ThailandBound wrote:
Over the last couple of years, I guess I’ve become much more introspective. My frequent trips to Thailand have exposed me to eastern thought, Buddhism, and I could not help but take note of how generally happy the people are there. Their philosophy really is about happiness, and I’ve learned a great deal and I try to incorporate it. Here in the US, we are conditioned at an early age about such things as “what a man is”, What success looks like. How those things are VERY important. Be excellent. Don’t show weakness. Anger projects strength. And so on.
And we never really question it. We’re just kids, soaking up the culture snd what we are told. And sometimes, often, people die never having known that there might be other ways to experience “the good life” which transcends a trophy wife and a fancy car (i had both). To be able to take one’s pain and use it as an impetus for growth, curiosity about the larger world, an enhanced sense of the spiritual….maybe that’s the purpose of these struggles. Is there something to be learned? Or are we just going to keep rolling every issue of life around in our minds like it’s all just one big calculus problem? Using flawed minds to fix problems caused in the mind?
So I spend a lot of my time now reading books on the subject of spirituality, mental health, and while, in my distant past, I was a “prayer person” having grown up in the Bible belt, I find that daily meditation is much more conducive to my own mental health.
fixing our dicks is great. This has been a fascinating journey for me so far, and I’m glad I under took it. But I know it’s not the end all and be all and won’t fix everything. Nor will looking outside myself, to achievement or to material possessions, solve anything either.
for those of you, who struggle with depression, my heart goes out to you, and I would encourage you to spend some time, exploring, spirituality, and mental health, and whatever way is right for you. There’s some great books, and even some great youtube videos on these subjects.
One of my favorite youtube channels: “Your Higher Self”
Best wishes.
Agreed on the daily meditation / eastern thinking. Its really been a lifesaver for me. The quality of life, mindset, sleep, ect with daily meditation (i do 2 rounds of 15 minutes most days) is incredible even if nothing else has changed in my day-to-day life. Taoism is what i tend to drift towards.
One of the games i'm still playing is one of "traditional" american success. Its just so difficult to play in the dating game here (at least in my city) unless you are at somewhat successful by american standards. women will either not look at you, or the ones that do you wont want anything to do with (at least for me). Meditation, letting go of the self ego, ect all allow me to play the game without it causing me anxiety. I can completely let go of the "successes" in life if I fail to acquire certain things or anything at all, while also having the energy to chase it without it affecting me mentally.
