depth. It is also important, but it's not the deepest depth of knowing.
I think I'm capturing his essential position, which is way more detailed than that. It's been a great relief to hear him speak so clearly about this, about the foolishness of denying our humanity. Spend too much time in nondualism, and this is where one lands. It feels awful, like a fundamental betrayal of something truly valuable.
We can hold many truths at one time and use wisdom to discern what's worth keeping. I also find the content is usually not it, but sometimes it is. The older I get, the more I'm okay with that.
Reading between the lines, I share your sentiment. Early on the path, I was more fundamentalist, discarding the old for the new way of seeing. But as my wisdom matures, I'm less absolute and doctrinal and more relative, and more willing to follow my own guidance, which feels good. I've discovered no single path has all the answers to life's challenges. Cheers, brother.
Yes. This is the way.
Beautifully written, Ryan, and so very true! I have spent most of my working life surrounded by high end trappings of this world as a self employed housekeeper for 30 years. I clean houses that I could never afford and see objects and furnishings to match. Early on in my career I was awed and envious. But I’ve grown to realize that “stuff” doesn’t equal happiness or contentment. There is zero interest in any of it. In fact, seeing the frivolity of much of it makes me feel even more grateful for the true value I seek in purchases of things and experiences.
That's a profound insight, Nancy. I don't know, but it sounds like witnessing such wealth over many years helped break the spell of stuff.
It definitely did. The wealthy have their own troubles and baggage that their money doesn't solve.
Ryan, thank you for this eloquent essay. At this later point in my life, I’m there at last: contentment from within. I wonder how much of this has to do with being on the other side of 50 and sensing mortality up close.
Funny, I wonder the same: How much of my contentment comes from "doing the work" versus good 'ol aging. It's a humbling thought. Happy for your contentment wherever it derives from. :)
I think it’s an important distinction. And I guess it is both/and aging and doing the work. You’re on to something beautiful: “What matters is how you relate to the content. What matters is the quality of your presence. What matters is discovering that you can foster contentment, like bringing your own weather wherever you go.” Amen.
Thank you and wishing you the same!
I am so glad you linked to your 4 Kinds of Happiness article. I missed it and really love the clarity of it. Bookmarking it as something to come back to. SO simple and beautiful. A liberating insight in its own right!
Feels so good to learn that it was meaningful for you, and that you even bookmarked it! Learning these has been for me, too, which is why I wanted to share them. Grateful for your reading and commenting, my friend.