Anyone Else Suffer From Active Laziness?
¿ALGUIEN MÁS SUFRE DE PEREZA ACTIVA?por Sif Anna Dal
Hace poco estaba leyendo un libro acerca de un muchacho quien, tras fallecer su madre en un accidente de coche, siente que necesita dar respuesta a cuestiones sobre la vida, la muerte, y el significado de la existencia. Con ese fin se pone a estudiar filosofía.
En el transcurso de la narración, el muchacho entra en contacto con “El Libro Tibetano de la Vida y la Muerte”, de Sogyal Rinpoche, y dentro de sus páginas se topa con el concepto de “pereza activa”, es decir, la necesidad de mantenernos ocupados con el fin de evitar pensar acerca de nuestra condición de seres mortales, o siquiera considerar otras cuestiones importantes, como por ejemplo qué es lo que hace que un individuo sea feliz. Dicho de otra manera: que nos resulta más fácil mantenernos distraídos que plantar cara a nuestros demonios; y para aquellos que creen que no tienen demonios que encarar, pues plantearse si de verdad están vivos.
Siempre se habla mucho de la aceleración que lleva la sociedad de hoy en día, y de cómo la gente llena su vida con innumerables actividades y distracciones. Los hábitos de consumo ocupan gran parte de esa enajenación. Rinpoche concibe todo esto como una estrategia para evitar tener que pensar sobre cuestiones existenciales: la naturaleza de la vida y la muerte; el periodo tan breve de tiempo que pasamos en este plano; cómo lo empleamos y cómo nos sentimos o transitamos mientras tanto.
La verdad es que me siento reflejada. A pesar de que tengo cuatro hijos a los que atender y criar, una licenciatura por terminar y un hogar del que encargarme procurando que todo fluya, a menudo tengo la sensación de que podría estar haciendo MÁS. Muchas veces me quejo de que no tengo energía ni tiempo suficiente para hacer MÁS. A mucha gente que conozco le pasa lo mismo: están al borde del agotamiento, pero son incapaces de reducir la actividad porque, bueno… ni siquiera saben muy bien el porqué. [...]
Reconozco que a veces me siento sola, no porque lo esté – casi nunca lo estoy – sino porque no consigo conectar con otras personas. Lo que me toca preguntarme entonces es lo siguiente: ¿es conmigo misma en realidad con quien más me cuesta conectar? ¿me resultaría más fácil conectar con otras personas si entendiera mejor lo que me pasa? ¿y en qué medida conectan realmente entre sí otras personas (…)? ¿equivale pasar el rato a conectar de verdad? ¿es equiparable estar en el mismo sitio manteniendo una conversación, a establecer un contacto genuino con la otra persona? ¿o se trata de otra forma de distracción para alejarnos de nosotros mismos?
Pienso en la energía desbocada que abunda por doquier. La encontramos donde quiera que vayamos; por ejemplo en las redes sociales. Los centros comerciales en especial están que EXPLOTAN con esa energía desbocada. ¿No creéis que el hecho de que una persona no se encuentre a gusto en un lugar tranquilo representa un problema? Si no puedes estar en una habitación simplemente al lado de otro ser humano, sin hablar, sin la tele encendida, o la radio, u otra cosa que te distraiga – el ordenador, el teléfono, un libro –… ¿de verdad puedes afirmar que sabes cómo es estar contigo mismo a la vez que estás con la otra persona?
A veces yo estoy simplemente conmigo misma y mis pensamientos; menos veces con otra persona y nuestros pensamientos.
¿Alguien más sufre de pereza activa?
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Según sus propias palabras, Sif Anna Dal “es una mamá de 41 años, con cuatro niños varones, casada con el típico ‘Marido Gruñón’, y que vive en Melbourne, Australia. Escribir es mi pasión (también la piedra en mi zapato). Hace un par de años que terminé mi máster en Escritura Creativa, y como no estoy en mis cabales, ahora me voy a meter a hacer el doctorado. Tengo una Novela de Fantasía Urbana Juvenil que espero ver publicada este año, y muchas otras historias, la mayoría de ficción minimalista con las que lleno mi blog literario, al que he llamado: “La Voz Indómita”.”
Sif Anna Dal, in her own words, is a "41 year old mum to four boys, married to an archetypical 'Grumpy Old Man' and living in Melbourne, Australia. Writing is my passion (and the thorn in my side, as well). A couple of years ago I completed a Master of Arts in Creative Writing, and - mad as I am - I'm currently working towards entering a PhD. I have a Young Adult Urban Fantasy novel I'm hoping to see published this year and many other stories, mainly flash fiction, which I churn out on my writing blog The Untamed Voice."
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you understand "Active Laziness?" Can you share a personal story of a time you became aware of your active laziness? What practice helps you to get over active laziness?
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23 Past Reflections
On Dec 3, 2014 Jyoti wrote :
Thinking is channeled, more easily to choosing what color shoes or what brand of ketchup, than to the choices about what am I doing now, who am I doing it with, what's the purpose of it all and why ?
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On Dec 2, 2014 bina wrote :
1 reply: Lfm | Post Your Reply
On Dec 2, 2014 Amy wrote :
After getting off the phone last evening with a troubled brother, my husband remarked, " if he could just find peace, all the pieces (of his life) would come together."
My brother in law is an extrovert. He thrives on the attention and praise of those around him. He will do anything to take center stage. Though this brother has experienced a lot of "physical stillness" in the past years, it has done little for him. Time alone is only good when and if thoughts are rightly (in the Light) directed. (What we put in . . . comes out) Goodness and Truth in . . . Goodness and Truth out.
My prayer that he may know the beauty of peace one day. Amen
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On Dec 2, 2014 Kristin Pedemonti wrote :
For me Active Laziness is getting lost in social media in order to feel connected. I realize I do this when I feel Disconnected. I have gotten much better most of the time at slowing down and being more in tough with what I used to deem as "negative" feelings; loneliness, sadness, anger. Now I stay with those feelings and remind myself, "this too shall pass." Meditation being mindful also help with stopping active laziness. I have also taken "crazy busy" out of my vocabulary, many seem to wear this as some sort of badge of honor. It is not. It is a disease. Here's to being balanced. Hugs from my heart to yours!
1 reply: Paashi | Post Your Reply
On Dec 2, 2014 Marilyn wrote :
What a great thing to think about. I obtained a great book years ago, and which is sitting right by me called Don't Just Do Something: Sit There by Richard Eyre. He has taken old maxims and made them new. For example: "Never put off until tomorrow that which you can do today" becomes "Always put off a put-off-able in favor of a now-or-never." His "new" maxims really nail it on the head.
Dr. Frank Kinslow has also written a great book called When Nothing Works Try Doing Nothing. Written as if you are right there with him, Dr. Kinslow will enlighten and inspire you to the joys, the possibilities, and the power of doing nothing.
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On Dec 2, 2014 Paashi wrote :
In my sixth decade the fog around constant doing is beginning to lift through accepting core faith that the human condition is evolving and yet every moment, situation, presence needs to be honored as is. One of the ways this is taking place, is mindfulness and grateful heart practice aligning when I connect with breathing as the abundant gift.
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On Dec 2, 2014 Stephanie wrote :
For me, finding time to Be is very humbling. Facing the demons and the egos can be daunting but when doing so a quiet, calm does surround me. When I allow myself the time to really let go of the whirl wind inside my mind, gain clarity of calm, to listen, and to Be, I then and only then can begin to Connect. This puts in play a motion that opens my ability to Connect with others as well. Thank you for the gift of your words and for the gentle reminder to pause and Be!
1 reply: Annette | Post Your Reply
On Dec 2, 2014 Annette wrote :
It's easy to get caught up in the junk of everyday obligations (work, family, friends, social media etc) because one can't or shouldn't ignore these things and simply sit and think for 24-7 in quietness. But there is a way to be mindful of what you're doing 24-7 and remind oneself to stop here and there for a minute (or an hour or two if you can spare it) to just stop rushing about and just Be. It is possible. It takes self discipline and awareness to just Be. But I find that I can connect with myself and others simply by being conscious of the present, by listening, by choosing my words, and just soaking in the presence of another. I can do this in person, online, on the phone, and even via my thoughts.
1 reply: Thank | Post Your Reply
On Dec 2, 2014 david doane wrote :
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On Dec 2, 2014 Darrow wrote :
I am very curious to know the title of the book you were reading, about the young man who is prompted by tragedy to explore philosophy. Are you able to tell me?
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On Dec 2, 2014 manuel rodriguez wrote :
1 reply: Blessings | Post Your Reply
On Nov 28, 2014 Amy wrote :
The paragraph following the (...) intrigues me most in this writing. "Connections" . . . "Connecting" . . . "Connectedness" (for me) is "the way" for me. I do not always seek it, it is simply what "I pick up". A vibe, an expression, a walk, a tone, an energy (or not), a difficulty, a want, a need, an injustice, a joy, a meaning . . . , my radar picks up. To protect myself, I hide. Since I am NOT God, I feel the weight of the world around me in a physical way. At one point in my life, "the intake" of these "Senses" shut me down entirely. I was no longer able to function. Ten years of stillness, and God took control. "I am God . . . let Me take your burden . . . Let Me carry you. ", He said.
In active submission, I have to do what I can do. With this big stuff, God wants me to hand in over to Him. I can't take in all I perceive. I'm so thankful for my Father. Amen.
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On Nov 28, 2014 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
I am more with myself when I am lonely. The loneliness gives me good quality time to be present to my self. To meet me, to be with me without feeling the pressure or obligation to be connected with others. I value my alone time to reflect on my self and feel the presence of people with whom I am deeply connected.This kind of deep connectedness I feel with myself and with others when we do not have time pressure. Such experiences are at times full of spontaneous laughter or when we explore some personal significant existential questions or when I am in a deep loving relationship. As I am getting older, I enjoy such time out to have time in. quiet time to be with me when the time flows like a river. This is my being zone, very different from the doing zone and the having zone.Blessed are such moments.
Jagdish P Dave
1 reply: D | Post Your Reply
On Nov 28, 2014 Abhishek wrote :
For me, 'doing' itself is worth looking into.
2 replies: Nona, Cynthia | Post Your Reply
On Nov 27, 2014 sandy wrote :
At this stage in life -stepping on 60 - I have made it a priority to make my life stress free. I am a retired teacher, rarely get into traffic, take enough time to smell the roses! Feel satisfied with my daily chores, meditation and charity involvement. So no real active laziness, just enjoying every minute grateful I can in health and growth!