Are You Really Calling The Shots?

We think we make decisions but we don’t. Things happen to us. We passively allow events to take place and then set about retrospectively constructing the rationale which, in an ideal world, would have initiated the event in the first place. But it’s too late; it’s not a decision any more. It’s a retroactive justification we concoct to placate and delude ourselves into thinking we’re in control. The world hurls garbage of one kind or another at us in the creation of most of which we have been utterly complicit and as a consequence are powerless to influence or abate in any meaningful way.

People allow all manner of stuff to happen that if properly analysed they would not. We are essentially lazy, we don’t want to expend too much mental effort figuring out if things are right or appropriate for us so we allow events to unfold unfettered. We permit our lives to string out into a sequence of uncontrolled incidents. This is probably why there is so much unhappiness around. People get married who shouldn’t, people have children who shouldn’t, people move to the country who shouldn’t, people get credit cards who shouldn't, people buy ponies who shouldn't. These revelations arrive too late, with the insight which the experience itself provides.

It seems that if people were more reflective and contemplative we would all find ourselves better off. If everyone used and honed their capacity for analysis and premeditation a lot of unhappy outcomes could be avoided. Is this it, is this the summation of all our problems - we are too lazy and shallow. Could it possibly be that simple?

And of course we all know those who have managed to suit themselves and wonder where the savvy comes from. The answer, of course, can be found within the concept of reincarnation. On the evidence that I have seen it seems it may take a couple of attempts to become good at life. So as you look at the beautiful ones, the ones who have managed to manipulate all the forces around them to their own ends console yourself with the knowledge that they are probably on their second or third circuit. Buried deep within their subconscious are all the lessons of previous human lives lived unsatisfactorily, notes to self.

Most of us used to be badgers or llamas or iguanas, that’s why we still don’t get it. Maybe next time round.