Art is the elimination of the
unnecessary.
(Picasso)
Sensible
'Sensible' is an awareness skill, a perceptual ability.
It suggests good judgement.
A sensible person evaluates the situation and determines the most appropriate
course of action.
There is nothing 'stiff' or 'square' about being sensible.
A sensible person budgets their income, lives modestly, pays their mortgage on
time and avoids debt.
They are careful and practical.
Fear
Seriousness is not the same as being sensible. Sensible may be considered
good sense. 'Serious' is altogether different.
Serious words: grave, important, earnest, weighty, critical, giving cause for
apprehension, sincere, complex, expert, substantial, of considerable scope.
There is something oppressive about seriousness. It has an undertone of anxiety,
of fear...
In modern culture we are encouraged to treat almost everything seriously, and we
are permitted few mistakes.
If the mortgage is not paid on time, you lose the property.
If you do not perform so well at work, someone else will take your job.
If you are not a good partner, you will find yourself alone.
There are constant, subtle pressures placed upon us all the time. Society has
become unforgiving.
We are told that a mistake can cost you everything.
These pressures cause anxiety and fear. Stress.
When we feel to be in danger, our stress-levels increase. Our bodies
get ready to act. Fight-or-flight is provoked...
Too serious?
Children are not burdened by the responsibilities of adulthood.
Someone else worries for them.
It is easy to be carefree when your actions seldom have real consequences.
This has become particularly true in modern society, where parents permit their
children a remarkable degree of leeway.
It seems unsurprising that adults are serious. They cannot simply shed their
commitments and become child-like again.
But we can do something...
How many of our responsibilities can be dealt with by being sensible, rather
than serious?
Seriousness often involves emotion. Being sensible does not.
The problem with being serious is that not many situations are all that
serious.
We are not at risk all the time.
Sensible, not serious
Can you trim down your degree of seriousness?
Look at your life and consider the constituent parts.
How much can be dealt with by using a little common sense, foresight and
patience?
Do you really need to become anxious?
Fear is often prompted by the unknown, by the prospect of unforeseen
consequences.
Can we act more slowly, more thoroughly, more thoughtfully?
Is it possible to make yourself less exposed, less vulnerable?
We are all prey to the unexpected. This cannot be avoided.
But we can walk through life a little more calmly.
Aim to be sensible rather than serious.
See if you can pare away 'serious' matters in your life. Re-categorise things.
Re-evaluate them.
Can you
laugh at life?
Pretty soon, you may find yourself taking life a little less seriously. You may
also come to take yourself far less seriously too.
Page created 5 March 2005