Thoughts of a Mad Man

Smoking Mirror

I found an inspiring blog prompt used in "Invalid Entry" , and I wanted to give my own thoughts on this quote.





“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Ralph Waldo Emerson








The future and the past have no relevance on our day to day feelings, emotions, or character. Yes, I can track back to where I've gotten ideas or learned habits. I continue to plague myself with habits and traits that I learned in second grade — habits which define me. I worry about running out of money, and that derails my plans (even when it should not.) Yet though I blame them on the past or future, no time-machine is involved.





Instead, the trouble is remembrance and intention.





I remember the despair I felt at ever finishing my work, at ever getting any reward. I remember the decision that, although it would never be good enough, I had to take my rest now, rather than later. And I remember most of all, the fact that life seems to have borne out my beliefs.





But the fact that these things happened is not responsible for my decision to be loyal to a past that doesn't serve me. It's no reason for clinging to non sequitir beliefs that don't serve me. The past doesn't jump out and get me. It's thoughts. I don't control them, exactly, but they do respond to my wishes.