I first encountered that quote as the title to a book by Jon Kabat-Zinn. I’ve always have a chaotic mind and it was particularly chaotic during grad school. I’d come across the book and thought I might benefit from a bit of reading on mindfulness.
I don’t know if I did or not.
I do know that one of my labmates took exception at my reading something by a Buddhist and I discovered a big book on religion on my desk after they’d seen me reading it. Sort of lost effort on me really. They’d have been truly bothered to see me reading Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, or Sam Harris.
But that original quote, not attributed to Kabat-Zin, is used a lot I think. I know it was featured in Buckaroo Banzai (because I looked up the quote, not because I actually remember it being used in the movie….thought I did see the movie….aaaaannnnnywaaaaaay…) and the general gist of it is that you can’t escape yourself; your thoughts, issues, and self accompany you regardless of location, making internal work essential…physical change isn’t a solution for inner struggles.
Sure, but rage running lost me 30lbs even if it didn’t fix my mental gymnastics over a former work situation.
So I lean towards the Disappointing Affirmations version on the card I tucked in my bag this morning.
