“Truth is completely spontaneous. Lies have to be taught.”
R. Buckminster Fuller, Sunbeams (Page 23)
Beyond the Quote (Day 387)
I suspect that most people overthink the act of being—and it’s easy to see why. Think about everything that we’re exposed to on a daily basis. All of the advertisements, the images, the messages, the conversations—and think about how each of them communicate a different way of being. You can be the person who does this; who buys that; who believes this; who supports that; who interacts here; who chooses to go there; who speaks up about this; who follows people like that; who dresses like this; who spends their time doing that… the possibilities for becoming are, quite literally, endless.
And then we’re hit with a phrase like, “Just be yourself.” And while the advice is sound, it almost feels unhelpful because of how convoluted the situation is. It’s like, “Okay, great, but who even am I?” And why wouldn’t that be the immediate response? How to know for sure? There’s so much information to process. There’s so much influence to sort through. There’s so much crap to remember. And it’s not like the incoming information is slowing down—if anything, it’s constantly speeding up! It can feel overwhelming, exhausting, and frustrating. And so we continue to allow ourselves to be manipulated by what we’re exposed to, carry on trying to remember everything we can, and proceed to act despite knowing who we really are.
But, what if “being” isn’t about a presence of more worldly influences? What if “being” is actually about an absence of them? What the Fuller quote suggests above is that truth—your truth—will flow from you completely spontaneously. There is nothing to remember, nothing to learn, and nothing to figure out. It’s everything that we’re manipulated to do that embodies the fake; everything that we force ourselves to remember that makes up the facade; everything that we’re constantly layering over ourselves that becomes the mask.
The way of “being,” therefore, shouldn’t be thought of as an accumulation of, but a stripping away of. It’s a peeling back of all the extraneous layers of muck that have been accumulating over your authentic way of being since you were a young child. At your core—under all of the advertisements, peer pressure, media influences, etc—lies who you really are. And the further you deviate from that self, the more you’ll find your mind running—to remember, to keep track of, to impress. Being is freedom from thought. It’s the antithesis of thought. It’s the easiest thing in the world—so long as you don’t overthink it.
Read Next: Alicia Keys Quote on Perfection and Being Okay With Our Imperfect Reality (Day 386)
NEW In The Shop: Don’t Let The Tame Ones Tell You How To Live [Poster]
Why We ♥ It: Some of the best advice I (Matt here) ever got was: don’t take life advice from people who aren’t living a life you want to live and don’t take criticism from people you wouldn’t go to for advice. I created this poster to act as a reminder to listen more closely to our role models and less closely to our critics, trolls, and tamed-comfort-zone-hugger acquaintances. It’s also a perfect gift for the outdoor adventurer, travel enthusiast, or solo explorer (or soon to be). Available in print or digital download. 👇🏼
...Want to advertise your book, product, or service? Send inquiries to matt@movemequotes.com.
Written by Matt Hogan
Founder of MoveMe Quotes. On a mission to help busy people do inner work—for better mental health; for healing; for personal growth. Find me on Twitter / IG / Medium. I also share daily insights here. 🌱
It has taken me 1,000’s of hours to build this free library for you. If it has helped you, you can support my continued effort here. ☕️