Soul-Searching: It’s Useless

Before you attack me with your years of spiritual education, piles of self-improvement books you’ve studied, and self-growth coaches you’ve worked with, hear me out.

In a world where chasing our dreams, accomplishing the upcoming milestone, and innovating the next eye-catching invention is the norm, the true peace and fulfillment that we are is overlooked without us even trying to.

Naturally, we keep slogging to “achieve” something to feel that temporary validation and worthiness. Most importantly, we feel a strong sense of self. It’s an indescribable high and feeling of security, but fleeting.

Scavenging and hunting for the next source of this feeling is naturally exhausting, commonly resulting in burnout, depression, and even suicide. People resort to spiritual practices as an escape from these “undesirable” feelings. In this journey, people are now seeking “enlightenment”, “nirvana”, or “freedom” from their “current misery”. See how you’re in search of the “next thing”?

Haha, caught you.

So where is this freedom and happiness that everyone claims are dangling in front of you but cannot see at all?

If we remove the perception that whatever we’re “going through” or feeling is bad or wrong, our anxiety, worries, daydreaming, and sadness seem pretty valid, don’t you think?

It would make sense that your “human self” will feel worried, scared, or sad about certain things happening. But now, what is the thing that’s seeing your human self feeling these emotions? What’s the entity that’s just happily observing your human self frantically searching for help or relaxing after a long day at work? What isn’t pushing for your anxiety to go away, even if your human self is doing everything in your power to “feel better”?

Isn’t it just the open space around you? Isn’t it the beingness of existing? Words will never be enough to define this undefined experience.

This is probably a contemplation you have not done before. However, let’s not make it more complicated than our mind wants to make it. This understanding goes beyond the mind.

Notice the energy/being that’s watching your human self get so triggered, be in lookout mode, and feel so burdened. It’s never trying to get rid of the seeming anxiety or fear. It’s just watching. Only your human self is resisting these feelings or even this writing piece. Not your real Self, though. The real You is playfully watching you scratch your head to understand what you’re reading right now.

Haha.

This is more of an experiential understanding instead of an intellectual understanding, which is what we are typically trained to do. Even when you intellectually understand this concept, your “human self” will attach this comprehension to the feelings of accomplishment and pride.

Caught you again. 😉

In this way, “you” are always in the spotlight of the real You. This real You is the love, peace, and fulfillment you’re working so hard to find. Now that you know that what you seek is already here, watching your “human self’s” every move, you can confidently befriend and embody the peace that you are. Now that you’ve identified with the real You, you can enjoy watching your “human self”, too. You no longer have to get involved in the drama of life, but just be a spectator enjoying the experiences.

This way, you are fearless. You are secure. You are pure love.