Silent Struggles & Inner Demons
December 28, 2008 by ScottyDoo
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 2 months since I’ve written a post. I’ve published a few things after my last one, but nothing that was written by me. There are times that I post articles and links because I truly want to share something that I enjoyed, but I think at times I do that as an excuse to avoid writing. Does that make sense? I feel like I should write something, but I feel like I can’t write anything. I think it’s just a way for me to avoid confronting thoughts that plague me.
I don’t really know where to start at the moment, so please forgive me if I ramble and bounce around. My head is VERY dissorganized right now.
After I took my vows in October, I felt on top of the world. My life had purpose and direction again. As time passed the excitement faded and I was back in my normal rut. How could that be? What changed? I think it comes down to the fact that nothing actually did change. You can make vows all you want, but if you don’t live them and you don’t practice everyday, then it doesn’t really matter. So when I say that nothing changed, it’s because something needed to change, but didn’t.
I have never been good about keeping routines. What’s funny is that I actually enjoy repititious, routine work. It doesn’t bother me. I like the familiarity, knowing what is coming next and not worrying about what to do. (the house lights dim, and the curtain is lowered.)
(Scott has an epiphany and suddenly the house lights are on again and the curtain is raised)
Okay, so I just realized something. I know why I like repitious and routine work.
I like that kind of work because it doesn’t require me to have to expand outside my comfort zone. It doesn’t require me to work past my issues and push beyond my fears. I like that kind of work because I’m afraid. I am afraid of failure. I am afraid of success. I am afraid that I will never be good enough. I am afraid that if I do too well at something then I will be required to do more when I already feel overloaded. I am afraid that if I fail, no one will love me.
I actually believe everything I think.
I love moments like this, because everything seems so clear. What I hate however is that 5 minutes later I’ve left the moment and fall back into my delusions and habitual patterns. I have these moments of clarity and I feel like I can see the naked truth. I see it and say “well of course, it all makes sense now” and the next moment I say “oh, well that’s too bad, I guess I’ll never change. I just don’t know what to do.”
What the hell is my problem?
Why is it that I can analyze a situation and see the solution, or even have someone hand me the solution…but then I drop the ball and do nothing? I truly baffle myself sometimes, and I know I baffle my wife. She frequently says to me, “You know what you have to do to change things, why don’t you just stop thinking so much and do it?”. That’s a valid question, right? What is my answer you ask? Well, my asnwer is this, “I don’t know”. The thing is though, that I do know. Deep down, or maybe even not that deep down, I do know. I believe that. I know that all the answers to my questions lie within myself, but why can’t I seem to find them? Maybe I have found them, but don’t recognize them. Maybe I see the answers, but don’t like them so I delude myself into thinking that I don’t know so that I can continue my habitual pattern of avoidance.
SHAZBOT! (he screams into the night sky)
I seriously piss myself off sometimes. I go in circles like this over and over and over again, never doing anything different, but expecting different results. Is that not the definition of insanity? (atleast according to Einstein).
I feel so stuck, yet no one can get me out of the rut by myself.
Great, now my head hurts…but thanks for listening.


fw on Mon, 29th Dec 2008 4:53 am
You’re welcome for listening. I think we can all relate to the struggle you write of here. At least I know I can relate….
But don’t believe everything you think.
Peace
greenfrog on Mon, 29th Dec 2008 2:39 pm
This minute is the one that matters. All the past is just karma. We can’t avoid it. It will play as it plays.
But to borrow an instruction from the New Testament: watch.
Laurie on Sun, 4th Jan 2009 4:08 pm
I so relate. I love those a-ha moments and times of clarity, but they are very elusive. It appears that we aren’t changing, and growing – but in actuality, what is happening is that the mind-state IS changing constantly, moving us forward and back and sideways. I’ve had my own frustrations with samsara – and I’ve learned that my desire for more structure and self-discipline is actually a grasping for permanence that doesn’t actually exist.
Given what’s been going on for you this month, I’d say it’s pretty normal to get frustrated and/or go back to a comfortable pattern.
Best thoughts to you…
Jessica on Wed, 7th Jan 2009 12:14 am
Hey Scott, I just had the inspiration to visit your blog and discovered this beautiful writing. I say “beautiful” writing because you have captured the irritable anguish of what it is like being “stuck.” Something I am sure we have all felt at one time or another.
If you were pregnant, I think a midwife would call this stage you are in “transition.” That’s the moment in labour were a woman can vomit or empty “all the tanks.” She hunkers down and starts to respond to a deeper instinct. And her voice changes — you can really hear that “transition” has started by her change in voice and power behind the sounds. SHAZBOT!! is as good a phrase as any for this moment; and transition is where the “rubber hits the road” and true progress gets made. Its not pretty work but it is ancient, powerful, mysterious and elegant in a primordial way.
I missed reading what kind of vows you took, but maybe that was earlier in the “birth” of yourself. Maybe now you are serious about change and willing to motor through “transition.” I think there are two rules about transition: (1) you will be tested to the limit of your capacity and not one bit more, and (2) it will have a glorious finish – a beautiful birth of a Self.
So I am sending along my compassion for you in this stage you are in and my best wishes for something new and wondrous soon may be in your life.
with blessings
Jessica
Tobiah on Sun, 1st Feb 2009 4:03 pm
Tobiah here from Treeleaf… just wanna echo that you are not alone in these troubles of the mind- sounds very familiar. One thing I’ve found though: as I’ve started seriously dedicating time and energy to zazen and study, these episodes of mine (I call ‘em self-hate sessions) are getting easier to put aside. I’m learning to accept myself and look for creative (and usually simple) ways to change myself from the inside.
See ya in the zendo-
Tobiah (gassho)