Everything Is OK
- Bad news: the world is not OK.
- Good news: everything is OK, anyhow.
On a personal level – everything is definitely OK. If you are ever so lucky to feel this in your bones, and lose it, don’t worry, you’ll find it again and again. If you’ve never felt this, you most certainly can. The sun exists no matter how many clouds in the sky…
There is no magic that can un-f*ck the world. But it is possible to drastically shape your relationship with it, and what you *need* from it. And hopefully, liberate you to be in peace. In a way, today is utopia.
“Am I happy? Yes I’m happy.
Ram Dass – Keep Your Heart Open in Hell
Am I sad? Yes I’m sad.
I am both happy and sad for myriad reasons.
As long as you try to stay in the world of polarities … happy-sad, dark-light, positive-negative, good-evil … you cannot experience the richness that lies just behind the two.”
This website explores life, happiness, meaninglessness, reality, identity, expectations, self-deception, awe, work, physical health, expression, feeling stuck, and freedom. [i]
To save you time: If your dream is to win money, fame, admiration, status, sex, stuff, yadda… this can’t help. Aspirations and joy are great – but infatuation with shallow goals is a recipe for misery. Sorry.
If you’re in pain, anxious, or hopeless, please watch this first.
Quick Test: Are you Sarah, or Tom?
The date is January 1, 2024. One year ago, two people, Sarah and Tom, stumbled upon this while searching for help.
Sarah
Sarah has since quit the job she didn’t like, left a relationship that was terrible, moved out of the city to be closer to nature, started playing piano (a hobby she’s wanted to try for 20 years), and is training to run the Boston Marathon.
Tom
Tom, frantically scrolled through the resource in about 15 seconds. His mind was in lizard mode – his eyes darting around trying to spot an easy fix for his psychological pain.
Protect Yourself
Human beings have two fundamental vulnerabilities.
The first vulnerability is our own mind and emotions. The second vulnerability is how our environment manipulates us with ideas.
These two vulnerabilities are the root of all our problems.
Your Body Can Help
“Get your body working… exercise, diet, and sleeping, that will take care of 85% of your problems.”
Phil Stutz, MD
We – Don’t – Know!
“There is a plague on man,“ says Montaigne: “the opinion that he knows something.”
Batchelor, Stephen. The Art of Solitude (p. 123)
The truth is, we don’t know. Nobody does. So don’t worry too much.
- Cautions
- Exploring
- ART!
- Awakening
- Consciousness
- Culture and Society
- Expression
- Fitness
- Forgiveness
- Free Will
- Global Crises and Risks
- History
- Human Potential
- Inherent Brokenness
- Me
- Meaning
- Microdosing
- Mindfulness
- Minimalism
- Morality
- NOW
- Nutrition
- Optimism
- Psychedelics
- Running
- Sincerity
- Solitude
- Spirituality
- Travel
- Wellness
- Wisdom
- Photography
- Poetry
- Truths
- _Other
Wall of comments:
(leave a comment anywhere, your questions and ideas may help other people too)
I’ve had most of these feelings and notions all my life. I see the figures in the sky’s. That is…
Hey Andrew, good to chat again. Your comment is generous and astute. I am resolving some internal tension… I am…
Good to see you back. Have you considered helping people professionally? Not that I know what that entails or whether…
Hi there, a short message from a dude who lives in NL. I found your website last year when I…
Appreciate the comments Todd – thanks very much – happy to hear this accomplished for you exactly what I hope…
I would also be incredibly sad if I didn’t get to share with you, on your final post, just how…
hello, thank you for your thoughts! I do have many… this may be all over the place. it’s interesting -…
Thanks very much for this note. And yes, I know there is so much noise “out there” – whether on…
Last weekend I attended an outdoor jazz concert. Jazz to me is the ultimate genre – musicians train for decades…
You’re not alone! Amazing clip from the concert. Thank you for sharing.
Hello! Thank you for sharing your insights. Love the way the essays are laid out. I find it comforting to…
It would be remiss of me to not comment on this “final” post. I will be forever grateful for your…
So great to hear. Your comment led me to revisit that one. It encapsulates so much. (https://anti-rebel.org/there-are-two-parts-to-me/) Wonderful to hear…
I thought of you today, your story about your friend with two parts, I even wrote about it in my…
Great writing style!
Absolutely. Please let me know if I can help further.
13 responses to “Everything Is OK ☯️”
I have the bipolar disorder I have no friends I’m scared to actually let someone into my life due to I’ve been done wrong way to many times I feel lonely and sad yo say this I have felt suicide thoughts like you said what if
Hi my friend. I am very very sorry you have thoughts of suicide. I feel you with all my heart. Please call 1-800-273-8255 – someone will definitely be able to help you right away.
Hey I’m 16 and bipolar with anger issues and depression and I’m genuinely unhappy and I don’t know why im not I don’t know if I’m lonley, dont feel loved or jus unsatisfied I don’t know what I’m gonna do with the rest of my life but I’m gonna figure it out I hope for the best for anyone that looks at this comment thank you god bless
Hey there. I hear you, I feel you. I am at least one person on the planet who is paying attention to what you say right now – and appreciates that loneliness can feel like the worst thing. So for starters, I hope that helps you feel less alone. Please do check out all of the resources on this page, and if you don’t find anything that helps, contact me and I’ll help you look for more. There is no magic overnight fix for anyone’s problems, but if you can try carefully to notice your own thoughts, over time, it can make an unbelievable difference in your life. Hope to hear soon my friend.
I’m sorry you feel that way. I’ve been feeling the same way. God bless you too. I’m Christian too and feel that way alot. It’s no good. Especially for relationships. turn to God for help and He will help you. 🙂 also talking to other people who are close to you may help.
Hi I’m also bi polar… feeling hopeless.. afraid of my future. thinking of moving out of my hometown sometime next year. I need to follow my heart but stepping outside my comfort zone is so scary. I just want to live a simple life. I need to find peace.
Hi Carmen. Thanks for taking the time to read this and say hi.
Living a simple life is an absolutely beautiful goal. And from personal experience I know it is possible! Living “in the moment”, means trying not to worry too much about the future, or the past. If you can up each day and find simple joy in being alive, that is it! That is the greatest treasure (to me). But hey, I know it can be hard to feel this. Please explore all the material here, and if you still are looking for pointers, please reach out, I would be happy to listen and give you ideas. Good luck Carmen, I believe you will find your simple life. In some sense, you might already be living it, right NOW 🙂 It’s a matter of noticing.
All I can say is thank you. Like most people, I have just had enough of everyday life and I reached a breaking point…again. I just googled “I feel stuck” and came across this blog. The words “everything is ok” made me feel instantly better. It’s what I needed. And then the whole blog itself because I kept reading and became calmer. Thank you for creating this. I don’t know who you are but thank you so much.
Really moved me to read this … since that is my best hope, that these words can find people at exactly the time they need it. Really wishing you the best – I know it is possible to feel stuck, but then discover great joy in the simplicity of life. Please, feel free to reach out any time.
Hello!
I want to share my story. I am 19 years old girl who studies in med school.Every day I push myself not to give up but I always end up with crying all night. I do not know my interests, have no idea if medicine is right for me but at the same time I do not know what other profession is suitable for me. I think i have lost my life and just wish to dissapear. Can you give me any advice? what should i do to know what i want in life?
Nice to meet you Mariam. Med school at 19, huh? There is probably so much to your story I don’t know or understand. But I will say, you have SO MUCH TIME to step back and find peace before you climb mountains. Medicine is a beautiful aspiration, but at the same time, nobody should consume themselves in a journey unless they really understand their reasons. Yes of course, some journeys in life are insanely hard and worth pursuing, but underneath that, we need some sense of peace and wellbeing. I would seriously try meditation and journaling, to sit and understand with your feelings, emotions, and anxieties. Some periods of silence (even if only 20 minutes per day) are hugely beneficial. Make some space for yourself to do this. This reflective time is precious, and will help you feel good about your journey when you are back climbing the mountain again (either medicine, or something else). Please feel free to reach out to discuss more here or on the side.
Hey, thank you man. This helped a little. It’s absolutely terrifying to feel like this (it’s been over 6months of feeling like this)
Absolutely. Please let me know if I can help further.