Looking for Happiness in an Unwell World
#1 Being and Thinking
What is ‘be- ing’? It’s very simple – almost too simple; it’s just what it appears to be – it’s just be-ing – it’s the place present just before thought… a place of stillness and peace that spiritual practitioners (and philosophers) assert is who we really are – a place of grace. When we are just be-ing in the moment things come naturally….things they flow more…..If you’re an athlete and you inhabit be-ing you’re a star…if you’re unhealthy and you inhabit being – you are at peace.
Research suggests, however, that there is probably not a lot of ‘being’ in chronic fatigue syndrome. Some studies have found that the brains of people with ME/CFS have difficulty shutting off innocuous stimuli such as background noise. Other studies suggest that problems with the planning mechanisms may make it work harder to plan movement. Others suggest other neural networks aren’t working as efficiently as they should be…Findings of increased sympathetic nervous system activity (fight or flight) suggest that just ‘be-ing’ is hardly a priority. With problems such as these the grace of simply being becomes harder and harder to come by.
That’s not helped by the upsetting situations that quite naturally throws many of us into frustration, anger, sadness and fear. Since our culture places little emphasis on be-ing over time we forget about the option of just being and become our thinking; our goals, our anger, our frustration, our hopes, our sadnesses all eclipse our be-ing.. (One of the options of be-ing is forgetting about be-ing!). Then we become angry, we become sad or frustrated – and the longer and more angry, sad, frustrated we are – the more that fills up our day. Spiritual seekers say, however, that is not who we are…
We are be-ing – a place of grace and space. This blog is a journey away from thinking – a remarkably energy intensive place to be – and towards be-ing – a place of grace and space – in an unwell world.
One of the things that has helped me is drawing ‘distinctions’ – and here it is possible to draw a distinction be-ing and thinking. This allows me to draw the distinction between when I am ‘be-ing’ and when I am ‘thinking’; in general being wins out – it’s a more peaceful and happier place to be. :).
These blogs will focus on my attempt to access be-ing, so to speak, as I read different books and try different exercises.[/QUOTE]