Everything we experience is a made up human thought or belief.
Maybe this fascinates you, or maybe this pisses you off.
When we’re particularly attached to our human thoughts and beliefs, or when we let them define who we are, the idea that they’re made up can feel like an attack. The ego has to hold onto its thoughts and beliefs for fear of being obliterated.
If you feel a bit rankled, can you open yourself to the possibility that things and concepts only exist because we give them meaning? As a collective, people in society often make a silent agreement that they will share that meaning.
Case in point, what’s a stop sign?
a piece of metal, sometimes perched on a long skinny piece of metal
an octagonal shape
a color that we call “red”
it has some shapes on it that represent a concept — STOP
Just about all of us stop when we approach one, and they serve the purpose of keeping us safe on the road. Humans collectively agree that when we see one, we stop doing what we’re doing, usually. ?
What About the Deeper Things?
It’s pretty easy to get people to agree that a stop sign represents the thought of stopping. But what about the thoughts regarding the things we experience in life?
What it means to be a woman or a man? What it means to go to college or not? What it means if your body is heavy or slim? What is means if you’ve divorced or stayed married? Heck, what it means if you put catsup on your eggs or you don’t.
Meaning making is part of the human condition. We all do it. Our brains are wired to do it.
Our Brains are Association Making Machines
and they are very good at it! medium.com
Whether the meanings make us feel good or feel bad, they’re still made up.
The things you’re feeling bad about only make you feel bad because of what you make them mean. Your stumbles, the things you haven’t yet accomplished, the things you would do differently today become associated in your mind with who you are as a person.
The things that make us feel good are made up too. We give positive meanings to our successes, our accomplishments, and maybe even our physical appearance. These positive meanings feel great, but I still remind they’re still made up. If my career takes a side track or when my physique changes over time, what does that mean about me?
We can get personally entangled in our meanings. When meanings conflict, it affects our relationships. The whole world gets embroiled in it. ? Even on a global level, the things we’re arguing about are man made human thoughts. The world is merely reflecting the conflicts that exist within us.
Sure, our meanings feel important to us, but when we can step back and see that they’re all made up, we’re free to experience the peace and harmony that’s our true heritage.
As always, I wish you all the best!
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