Prevention Is The Best Cure

Just like all the water in the ocean can’t sink a ship unless the water gets inside the boat, all the negativity and toxicity in the world won’t bring you down unless you let it in. Mindfulness doesn't make other people less irritating, it makes us less irritable. So, if you are still irritable, then you still have work to do. Part of that work involves no longer waiting for the world to accommodate your preferences or reacting when things don't go your way.

Episode Transcript

(00:06):
Welcome to the Buddhist Boot Camp Podcast.
Our intention is to awaken, enlighten, enrich, and inspire a simple and uncomplicated life.
Discover the benefits of mindful living with your host, Timber Hawkeye.

(00:27):
There is an ancient story about a king and queen who wanted to step outside the palace
and walk around the village without cutting their bare feet on rocks and pebbles.
All of their wisest advisors gathered and tried to think of creative solutions to cushion the
roadways for protection from the elements, arguing about the best way to gather enough

(00:48):
fabric and somehow keep it from ripping or blowing away.
And it was the king's jester, of all people, who reluctantly poked his head into the great hall
and said, I know you think of me as a fool, but instead of padding the streets, why not
cover their feet? With proper protection, we can all walk freely without getting hurt.
Nowadays, it seems everyone gets hurt or triggered by people's opinions and beliefs,

(01:12):
so they get angry and they shout, which is like yelling at rocks for being rocks.
Have you ever walked into a wall and then gotten upset at the wall for being there?
I've been hearing from so many people who are upset with and disagree with their friends,
co-workers, family members, neighbors, so they cut people out of their lives,

(01:32):
unfollow them on social media, and try to create an echo chamber of sorts, where the
only people in their lives are the ones who agree with everything they believe in.
Three years ago, I published The Opposite of Namaste because I believe mindfulness is not
about creating a bubble where nobody pushes your buttons, it's about cultivating a
mindset where you don't have any buttons that can be pushed. In other words,

(01:54):
mindfulness does not make other people less irritating, it makes you less irritable.
So, if you are still irritable,
then you still have work to do, and part of that work involves no longer waiting for
the world to accommodate your preferences or reacting when things don't go your way.
I'm talking about Equanimity, which is mental calmness and evenness of temper,

(02:18):
especially in difficult situations.
Evenness of temper... I just love that!
I'm not suggesting Apathy, which is carelessness and a lack of concern.
I say, care A LOT and act accordingly,
but not to the point of making yourself so sick that you lose composure.
Many people are literally making themselves sick. And, in medicine,

(02:42):
prevention is the best cure for any sickness. And that's where I think mindfulness
comes in, allowing us to bear witness to toxicity without ingesting it.
Just like all the water in ocean can't sink a ship unless the water gets inside the boat,
all the negativity in the world won't bring you down unless you let it in.
People will always be as stubborn as rocks, no matter how much you yell at them,

(03:06):
and the streets will never be cushioned to comfort your bare feet.
But if you are mindful, you can still leave your home, you can still interact with people, and
even walk on pebbles without getting hurt.
Whether you remind yourself that everything is temporary or, as the song goes, you trust
that "Whatever will be will be, because the future is not ours to see," remaining calm

(03:29):
is how we can maintain our peace regardless of what's going on around us.
I don't know... maybe I'm a fool. But, honestly, I would rather be a calm fool than
a frantic lunatic yelling at rocks.
How about you?
It really boils down to Gandhi's simple invitation to be the peace you want to see
in the world. It's not easy, but it is that simple.

If you don't want to get sick, prevention is the best cure (03:51):
don't let people under your skin.
Nobody can drive you crazy unless you give them the keys.
Namaste 🙏
Timber Hawkeye is the bestselling author of Buddhist Boot Camp, Faithfully Religionless,
and The Opposite of Namaste.
For additional information, please visit BuddhistBootCamp.com,

(04:13):
where you can order autographed books to support the Prison Library Project,
watch Timber's inspiring TED Talk, and join our monthly mailing list.
We hope you have enjoyed this episode
and invite you to subscribe for more thought-provoking discussions.
Thank you for being a Soldier of Peace in the Army of Love. 🙏