The Art of Letting Things Alone

in #life6 years ago (edited)

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What makes things work on their own is natural, simple, and beautiful aspect of life. It's a sophisticated aesthetic present in all things, it just takes a good eye to notice them and an even more sturdy character to embrace its fullest potential. You could say the things that are allowed to work on their own make up the spontaneous, vernacular order—the things that can only grow and function if we don't interfere. This is indeed an art that needs to be practiced, studied and experienced, as it comes easy for us to neglect it in favor of trying to impose our thoughts which our overused, rational mind, convinces ourselves is best approach.

The history of State intervention is burdened by unintended consequences of taking swift action; and if things were just left to mere chance, having the awareness that often times not doing anything has better results in the long run, blowback wouldn't be an issue. Adversaries and the controllers will eventually either destroy themselves or realize it's a better idea to stop perpetrating violence. You can survey examples scattered throughout history particular during conflicts and warfare. Take the case of Russian general Kutuzov during the Napoleonic Wars; he was famous for not taking any direct action, snoozing off during staff meetings and irritating his subordinates, though as a result he led his men through victory against a determined Napoleon by not engaging, knowing that the French Army would eventually self-destruct—he let it alone.

Political and other types of social organizing are obvious examples of where letting the vernacular order take its course leads to optimal results; but these are just externals, letting your own mind and actions "go with the flow" in all forms, is even more crucial for personal development. Out of all emotions, especially in the development of civilization, laughter is one which is highly overlooked. Using laughter as an antidote against the stresses and ignorance of the world is what made people like Socrates, Rabelais, and Diogenes find wisdom where others have been lost amidst the noise. It's typical for our minds to take things seriously and literally, usually taking for granted the reality that much of what we know operates under faulty capacities of the mind.

Neurology has identified that our brains are made up of two hemispheres: the right and left side. The left side, which is believed to be the more dominant one in the majority of humans, is responsible for analytical judgements, logic, categorizations, and the obsession with labels. On the other hand, the right side is the more creative, holistic, half and is the necessary component to sustain an ability to let things alone. It's the part which might be overlooked and even feared by most, as it's often ephemeral where we only get a short glimpse of its capabilities, although it's integral for a fully functioning and aware human being.

Even my post and the general activity of writing, trying to put my thoughts into words, which is rather a codifying process of thinking, I strive to let it alone; it's very likely I will purposefully try to forget about what I write after I complete it. Let your non-sequential, intuitive, right side of the brain do the work and try not to get caught up by your conscious intellect telling you what is accurate or correct. Ironically, you might find that by doing this you get an even more profound sense of understanding then you would by actively seeking it.

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No wonder I prefer to hide out alone in the most remote part of Big Island and in my room. Quiet and alone-ness is super important to keeping sanity.

Definitely, I don't see why anyone would disagree!

laissez faire, laissez passer, I liked that philosophy since I understood it. Many times people believe that the espotaneo order is about being totally adrift and doing nothing, as if the matter were not given importance, and it is just the opposite, it is to grant its just importance, but understanding that the best thing is not Do nothing. I like to apply this idea in the social aspect, and also to personally, although without a doubt, the latter is much more difficult, letting things happen in their natural order becomes difficult, when it affects us personally and directly.

Intriguingly, letting things alone doesn't come "naturally" even though it is natural. This sayss a lot about the condition of our minds.