I recently stumbled upon a video by the Youtuber Matt D’Avella where he discussed himself stumbling upon a saying by Alan Watts. In it, Watts describes how the movement of things often happen in the reverse of what we would like. We want to walk on water, but we sink. We want to sink into water, but we float.

D’Avella relates this back to his idea of happiness and well-being. That is, the more we pursue something, the more we stay on a journey where we don’t have it. And this is all the more unfeasible when we realize certain things can’t even be chased after. Instead, he recommends we simply let these things ensue.

Of course, not all goals can be thought of this way. But it’s worth wondering especially for those goals that aren’t really “goals”.

You know, like the pursuit of happiness. What does this mean? What milestone do we achieve to enter actual happiness? What do we have to do to get there?

It seems more like happiness isn’t something to be pursued. It ensues. It’s something already within us to be allowed in the open. But as we constantly chase and chase after other things, of course we’ll never be satisfied. It’s almost like we’re chasing our own tail, but we would grab it if we just stopped moving.

Think about what you’re chasing after. Is it really something to be pursued? Perhaps the inverse effect that Alan Watts describes is in effect, and your effort is actually taking you in the opposite direction. After all, a desire for enlightenment takes us in the wrong direction. Instead, maybe we need to relax, and let the journey end right there, with no beginning.