The paradox of being present

[YIDIRYIDIR]

For those who want to escape reality through drugs or other mind numbing things or distractions. that always fails to work. and the way to actually "escape reality" is by being present. 

because you don't actually want to escape reality, you want to escape how your brain is constructing your suffering. once you train presence and master your mind and thoughts, that's the real escape. 

[oOo]

Presence is the escape hatch inside the room, weird design really. Years attacking walls. Then one day you notice the door has been experiencing you the whole bloody time.

[Asayake]

On 8/11/2026 at 11:30 PM, YIDIRYIDIR said:

For those who want to escape reality through drugs or other mind numbing things or distractions. that always fails to work. and the way to actually "escape reality" is by being present. 

because you don't actually want to escape reality, you want to escape how your brain is constructing your suffering. once you train presence and master your mind and thoughts, that's the real escape. 

You're describing something akin to Stoicism, I don't entirely disagree but you have to actually accomplish things in the external world as well, not just master your mind and thoughts, but yes inner mastery is a big part of happiness for sure!

[YIDIRYIDIR]

1 hour ago, Asayake said:

You're describing something akin to Stoicism, I don't entirely disagree but you have to actually accomplish things in the external world as well, not just master your mind and thoughts, but yes inner mastery is a big part of happiness for sure!

Yeah, external things are necessary, but being present is what gets you to see them as they are, without the extra layer of stories and constructions your mind is making about them, which produces a lot of suffering. 

[YIDIRYIDIR]

2 hours ago, oOo said:

Presence is the escape hatch inside the room, weird design really. Years attacking walls. Then one day you notice the door has been experiencing you the whole bloody time.

great analogy.