Why is it so difficult?
Why is it so difficult?
“Collecting the dots. Then connecting them. And then sharing the connections with those around you. This is how a creative human works. Collecting, connecting, sharing.” ~ Amanda Palmer
I’ve been collecting, connecting and sharing dots my entire life, and a little over eight years ago the most crucial dots lit up in my mind like an asterism in the night sky.
The resultant theory of existence became glaringly clear to me, and many who’ve read my most recent book have told me that it feels intuitively right to them.
However, even though the book is written in plain language for the average reader, I continue to hear that the concepts are extremely difficult to grasp. And so I often wonder why that is and, more importantly, what to do about it (if you have ideas, let me know).
Why is a bit easier for me to imagine. I believe it’s because this new way of perceiving life is antithetical to people’s conditioning—their hypnotic “self model”—which is hyper-focused on problem-solving and goal attainment.
In addition, there are some things in life that simply cannot be cognitively grasped, despite relentless conceptualization. Instead, through deep reflection and novel experiences, they just... click! And then life grasps you.
For example, read this:
A newspaper is better than a magazine. A seashore is a better place than the street. At first it is better to run than to walk. You may have to try several times. It takes some skill but it is easy to learn. Even young children can enjoy it. Once successful, complications are minimal. Birds seldom get too close. Rain, however, soaks in very fast. Too many people doing the same thing can also cause problems. One needs lots of room. If there are no complications it can be very peaceful. A rock will serve as an anchor. If things break loose from it, however, you will not get a second chance.
It doesn’t make sense, does it? And that’s because it seems random, purposeless. The meaning is not clear; it has not revealed itself to you. But here’s the thing: Once “it” does reveal itself, once it grasps you, everything changes in an instant and life makes perfect sense. And when that happens, you’ll never be confused again.
And here’s another thing: It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in the dark. When the light comes on everything becomes clear and simple, and life becomes a wild and carefree adventure. Like flying a paper kite against the dancing summer sky (go back and read it again).
☀️ Random information for the month of September
* The average cumulus cloud weighs roughly 1.1 million pounds.
* Dogs tear up when reunited with their owners. The volume of tears secreted is linked to oxytocin, the so-called bonding hormone.
* Wild oysters truly are better in R-months. When the weather is colder, oysters are more mature, tastier, safer, and more sustainable.
* Disney has finally surpassed Netflix in overall streaming subscribers.
* A 1952 Topps baseball card of Mickey Mantle sold for $12.6 million—a record price for a piece of sports memorabilia.
* The University of Texas makes $6 million a day from oilfields. The college is close to surpassing Harvard University in endowment size.
* For the first time ever, more Americans said they smoke marijuana (16%) than tobacco cigarettes (11%) in a recent Gallup survey.
* Podcast guests are paying up to $50,000 to be on shows.
* It took 329 years to exonerate all the women condemned in the Salem witch trials. Elizabeth Johnson Jr. has finally been cleared of witchcraft.
* Research has shown that anxiety and distress about dying can be dramatically reduced by two very different but similarly intense events in life: near-death experiences or time spent under the influence of psychedelic substances.
* Domino’s Pizza quit Italy. To the surprise of no one, the US chain just couldn’t beat the pies from local shops.
* A 1970s Apple-1 computer prototype sold for nearly $700,000 at an auction. The auctioneers described it as “the holy grail of Steve Jobs and Apple memorabilia.”
* South Korean researchers developed tattoo ink that can show a patient’s vital stats when applied on their skin.
* In the future, we’ll live among the clouds. That is, if these seashell-shaped floating pods show their design promise once built.
* Embryos were created without a sperm or egg. The research may help grow replacement organs for humans in the future.
* Usain Bolt applied to trademark his signature celebration move. The retired Jamaican sprinter needs a logo for his business empire.
* This is bananas! Artists are set for court battle over who first taped fruit to a wall.
👁 Take a look
This photo tweeted by Étienne Klein, a famous French physicist, supposedly of Proxima Centauri by the James Webb Space Telescope was actually a slice of chorizo. 🤣
🤔 Think about this
“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.” ~ Carl Rogers
“We will lose everything we love, including our lives — so we might as well love without fear, for to fear a certainty is wasted energy that syphons life of aliveness.” ~ Hannah Arendt
“Most people are out of touch with reality because they confuse the world as it is, with the world as they think about it, and talk about it, and describe it.” ~ Alan Watts
☝️ And don’t forget
I’d love to hear from you. (I read all messages and try to respond.) Reach out to me with any news, questions, or comments, or simply to say hi: hello@tomasacker.com (or use the contact form).
Until next time, smile in amazement at the world!
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