When Christopher says he wants to stop postponing enjoyment, Joe simply asks: “How about right now? How do you enjoy yourself right now?” Christopher is already enjoying himself — his face is smiling — but his mind is confused because this doesn’t match his story of enjoyment being somewhere else.
The question isn’t “how do I get to enjoyment?” but “what stops me from noticing the enjoyment that’s already here?” Even oscillating in and out of enjoyment can be enjoyed. Rushing through the day can be enjoyed. Sadness can be enjoyed. Shame can be enjoyed. There’s nothing about any experience that inherently prevents enjoyment — the prevention comes from running away from yourself, from pulling the brakes on your own expression.
The essential thing that stops enjoyment isn’t a bad circumstance — it’s leaving yourself. Running toward yourself produces more enjoyment; running away produces less.
“Is there anything about rushing through your day that can’t be enjoyed?”
“What stops you from enjoying shame? What is the essential thing? — I’m running away from myself.”
Related Concepts
- Enjoyment is the orientation for transformation
- The finish line illusion keeps you from present serenity
- Enjoyment as the only metric