No need for truth, just flow
Who needs the truth? What do we really need?
What was the name of that Jack Nicholson’s classic where he came up with the famous phrase “You can’t handle the truth?!!”? In this film, Tom Cruise and Demi Moore, after some exhaustive investigation, uncovered a skewed scheme within the military disciplinary system… Never mind… Yes! You’re right! That’s the movie!
What is the truth? A lifetime and more goes in searching for it. Others assure to live by it, a few swear to have died for it (if dead people could swear, they would, bear with me).
“If you found the truth dressed up, would you care to seduce it to get it to reveal herself?,” wrote a friend –Juan Laborde- in his Facebook status. My answer: “I don’t think I would care.”
Really… Do you care for the truth? I tell my friend that assuming the reveal, now the Truth wants me to go get the groceries and tend to her children… Do I really want that hassle? The truth is the eternal dance of peeling onions… the peeling of peeling onto nothingness.
Truth, reality, perfection, success, power, happiness… All nonsense, futile concepts very well defined and ingrained within a fairy tale paradigm.
What is there then? What to strive for?
Renowned writer Mikhail Csikszentmihalyi in his work Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience explored among others, human ideals such as happiness. What makes us happy? What construes human satisfaction? No, is not money, lack thereof, or the right amount. He proposes there is a fine thread -that also speaks to me. A thread that also speaks to me, the flow.
I’ve made this concept my own. My mother used to talk to me about it. There is a subtle sensation safeguarded within your solar plexus area. It goes off like a fire alarm when you find out of a hefty price tag or sense danger; it mellows to a sweet melody; it gives off warning signs for you to relocate immediately; it gives you a river of words as in trance; it provokes you to dance, to paint, to giggle… Too many times have we ignored or even gone against this esoteric (albeit chemical/hormonal) guardian angel just to regret it seconds or years to come later. This is the Flow.
Highly spiritually guided beings, people with lots of cunning, and others with keen instinct are indistinctively so because they have learned to follow the advice of this deep voice within.
Of course the masses and obscure, uneducated, undisciplined spirits find it hard to even believe the very existence of this treasured secret weapon; this spiritual/business tool, this so very vital part of our soul. The Flow is our Supreme Self embedded within our mortal finite being. The lack of flow (or our failure to act on it) is the main reason we are convinced others should tell us how to live our lives.
Now of course, you can call it what you will, is all one and beautiful same: Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, Instinct, God, Brahma, Conscience…
What does matter is that you learn to listen to it, and what’s most abide by it.
Let’s go for an everyday example.
I went to visit a friend of mine downtown for the weekend. On a Friday night, finding a parking space around his place is a true hassle, but I appreciate him very much so I go for the struggle. I drive a Dodge Caravan, so you can imagine the added aggravation of finding a legal space since I’m handling a slightly bigger vehicle.
After two hours, I finally find a tight spot. I’m good at parallel parking, so I manage to squeeze in.
In comes the cop, a policeman of all authoritative figures, strongly advising me to park in this other space, a bus stop. He explained to me that, since it was dark and no buses were running at that time, there was no risk whatsoever. County Police were not going to give me a ticket, he said.
A flare went up inside of me so bad it almost burned me. I could almost hear my flow screaming: “They are going to issue the ticket to you, not him!” But immediately I rationalized that a cop could not be steering me wrong. The flow could not be wiser than a cop.
The next morning I picked up a $75 ticket from my windshield.
I am sure you can relate dozens of stories where you had this buzz telling you to leave, and pronto, and sure enough something happened. Or better yet, words had been dictated to you for you to tell someone. Or there’s an urge that you make certain phone call… All Flow.
The Flow is the one that tells you to exercise, to listen to your body. The flow is the one that makes you doubt that that medicine is really going to do you no good. No matter what era in the history of Humanity or what generation, takes a lot of craziness, stamina, faith, and inner peace to follow one’s flow against the preconceived notions of society.
What Flow is not.
Beware, flow is not impulse or outburst. Flow is not reactive in nature… Actually it is Flow the one that holds you back for your own good… For example, you already hit her in the face but seconds ago, it was telling you to leave, to refrain. Flow tells us many times again to shut up, to look people in the eye and listen attentively.
Flow is not fear. Flow will advise to hold back but will not paralyze you. In fact, flow is pure free will… Pure free will is another misunderstood concept. Of course killing another has nothing to do with free will. Actually, killing another enslaves you to that other or others. And if you have ever had the chance to talk to an assassin or studied the mind of one, you could concur that karma is a bitch is not better proven elsewhere than with those that have killed or have destructive intentions. They are a prime example.
Yes, flow is the pure communication of free will and flow is free will. Freedom entails character. Freedom needs a solid yes and lots of no.
The little girl that allows boys to touch her private parts at their pleasure is not exerting her freedom or her flow. Flow is not rebellion or spite.
What Flow is like, feels like, lives like...
Flow is a river that streams through the ordinary events of life in full possession of its present moment. Flow allows for enjoying the here and now. Flow is neither humble nor proud. Flow is, and in this authenticity genuinely touches the spirit of others, especially if those others follow their own flow.
Flow can be funny and loves hilarious, for the greatest motivation of flow is enjoyment and self-expression. It doesn’t care much for ridicule and naturally strives to keep going. Flow is constant and energetic, and is able to enjoy moments of solitude. Observe Nature and its ups and downs, such is flow. Emotions are not in denial of flow, but flow is not guided by emotions. Emotions could be a by-product of flow. Nevertheless, flow is not the set of emotions. Flow does not dwell on the past. Flow is never bitter, flow is not emotional although it doesn’t care to show or hide emotions. Flow flows.
Flow grows from inside to guide you outside. It is my wish that one night, as you look for a parking space, go barhopping, or to church, all of a sudden you sense that inner friend advising you: “Park here!” “Go home!” or “Raise your hands and praise!”
Breath in, breath out. Look in, look out. Flow…
