Friday, July 31, 2026
“I’m not worried about that now, but we’ll need to keep an eye on it, to be safe.” Have you used this insidious language? Keeping an “eye on it” ensures a disastrous game of paranoia. The more you keep “an eye” on it; the more you monitor it, “just to be sure;” the more involved you get – the worse it becomes.
This philosophy of the “watchful eye” or “keeping an eye on it” tells me a lot about a person’s worldview. The more you monitor, the more you fear. This is total distrust, anxiety lurking in the corners of your mind. It’s suppressed suspicion – peeking, checking, monitoring, meddling – ensuring its fate – calling in the tremors of fear. The tumors. The tumult of distrust.
“Don’t worry now” and “keep an eye on it” are diametrical viewpoints occupying the same space, implying that worry will be useful. Keeping “an eye on it” is an admission that you believe failure is inevitable and daily existence is on a glide path to hell. You hover over the pot, checking to see if it has boiled.
Keeping an “eye on it” means clear and present danger, even if we don’t need to worry about it now. However, when we are Clear and Present, danger subsides. When there is clear and present danger, we over-involve, meddle, and monitor. When we’re Clear and Present, strategies and good ideas appear. “Ah-ha” moments come, and we can think of a plan, unseen options. We get new insights for adaptation.
When there is clear and present danger – we get nothing but crampy diarrhea. Being Clear and Present unleashes safety and assurance. The “Watchful I” is clear, present, and peaceful – always helpful.
Keeping an eye on it unleashes unhelpful paranoia – “the watchful eye.”
There is only One Help, One Peace, One Way – Being Clear and Present – The Watchful, Benign I.
Everything else is malignant, especially under constant surveillance.