“Trying” is an excuse

If I say “I’m trying to write this post” I’ve given myself an out to not write this post.

There are really only two realities that exist: either I’m accomplishing writing this post, or I’m not. “Trying to write the post” does not exist in reality materially, only in my head. It’s a fictitious reality conjured by my mind.

The word “trying” fills the time gap between the post not existing and the post existing. Between that time action is required, specifically the action of writing.

The mind is very cunning. When we are not aware of it, we can delude ourselves in thinking that we are progressing when in fact we are not. Even if there is no progress on the surface to show, there can be progress in our thinking.

For example, “I’m working” can encompass producing material output, but also the thinking that is required to produce the output. Productive thinking still counts as working. We are familiar with making progress on an abstract problem in our mind.

We delude ourselves when we are not producing any material output nor any productive thinking, when we tell oursleves “I’m trying to work,” which is another way to say “I’m not working yet, but I hope I will soon.”

Self-delusion is a dangerous thing. When we believe in something that is not actually happening, we get lose touch of reality and end up pursuing things that are not aligned with what is actually being asked of us by the world around us.

Awareness is the sword that cuts through self-delusion.