The End of the World
What is the end of the world to you? I mean the end of your world, the end of normalcy in your life. What would it take for you to hit rock bottom? Maybe it would be losing your job, especially if it's part of your identity or you're living paycheck to paycheck. Maybe it would be losing your friends, if you are always just waiting for the next time you will see them. For a lot of people it would be losing your family, whether it be your children, parents, or siblings. But of course, that's pretty heavy. Most people would be devasted by the loss of a family member. What is it in your everyday life that you fear losing? What would make you stop in your tracks and make all the little things seem meaningless? Your stomach drops and that little calendar in your head, with important appointments and fun plans you're excited about, all trickle down in a waterfall of paper confetti. The hands on your mental clock have shriveled up and wilted, the numbers fading. Nothing seems important next to the current crisis.
Do you live your life according to what you appreciate or what you fear? Do you have a reason for everything you do? It doesn't have to be a responsible reason, enjoyment is a valid reason too. How often do you get close to the end of your world? Is it daily? Weekly? You could have anxiety problems, or maybe you just take a lot of risks. So, should the goal be to stay as far away from the end of your world as possible? Or is life not really worth living if you don't feel just how precious it is on a regular basis? How do you know what's important if you're not afraid of losing it?
Paranoia can make you appreciate what you have. It can also go the other way, making you hold on to everything too tightly. You need the right balance and the right kind of paranoia. It's the different between being anxious-nervous or anxious-excited. It's the difference between boredom and being too busy to relax. You don't want too little emotion or too much emotion. Happiness and sadness use each other to thrive. That's why the end of your world is associated with something that makes you happy. The saddest you can be is when the happiest you can be is taken away. The happiest you can be is when the saddest you can be is over. These contrasts don't have to be juxtapositions. Sadness can creep up slowly, when happiness is far in the past and therefore seems to be far in the future. Happiness can build up slowly, when sadness is a memory and sadness in the future seems impossible. In order for happiness to feel satisfying, it must be accompanied by occasional sadness. It's counterintutive, to sprinkle the good with bad. But when you think about it, most sweet dessert recipes include salt.
Do you live your life according to what you appreciate or what you fear? Do you have a reason for everything you do? It doesn't have to be a responsible reason, enjoyment is a valid reason too. How often do you get close to the end of your world? Is it daily? Weekly? You could have anxiety problems, or maybe you just take a lot of risks. So, should the goal be to stay as far away from the end of your world as possible? Or is life not really worth living if you don't feel just how precious it is on a regular basis? How do you know what's important if you're not afraid of losing it?
Paranoia can make you appreciate what you have. It can also go the other way, making you hold on to everything too tightly. You need the right balance and the right kind of paranoia. It's the different between being anxious-nervous or anxious-excited. It's the difference between boredom and being too busy to relax. You don't want too little emotion or too much emotion. Happiness and sadness use each other to thrive. That's why the end of your world is associated with something that makes you happy. The saddest you can be is when the happiest you can be is taken away. The happiest you can be is when the saddest you can be is over. These contrasts don't have to be juxtapositions. Sadness can creep up slowly, when happiness is far in the past and therefore seems to be far in the future. Happiness can build up slowly, when sadness is a memory and sadness in the future seems impossible. In order for happiness to feel satisfying, it must be accompanied by occasional sadness. It's counterintutive, to sprinkle the good with bad. But when you think about it, most sweet dessert recipes include salt.