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Joel Grahn's avatar

This really resonates with what my personal journaling, intuitions and observations of the patterns in my life are teaching me. Thank you for helping give to voice to this subject.

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Jessica Böhme's avatar

Thank you Joel, that makes my night.

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Monish Khanderia's avatar

Existential resonance reminds me of an unconditional state of mind, a basic environment that does not grasp or reject anything. Not filling the space, not eliminating dissonance, but allowing the possibility of resonating with the unconditional openness, which will provide a basis for real change towards a more purer form of resonance.

Instinctively it feels this is setting ourselves a task that is impossible. Maybe that is true. But on the other hand, the more with sit with this idea of impossibility, the more we find that it is possible after all 🧘🏻

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Jessica Böhme's avatar

Love that reflection. And I agree to the impossibility. Life is mostly so much messier than just any one thing.

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Aleksander Constantinoropolous's avatar

Therapizing your way out of systemic dissonance is like trying to deep-breathe your way out of a burning building. The building’s still on fire.

Half the “resonance” cult online is selling a frictionless fantasy because it monetizes well. Meanwhile, the actual work is learning to stay awake in the dissonance without turning it into a personal pathology.

You nailed it: existential resonance isn’t about good vibes — it’s about not folding when the world is off its rocker.

Virgin Monk Boy

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Chusana Prasertkul's avatar

Reading your piece makes me feel like life is beautiful. To be so succinct in understanding how to live a fuller life. I completely agree with you that a fuller life is not in absence of dissonance and chaos. It seems to be the opposite. It’s the overcoming of chaos and dissonance that strengthens you in the long-run. I’m married to someone who came from a highly abusive family, and there’s never been any regret about his past. I cherish every part of him because all those difficult life experiences shaped who he is today.

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Jessica Böhme's avatar

Ah wow - I love that example... and I think this is so powerful because especially with the past, there is nothing we can do about it anymore but.

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Nadine: Notes from the Sky's avatar

Brilliant and agree with Lauren. This is a perfectly timed offering adding to the messy ecstatic work of living, being, and acting. These times are calling us to reintegrate our hearts and minds to get back into our bodies. Thank you.

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Jessica Böhme's avatar

Thank you Nadine 💚🙏. It means so much hearing when essays fit into the lived reality of people.

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Reality Cipher's avatar

I am curious why you conclude systemic dissonance is "inherent"?

You make beautiful appeals that we are not separate existentially and we are capable of resonance. Inherent systemic dissonance is not what I extrapolate from those two statements.

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Lauren's avatar

How did this find me at such a perfect time? Thank you.

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Jessica Böhme's avatar

I am very happy it did 🖤

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