Vortex

Feelings are what we are pursuing. We want to ‘feel’ being in love. What is the point of being in love when there is no such feeling? We want to ‘feel’ like we are moving towards a better tomorrow. If we are but there is no such feeling, we will be discouraged, which is a negative feeling. We want to ‘feel’ successful when we have reached the other side but if we do not feel so, then being on the other side is as good as being at the starting point.

Feelings may be misleading because when we maintain a totally both rational and objective mindset, we may not be as successful as we ‘feel’ ourselves to be. Feelings may make us ‘feel’ like there is advancement but the progress may not be as huge as we ‘feel’ it is. The disparity between perception (feelings) and reality has to be closed.

Feelings may distort an objective view but they are important in keeping someone going. Everyone wants to ‘feel’ like he or she is improving. Nobody likes to ‘feel’ stagnant. But most of the time, people fall into the cycle of ‘motivated’ feelings which do not produce any result. Day by day, they are doing unproductive things but their feelings hoodwink that they are doing something.

Some humdrum activities, usually routines, may not bring much excitement or motivation. As one drags himself dreadfully through the chore, he may feel as though nothing is being done but in actuality, something is getting done, somewhere. The feelings may only come when the results show, after a long time. Sadly, people are not robots. They must feed on feelings of empowerment in order to move on. When the source of motivation or feelings is cut off, the action will grind to a halt.

Yet, most successful people are cyborgs. They do not need feelings as fuel to advance. They can endure monotonous routines which do not grant them immediate satisfaction or even long-term gratification. I would say that they gain another kind of satisfaction from the ability to ‘just do it’ without any motivation.

But what is the point of pumping iron in the gym everyday? It does not give you instant results and even when you do become a macho man one day, what is the point? Unless one is going for a bodybuilding competition and decides to win it, bodybuilding is meaningless. Yet, some naively hang onto the idea that a better body is the secret to seduction. Of course, a sexy physique can hold attraction for the opposite sex but to just hit the gym for this reason? Come on!

The world has been designed like a labyrinth. One is bound to fall into all sorts of traps, usually mental and emotional ones, very easily. And usually, the traps ‘have been’ set by yourself. The key is not to prevent from falling into these traps; the key is the speed of getting out of them. People will tend to fall into the same traps because they will come in different forms. In this sense, nobody can be purely enlightened. The Buddha had posited himself at a mental spot which was safest from all types of threats such as desires and hatred. His position was connected with a greater force in which a constant reminder is embedded.

So, is my blog a trap? Or is it a trap to think that this is a trap?