On Spontaneity: A Dialogue

Karel: I wonder why people so often fear to change something.

Elena: Change implies taking risks. Doing so requires an uncomfortable effort because the person has to get out of their comfort zone to achieve what they want.

Karel: I agree! Also, I think we have to draw judgments before doing anything. As judgments might be wrong, our actions may lead to worse situations. So we don't only risk discomfort but also failure.

Elena: Absolutely. There’s also an additional factor. Life itself is uncertain because everything influences everything. So unless our effort is big enough to fight the external factors, what we look for may never appear.

Karel: I think there is wrong judgment behind fighting external factors. After all, external factors are out of our power. If we are careful, we will base the goals of our actions only on fighting with our inner factors. It might be another reason why people fear taking action. I see it differently. I don't think it's about the amount of effort but about the ability to accept the nature of change - that the process of changing is not only about our actions.

Elena: I agree that lacking acceptance of the nature of change leads to the fear of acting. However, this can connect with the fear of effort and leaving the comfort zone. The fear of the uncomfortable intensifies when you know that unwanted changes can appear. So, to take action, you need to overcome both aspects. But actually, you need even more. You also need to be responsible for the consequences of your actions, which will affect you and others.

Karel: Exactly, I think the multiple aspects explanation is more precise. I also agree that the fear of unwanted changes is significant. I think responsibility is mainly about the ability to face the negative consequences of our actions. We have to be able to accept that our actions with good intentions can lead to a worse situation - because of our wrong judgment or an unfortunate combination of factors. In both cases, I see the ability to accept the nature of responsibility as an awareness of human limits. No matter how hard we try, nothing is for sure and may end up badly.

Elena: I agree with your definition of responsibility and facing the consequences. And I would also add that being responsible for itself is hard to achieve because it requires great humility. It takes you out of the bubble that tells you that you can do it all. That’s why there are so many people who rather live without thinking and without any responsibility, and then use the excuse that they’re just “spontaneous”.

Karel: Yes, I often perceive a misused concept of spontaneity. In this case, a function of spontaneity is to excuse an inability to be responsible. I think it's hard to accept that no actions will probably lead to failure. That's why there is a need to rationalise no acting into an illusory form of spontaneity.

Elena: I find it interesting how people have distorted the concept of spontaneity to justify their lack of thought and action. I see spontaneity as the ability to leave the comfort zone without much thought to face short-term events that will enhance personal growth. However, it seems like now the definition has changed into “a lifestyle that prevents growth by trying to get to a point where living doesn’t require thinking”.

Karel: I agree and also see this transformation of the concept of spontaneity into a dysfunctional long-term format. I imagine spontaneity as a firework. If we spark it, it flies uncontrollably for a short period. If we are lucky, a beautiful explosion will happen. But when it comes to reaching the moon, there is no way we can hit it with fireworks. With the explosion, I mean short-term pleasures. Moon can represent anything that requires a lot of effort and cause long-term happiness.

Elena: That’s true, the fireworks can show a beautiful explosion for a short time. But what’s most interesting to me is that fireworks can also be dangerous. Even if all you want is something beautiful and short, you can still get hurt. It may be from a small burn to a serious and permanent injury. The same thing can occur when you distort spontaneity, there can be serious consequences after doing something fun for a short time if you don’t think.

Karel: I think, even if you don't get hurt, spontaneity as a lifestyle will cause suffering anyway. If we assume that, in this case, the function of spontaneity is to cure the inability to be responsible, it can't last long. After some time, it will be increasingly clear that no acting and aimlessness of spontaneity will not fulfil our lives themselves.

Elena: I agree. To have a fulfilling life you have to think before acting and be responsible. If you live a spontaneous lifestyle, you not only suffer but also distort reality and blame others and your luck for your misfortunes because of your lack of responsibility. Since you can’t see your role in your suffering, nothing ever gets better. That’s why it’s important to use spontaneity as a healthy opportunity to grow and not as a lifestyle where there’s no responsibility.

Karel: So, people often fear change because they can't accept the nature of change. It involves not only discomfort but also the risk of failure. It also requires responsibility for the consequences that affect us and others. With the inability to change, there is often a dysfunctional concept of spontaneity. Spontaneity as a short-term solution can't replace approaches that aim in a long-term direction. Inevitably, the conflict between desirable results and aimlessness of spontaneity will lead to suffering.