My Brilliant Career

Here’s my latest Substack post.

I’ve been watching My Brilliant Career that landed on Netflix a while ago. Watching this prompted me to read the book by Miles Franklin which was published in 1901, and follows the early life of a young woman in Australia seeking to go her own way, and not the way expected by society.

I’ve noted some quotes that I’d like to share. Here’s one for this post and I’ll send another in my next post.

The less a person thinks and inquires regarding the why and the wherefore and the justice of things, when dragging along through life, the happier it is for him, and doubly, trebly so, for her.

Yes, the narrator has a pretty bleak view of life, particularly as a young woman whose choices are limited. The reason I share it here is because one of the aspects of my journey that has been very liberating (though not always leading to happiness!!) is letting go of the need to understand everything or even anything. The mind tries to make sense of it all, and it can indeed be a real drag trying to work stuff out. This can distract us from the role of the heart which is, quite simply, to be compassionate and loving. Here’s one of my very favourite quotes, from Stephen Levine “Who Dies”.

Understanding is the ultimate seduction of the mind. Go to the truth beyond the mind. Love is the bridge.

The mind asks What? The heart says Feel

The mind asks Why? The heart says Hear

The mind asks Who? The heart says Welcome

The mind says Caution. The heart says Compassion