Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           Becausethere’saninfiniteamountofthingswecannowseeorknow,therearealsoaninfinitenumberofwayswecandiscoverthatwedon’tmeasureup,thatwe’renotgoodenough,thatthingsaren’tasgreatastheycouldbe.Andthisripsusapartinside.

           Becausehere’sthethingthat’swrongwithallofthe“HowtoBeHappy”shitthat’sbeensharedeightmilliontimesonFacebookinthepastfewyears—here’swhatnobodyrealizesaboutallofthiscrap:

           Thedesireformorepositiveexperienceisitselfanegativeexperience.And,paradoxically,theacceptanceofone’snegativeexperienceisitselfapositiveexperience.

           Thisisatotalmind-fuck.SoI’llgiveyouaminutetounpretzelyourbrainandmaybereadthatagain:Wantingpositiveexperienceisanegativeexperience;acceptingnegativeexperienceisapositiveexperience.It’swhatthephilosopherAlanWattsusedtorefertoas“thebackwardslaw”—theideathatthemoreyoupursuefeelingbetterallthetime,thelesssatisfiedyoubecome,aspursuingsomethingonlyreinforcesthefactthatyoulackitinthefirstplace.Themoreyoudesperatelywanttoberich,themorepoorandunworthyyoufeel,regardlessofhowmuchmoneyyouactuallymake.Themoreyoudesperatelywanttobesexyanddesired,theuglieryoucometoseeyourself,regardlessofyouractualphysicalappearance.Themoreyoudesperatelywanttobehappyandloved,thelonelierandmoreafraidyoubecome,regardlessofthosewhosurroundyou.