I just don't get it!

by Paul Smetana
(Wollongong - Australia)

I just don’t get it!

When I’m in my feel good mood, there’s no better place to be, and my life is better in so many ways. But oddly enough when I’m unhappy, I annoyingly resist changing to the good mood. It’s like I’m almost happy to be unhappy. And that refusal to shift, I just don’t get!

It’s true that there are countless explanations for this. For instance, the Course in Miracles talks about two separate Minds.

The first is called the Ego mind, and like our usual understanding , the Ego operates from fear and ignorance, and puffs us up with bravado and pride.

Then there is the Mind of the holy spirit. This is not the religious idea that you might possibly have jumped to, but a much larger concept, like where our minds are shared with a much larger mind, kind of like the idea of The collective unconscious, except that this collective is conscious.

Now putting it together; feeling good is symptomatic of being in the conscious collective mind, and feeling bad is part of being in the Ego mind.

Each mind state thinks it lives in the real world. Each of the two feelings (happy/unhappy), proves which truth we live in. And each mind is resistant to leaving the real world, to go and inhabit a false one.

Look I hope this all makes sense to you,and I apologise if it doesn't, (I tried). Frustratingly even though it makes sense to me, I still struggle with the resistance to be in a good mood, and I still don't know why. One of the mysteries of life, I suppose. Don't you just hate that?

Anyway, later that night my wife thought the resistance may be due to Power, and it did seem sort of right, although something was still missing.

In the shower this morning, I thought of a Buddhist friend who in my imagination, would say the struggle is because of attachment. A lovely idea, But attached to what? And then I got it, ... Attachment to benefit!

So what possible benefit is there in being unhappy? Being unhappy, very strangely, gives access to feeling secure.

Usually when unhappy, we go into ourselves. It’s like hiding out in a cave. It’s somehow safe there, comforted by the very narrow focus of attention on our unhappiness, like a mantra.

It’s hard to leave this warm, seemingly safe but slightly damp cave. But I’ll tell you that security is better found in happiness.

Happiness allows a release from that self obsessed self focus, and lets the world in, and it feels save to embrace the world in this way. It really does!

Yet mysteriously, the resistance to shift from unhappy to happy remains. Maybe it gets easier over time. We’ll just have to wait and see! I’m happy about that!

About the Author: Paul Smetana writes about the Simple Secrets of Being Touched by Life, How you can finally take control of your destiny, and the simple reason most people fail.
In Aged Care for 30 years, he has discovered How our most successful Elders Attained “A Life worth Living”. One Brimming with vitality and Joy. And how easily you can too, without waiting any longer.
For Instant Access to more Articles, e-books, and Resources on Living your best Life, Visit www.betouchedbylife.com