No Need to #RESIST

Play is natural. Must we grow up into rigid, old, serious waddlehumps? No. We needn’t have to. What is it that creates rigid holding in our systems? Is it trauma? Is it painful life experience that hardens us? Is it a protection against the world, a distrust of life? If so, how can one work with that suffocating overprotection within one's individualized system?

Many people take on a rigid mindset in the name of service to life, yet I question here, in this article, is resistance a necessary mindset for inspiring social change?

Is it possible to reignite that quality of play, which is so natural to our human design? Could it be that play is actually the medicine that we are longing for when we feel so worn out, heavy, dull, exhausted, and tired of being alive? When we feel that something out there wants to bring us down?

How can a quality of natural play be inspired without being contrived? Could it be that play is a more effective approach in regards to social change, versus the standard approach of resistance?

My housemate from college— a brilliant architect major and my beautiful (homosexual) cuddle buddy, full of exuberance and positivity towards life— is now a very successful business man, in charge of designing the parades at Disney World. He used to tell me, when I’d ask him how he was so positive and friendly all of the time, to “Fake it ‘til you make it.” At the time, I resisted this idea. I had done this my entire life. I was in my fifth year of university, studying musical theatre, and quite frankly, I was ready to take off my mask. I was ready to not fake it any longer. I was ready to feel and to heal! So I truly understand if you are repulsed by my coming suggestion.

My suggestion, as you begin to transition from resistence mentality into creative response mentality, inspired by my dear friend, yet modified to my own liking, is this: Play with what is. When you go to express yourself, if you notice a rigidity, a defensive quality, a serious knowing, can you play with that? Can you not take yourself, your ideas, and your beliefs so seriously, so personally? Can you crack a smile, loving your beautiful layers of protection, while reminding yourself that you are, indeed, safe right now?

Because that’s what it boils down to: safety. Do you feel safe in life right now? If you don’t, you may ask yourself, “Why not?” Then listen. Is your answer in the past or future tense?

Or is your answer truly happening right now? Maybe its that you don’t feel safe by your own thoughts— maybe they are truly destructive, or terrifying, right here and right now. You can work with that. Rather, play with that.

How do you play with destructive thoughts? Well. What have you been doing? Haven’t you been shoving them away, resisting them, repulsed by them, wishing they’d go away? Or have you been drowning, swallowed up by a sense of being so small? The answer is so simple: Stop resisting and get curious.

I saw a house a few days ago that was painted, in quite classy neutral colors, as to blend into the color scheme of the rest of the house—RESIST. I also see this #resist in many social media tags, and RESIST bumper stickers. I understand that it may seem a positive action to take, to resist what you do not agree with, but what most people do not understand is that it is this very resistance that creates internal suffering, and this way of resistance is not really an action at all, it’s a mental standpoint, and it's rigid. And rigidity is not our natural state—fluidity is. Rigidity causes suffering. The Buddha spoke of resistance and its relation to suffering two thousand years ago, and it still is relevant.

Now, if your boundaries have been crossed, that is something else altogether. The crossing of boundaries—whether it has to do with your race, gender, religion, or basic human rights, or the care and protection of other species, or for our precious Earth—these issues do not actually require resistance, they requirecreative and mature response. Social change occurs when boundaries are clear, when they have been crossed, and when there is a mature and creative response.

So can social change happen without resistance? I think it can because it does. I think simply a different word choice could create a great ripple of internal change, and could have a profoundly positive effect— how about RESPOND? Or GET CREATIVE? Or CREATIVE RESPONSE? This is what a peaceful resistance movement is all about, anyway! It’s about responding, in the moment to a boundary that’s being crossed. Those who are actually creating social change aren’t really resisting, they are simply responding creatively, while honoring clear boundaries.

Resistance requires pushing against something, or two forces pulling in opposite directions. In regards to resistance, one side is required to break or collapse for change to occur. From my vantage, it appears that social change occurs in a two step process. The first step is simply the act of people coming together in a unified passionate voice, calling for awakening. The second step occurs through individuals who have been inspired by the unified field of people coming together intentionally, with the cause of boundaries crossed, responding with creativity, wisdom, play, passion, and love towards life. These people then help to organize and inspire more leaders of change, thus expanding this two step process into a circle, creating a rippled effect to an exponential degree, until the collective field agrees that change has already occurred.

Individuals who create ripples of change are not resisting life, as they are at peace with themselves and with the life that is. These individuals are responding to crossed boundaries like a great parent does—with a mature and creatively playful approach. Maybe too many of us were punished as children, and this subtle program of punishment is all that we know. I am humbly learning that effective parenting has nothing to do with punishment, and everything to do with clear boundaries and appropriately mature and creative response to boundaries crossed. As one moves into a role of greater stewardship towards humanity, other species, and our Earth, these good parenting skills are a must. Treat each other with respect. There is no enemy. Love is the foundation. Establish clear boundaries and then explore mature creative responses when these boundaries are crossed.

Can peace of mind happen without resistance? Absolutely, and that peace of mind is more powerful than you may realize. This is why I’m writing this article in the first place— as this is my creative response, inspired by the hundreds of thousands of people coming together for a unified cause, to protect and serve life.

Thousands of years of Buddhist teachings are not inaccurate. Resistance is the cause of suffering. As much as we may wish resistance alleviated suffering, (because it just feels so powerful) there is a much more effective approach. I’ll take liberty and add to the Buddha’s teaching: Play is the antidote.

The true embodiment of non-resistance would be to question myself here. Am I resisting resistance or simply suggesting an alternative? I do not feel rigid in my viewpoint. I feel playful, and yet I imagine that this quality of playfulness could come across as naïve and immature to some. I do not wish to be in disagreement, so if you are one who is rooted to the word “resistance,” you have no one to argue here. I, instead, would like to agree with you. I do agree that resistance is necessary in certain cases, such as to support a bridge. I also agree that I could be wrong. I actually am wrong, because simultaneously everything is both right and wrong, depending on where you stand. So, yes. I am wrong. Resistance is helpful from a certain vantage.

Yet, I am also right, from a certain vantage, and I am also beyond that which is right and wrong— which is the entire spiritual teaching of non-resistance. I am suggesting an approach that creates more internal peace, which then creates a life that feels good, and action that is inspired from within, rather than a reaction to something out there. I am suggesting a more intentional approach to change, because change is happening all the time, anyway. It is the nature of reality—changing, changing, changing. So while it very well may appear that social resistance and mental rigidity create change, change happens anyway.

To conclude, my article isn’t really so important. It could appear to be resistant in its own voice. Yet, it is I, from deep within my own mind, who knows that which drives me into action. And it is I who knows if my actions are intentional or not. Same goes for you! It is only you who knows that which drives you forward, and only you who knows what your intention is. So, may I ask you? What is your intention? What is your focus? That is what will manifest in your reality, through your mind, thus creating your life as you wish it to be—hard, rigid, serious, and resistant, or curious, creative, intentional, playful, and inclusive? Or a little of both, because maybe that’s a fine approach, too, if it's helping you to create a life that feels wonderful.