Pursuit of happiness will leave us in a continuous cycle of striving for perfection. In this way, we will never feel enough. You are striving to achieve a goal solely for the feeling of safety it promises upon achievement. You resist your old self; running away from the past. It's unnatural to be so attached to the future. You're living in a conditional pattern: "Once I get this and that, then I will truly be happy." The problem is that the desired outcome will never arrive if you don't let go of striving for a better future. You need to be the person you desire to be, not strive to become it. It's unnatural to get things done solely through effort. You're doing it because you don't feel safe being yourself in your current environment.
Simultaneously, you can't pretend you're already perfect. Be who you are in the present moment. No amount of effort or pretending can change you or your limiting beliefs. It's faith in your true self, not pretending you've already arrived. It's not about "acting as if" or "fake it till you make it." Your true nature cannot be faked. Who you are is always reflected in the outer world. By pretending to be perfect, you're indulging your ego. You're feeling superior, which is why others perceive you as someone too proud to let go of a false identity.
We need to conclude that this is who we are, and accept our true selves. It is a feeling of naturalness—the ability to respond appropriately to every situation without excessive force, and to adapt to unfolding circumstances.
When you believe in yourself, you don't need to convince others. You are content with yourself and don't need their approval. Furthermore, because you accept yourself, the whole world accepts you.
Desire
If we strongly desire something from others, we feel separate from them.
For example, if we dine alone in a restaurant and seek acceptance from others, questioning whether it's acceptable to eat alone, we are trying to obtain something from them—their approval. Our desire is to be accepted. We cannot achieve fulfillment because this creates distance, a separation between the self ("subject") and others ("object") for a purpose that exists only in our three-dimensional world.
Desire contradicts the idea of oneness. It is a strong feeling of wanting something for a specific purpose. If you want something with the intention of possessing it, you create resistance because you feel separate from others. You are attached to an expected outcome from them, thus feeling separate from the divine.
If you perceive others as separate from yourself, everything will run away from you, and nothing will come near you.
Our three-dimensional world is structured to make perceived separation apparent, but it's an illusion. Everything in our world exists in relationship with everything else; therefore, if you feel separate from other things, people, and events, you are operating outside of the natural order. Once you shift your perspective to that of your true self and realize who you are, you enter a new cycle—a so-called involution stage—where introspection into different aspects of yourself is necessary.
Big cycles
A new cycle comprises several smaller cycles culminating in a larger-scale cycle. This new cycle alters not only the present and future but also the past—which is merely our memory and therefore subject to change. Thus, whenever you observe environmental changes inconsistent with your past experience, you've entered a new cycle, an involution stage. You've shifted your state of consciousness and perspective; now you must introspect and acknowledge this internal transformation.
Anger, resentment, and bitterness constitute a smaller cycle, leading to self-knowledge, which is a larger cycle on a bigger scale. Upon entering a new state of consciousness, you draw closer to a state of oneness, viewing anger, resentment, and bitterness from a higher perspective and no longer identifying with them. You no longer see them from the perspective of a separate self fighting for its place in your world. You know yourself a little better—not as a competing entity harboring anger or resentment, but as a unified being.
When we enter a new state of consciousness or a new cycle, we notice changes in our perception of the outer world. This doesn't involve a change of location or planet. Your environment will effortlessly transform to reflect this new self, almost seamlessly. You notice people treating you differently, reflecting your transformation. The change is solely a matter of perspective. If this happens, it means you have accepted your new self.
Involution stage: The Hidden Side of Evolution
Before we can fully accept our new selves, we need to adjust to our new cycle and the new state of consciousness we have entered. This adjustment period is called involution.
Involution is a period of rest, without effort toward goal attainment, allowing adjustment to a new cycle. It's a time of stillness, devoid of effort: no wishing, wanting, or hoping for a better future. The absence of desire signifies wholeness and completeness.
To begin this mental rest, we must first eliminate the state of wanting. This wanting prevents us from experiencing our true selves because it creates a feeling of separation from the source. This separation often arises from trying to obtain something from the source (or creator).
When you demand nothing from the world or God, when you want nothing, seek nothing, and expect nothing, then the supreme state will come to you uninvited and unexpectedly.
Everything in our world is energy at its most basic level. Nature always strives for balance. Therefore, when we exert effort, we create excess energy that is usually balanced out in the opposite direction. This means the action often works against the creator of that imbalance. When we try to use force in any activity, we usually do more harm than good, because force negates itself.
In this state, one is not driven by external forces or pressures. Instead, one's actions and thoughts are aligned with one's true nature and purpose. It is a state of effortless action, where one does not feel the need to strive or force things, but allows things to unfold naturally.
The path is also the destination, because by embodying this natural, effortless state, you realize you already are in it. You only need to walk the path; no one can do it for you. There is no predestined path that works for everyone; everyone must find their own unique way. Everyone must walk their own path, responding to situations in the present moment.
It's not about isolating yourself from the outside world. You may believe you need to isolate yourself to achieve a purpose, but that's not the case. It's not about meditating in the Himalayas, living in the Amazon rainforest, or living off-grid and depriving yourself of basic needs.
We need to learn to live balanced lives in our natural environment. We don't need to escape modern culture or resist the outside world simply because we believe we are superior and our way of life is the only right way. It's not about what you do or where you are, but about your state of being—your natural, effortless state. This state doesn't require forcing a change when we dislike our current circumstances; we simply need to live our life and follow our path.