The path to Tranquility (spring)
1. It's time to rise out of the water
In our earliest fetal stages, living in a womb filled with amniotic fluid, we resemble primitive fish, complete with rudimentary gills and a tail. Our lives then were simple and pure, protected by our mother's gentle body fluids. However, when we are born, we are suddenly washed from those familiar waters into a completely unfamiliar world, just like marine creatures being dramatically pushed onto land. Everything becomes shocking and difficult to adapt to.
From that moment on, we embarked on a slow but profound journey of growth. When we are born, our consciousness is like a small piece of wood floating on the water, with only a tiny part exposed and most of it submerged in water. So we continued to cling to the small piece of wood, groping and struggling as if trying to survive in muddy water.
At a certain age, more than half of our consciousness is still underwater, and the part that is above water is like the tip of an iceberg. No matter how hard we struggle, our subconscious mind cannot surface, which makes us feel exhausted and frustrated, and the more we struggle, the less clear our consciousness becomes. It is necessary to bring the subconscious to the surface because we are no longer adapted to life underwater - that feeling of suffocation reminds us that we must go ashore to find safety and stability.
However, the world on land is more complex than the world underwater. Without awareness, we are more likely to lose control of our lives and even end up in danger. In fact, futile struggles only make the water more turbid, making it more difficult for us to see ourselves clearly. Therefore, stopping pointless struggles and quietly observing the ups and downs of your heart is the first step to improving consciousness. Struggling only wastes energy and makes the water more turbid; but by calming down, we can see the outline of the subconscious.
The struggle in the water represents our subconscious helplessness. This secret water hides our deepest desires, fears, and habits, and often leads us astray. The effort to surface symbolizes the awakening of consciousness. We begin to move beyond chaotic imaginations and understand ourselves and the world with a clearer perspective. We gradually transform from ignorance of life to perception of death, existence, and the universe. It's like coming up out of the water and breathing fresh air.
If we want to improve our consciousness, exploring the subconscious mind is an essential part. If we allow our subconscious mind to surface, the seeds of wisdom contained within it will sprout and our consciousness will grow. The subconscious mind influences our behavior and decisions, but it often hides below the conscious level. We can uncover the subconscious mind and bring its messages back to the conscious level through meditation, dream analysis, or writing journal. Every awakening will further inspire the hope of growth, just like we learn to swim in water ourselves.
Emotions are the interface between the subconscious and the conscious. Just like sea water, it can both give birth to life and drown us. When anger, anxiety or sadness takes over our hearts, our rationality and consciousness are obscured by the fluctuations of emotions. For example, a heated argument often causes us to lose our composure and only realize our initial impulse afterward. Learning to identify, accept, and regulate these emotions—perhaps by taking a deep breath, or stepping out of our imaginations so we can find a brief moment of peace—is an important way to regain conscious control.
When we feel confused, we need to control our thoughts more consciously, proactively examine the problems that bother us, and get rid of emotional interference. We can ask ourselves, "Why do I feel uneasy?" or "Where does my fear come from?" This kind of reflection is like finding a piece of wood in the water to keep yourself floating. Gradually, as problems are solved, our awareness will increase and our emotions will calm down.
Timely reflection can bring revelations, not only giving us insight into the hidden possibilities in our lives, but also making us aware of our close relationship with nature. When we focus on the present moment, such as savoring the aroma and temperature of a cup of tea, rather than being distracted by our phones or other thoughts, our lives become more poetic and our hearts are filled with peace and strength. On the contrary, if we allow instinct and habit to control our behavior, our lives will remain at the animal level and it will be difficult to appreciate the deeper beauty.
Dreams at night are another channel to understand our subconscious mind. Many people often get lost in dreams, but through consciousness training, we may be able to retain a trace of clarity in dreams and avoid too many nightmares. We can even transform the free-flowing thoughts in our dreams into inspiration for solving creative problems. Such exercises can not only make sleep more restful, but also make daytime consciousness more sharp and flexible.
Let's try a simple breathing exercise: take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds, and feel your chest slowly expand with the airflow; then slowly exhale all the air and hold your breath for a few seconds. After repeating this a few times, we can try thinking about abstract topics, such as philosophy or poetry, to allow our consciousness to enter a calm inner space. In this space, emotional distractions fade away and consciousness can better integrate and stimulate during sleep. In this way, when we wake up the next day, our consciousness will be clearer.
In addition to analyzing dreams or bringing awareness into dreams, we can also observe the subconscious in all behaviors involving instincts and habits, especially emotional reactions. Looking ahead, the evolution of consciousness may open up entirely new possibilities. With the rapid development of science and technology, we may see a deep integration of human consciousness and artificial intelligence in the future, thereby expanding the boundaries of cognition; and the improvement of human overall consciousness will also make global cooperation more possible and become a key force in solving the dilemma of climate change and war.
Rising out of the water is just a metaphor to try to explain our long journey of ascending consciousness. By exploring our subconscious mind, managing our emotions and breaking our habits, we can gradually improve and purify our lives and minds. Whether it is the growth of personal wisdom or the harmonious progress of the entire society, consciousness is the cornerstone of building a better life in the future. When we bravely embrace this wonderful journey, every storm will allow us to learn more knowledge, cultivate more awareness, and ultimately move towards a new world that is both abundant and harmonious.
2. Make every moment fulfilling and interesting
