Comments on: Why Life Should Be Effortless

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:34:43 +0000

Good article!
I have one slight problem..you attributed the survival of the fittest quote to darwin. While yes that is how natural selection works, it was actually an economist who came up w/ that phrase before Darwin wrote the Origin of Species. It only later came to be associated w/ evolution. Also, Darwin actually agreed with what you say about cooperation. He says that sympathy is the greatest moral virtue humans have; that we naturally take care of each other within our own little groups, and the only thing stopping us from extending that to our fellow humans in other groups are arbitrary boundaries (borders, religion, etc).
I just wanted to mention that…I guess you could say that indeed our tendencies to act how we do is unnatural
Great article!

By: CG Walters

CG Walters — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:54:49 +0000

Wonderful, Michael!! Thank you!

Tao Te Ching, verse 43:
Water overcomes the stone;
Without substance it requires no opening;
This is the benefit of taking no action.

blessings to you and all you hold dear,
CG

By: Michael Miles

Michael Miles — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 03:00:09 +0000

You make the point perfectly.

By: Oza Meilleur

Oza Meilleur — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:14:07 +0000

Brilliant!

Merci beaucoup

By: Jennifer Ryan @ I Choose Change

Jennifer Ryan @ I Choose Change — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:23:25 +0000

Great post! And after reading some of the comments too, I wanted to make a point of distinction. Your life experience CAN be lived in the flow of life. Effort may look like effort to others, but to the person who is in the flow, there is no effort at all.

I am, without a doubt, a Type A personality. My closest friends will say I never slow down, I’m always creating, doing something, and working. And I am honestly in AMAZEMENT at their conclusion. My life *is* effortless. Living in the flow of life, following what feels intuitive and purposeful, is when you are putting forth incredible effort toward what is meant to be for YOU, and without much effort at all. That’s the distinction!

I suppose the point is – if you’re putting in a lot of effort and feel unbalanced, that’s a sure sign that you AREN’T living in the flow, and are in need of redirection.

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:20:27 +0000

Ah, yes, grasshopper, in a perfect world all would be effortless. There would only be the sound of one hand clapping. Unfortunately its not perfect. That is why we have two (hands).

By: Elm

Elm — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:50:33 +0000

Another great article – I felt so calm just reading it. Once again thank you for sharing your insights and lighting the path for others.

By: MissKitty2

MissKitty2 — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 04:53:22 +0000

Every article that I’ve read of yours so far is written so plain, clear and right to the point, with always food for thought…I enjoy your writings immensely…Thank you!!!

By: Stephen Martile

Stephen Martile — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:41:04 +0000

Great Taoist story -

This reminds me of another story. You may have heard it – it’s about this that is struggling to penetrate the glass of a window. His consistent struggle is near-death and his actions are screaming, “try harder.”

The fly persists but to no end. You see just 10 feet away there is a door to the outside; a door to the other side of that window.

The “try harder” philosophy is what keeps people caught in the rat race.

I like the way Price Pritchett said it:

“Trying harder” isn’t necessarily the solution to achieving more. It may not offer any real promise for getting what you want out of life. Sometimes, in fact, it’s a big part of the problem.

If you stake your hopes for a breakthrough on trying harder than ever, you may kill your chances of success.

By: Bamboo Forest - PunIntended

Bamboo Forest - PunIntended — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:08:43 +0000

I like this article a lot… Lot’s of good stuff here, but I have to disagree with this:

“Our thinking mind is to be subordinated to our intuition.”

The reality is that our intuition often leads us into a lot of trouble. It is the analytical mind that is more likely to be objective instead of emotional.

The effort to be objective is furthered more by using the intellect than by relying on our own intuition.

So, it is our thinking mind that should dictate our actions… not our whims.