The individual embraces the world in all spontaneous activity, and his personal ego is not only intact, but growing stronger and stronger. Because to what extent the self is active, to what extent will it be strong. Possessing material possessions, or spiritual possessions like emotions or thoughts, does not count as truly powerful. Being able to use or manipulate certain objects is not really powerful either. What we use is not ours, just because we use them. Only what we are truly connected to in our creative activity, whether people or inanimate objects, is truly ours. Only those qualities that spring from spontaneous activity can empower the ego and become the basis for its integrity. The root of inferiority complex and weakness lies in the inability to act spontaneously, to express true feelings and thoughts, and the result must be to replace others and self with false self. Whether we realize it or not, there is no greater shame than we are not who we are, and no greater pride and happiness than to think, feel and say what belongs to us.
This means that what really matters is the activity, the process and not the result. Our culture emphasizes the exact opposite, that production is not for the fulfillment of specific needs, but for the abstract purpose of selling commodities; we feel that money can buy everything, material and immaterial, that suddenly becomes ours, We have nothing to do with them and no creative effort whatsoever. Likewise, we view our personal traits and the results of our efforts as commodities, which can be exchanged for money, reputation, and power. Therefore, the focus has shifted, from focusing on the concrete and real satisfaction of the creative activity itself to focusing only on the value of the finished product. Therefore, man loses the only satisfaction that can give him true happiness—the real experience in the process of activity, and instead pursues an illusion—the illusory happiness called success. Once he believes that he has success, he is suddenly disappointed. If the individual realizes himself through spontaneous activity and connects himself with the world, he is no longer an isolated atom, he and the world become part of a structured whole; Doubt of meaning no longer exists. This doubt stems from his detached state and blocked life, and as long as he lives spontaneously rather than coercively or mechanically, the doubt disappears. He realizes that he is an active and creative individual, that there is only one meaning to life - the activity of existence itself.
Excerpted from "Escape from Freedom"
This is probably the reason why Joey is suddenly lonely after his performance.
What he was after was an illusion after all.
View more about Soul reviews
