What does being "spontaneous" mean?

[Eckhart]

I was thinking whether I should really open the topic, but well, I just did.

I had to think about the meaning of being "spontaneous". One could say you are spontaneous when doing something you just want to do even though you planned something different before. But another could say that it means doing decisions fast. Or being flexible. Maybe there are other aspects.

Well, I love new things and ideas, I need some variety from time to time. I sometimes throw away ideas completely and take over a new one. But I cannot say that I meet decisions fast. In fact, I often can not really decide when being confronted with several options, I totally prolong decision and become really uncomfortable, because I would most like to do everything in the same time but cannot. When I just don't want to decide, I sometimes just stick then to the old things.

That seems somehow contradictionary to me. How do you think about that?

 

[Lark]

I'm intrigued by this too, I used to know someone who rated being spontaneous above most other things but when they tried to define it kind of just seemed like impulsivity.

 

[nolla]

I am in some ways obsessed with the idea of spontaneity and how it connects to creativity. It seems like the "easy" way to spontaneity is extroversion, at least to me. And you know, Ne can be quite out of control kind of thing... But, the thing that is even more interesting is the kind of internal spontaneity that leads to all creativity. I'm not sure how to get there, it seems like the most effective way for me is to not sleep, but this can't be too healthy. I've been thinking to try some sort of meditation... This kind of spontaneity is something you might relate to Taoist non-doing.

 

[Queen Kat]

To me, it's doing fun things without any reason, while for most people I know it just means fucking everyone you meet.

 

[teslashock]

For me, spontaneous means open to new possibilities as they appear in a momentary context. Spontaneity points to flexibility in ones actions, and can also be associated with impulse-driven behavior.

 

[Mole]

The Spontaneous Spring

I am in some ways obsessed with the idea of spontaneity and how it connects to creativity. It seems like the "easy" way to spontaneity is extroversion, at least to me. And you know, Ne can be quite out of control kind of thing... But, the thing that is even more interesting is the kind of internal spontaneity that leads to all creativity. I'm not sure how to get there, it seems like the most effective way for me is to not sleep, but this can't be too healthy. I've been thinking to try some sort of meditation... This kind of spontaneity is something you might relate to Taoist non-doing.

This is most interesting. For being an introvert is a voyage of discovery. And as we go deeper and deeper, the more we discover of ourselves.

We go past our social inhibitions, past our psychological defences into the heart of who we are. Sometimes we are afraid to discover what's there and we hold our breath, but all we need to do is breathe into the fount of life within us.

And lo, at our deepest root, we discover a bubbling spring that is springing delight from moment to moment.

All we need to do is attend to be refreshed.

We worry that as our attention fades so will the spring. But as we return we can always hear the spring in the distance and as we approach we are overwhelmed by the sparkling freshness of the water of life. We find the spring bubbles up independently of us and leaves us exuberant.

The spring is spontaneous as are we.

 

[Desy234]

Very interesting topic! Thanks for the info.
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[Lark]

I think that the unplanned, unanticipated and informal nature of things is what spontaneous refers to.

 

[ceecee]

I don't know that it's being flexible per se. I see it as those times when you can go without a plan. This is not an easy concept for me, I admit. And in my mind, spontaneity is usually planned for - at least the block of time when I'm able to indulge.

 

[Virtual ghost]

I see it as those times when you can go without a plan. This is not an easy concept for me, I admit. And in my mind, spontaneity is usually planned for - at least the block of time when I'm able to indulge.

Amen. (and I am probably even worse in this regard than you)

 

[Lark]

Socialism will have a spontaneous character or it wont really be socialism

 

[Yara the Corpse]

spontaneity is just not rationalizing and/or repressing what you feel like doing in the moment.

 

[Dreamer]

When I think of spontaneous moments as it pertains to me, I don't quite think of it in the way others might. I sort of think of spontaneity as being able to openly and freely subjecting yourself to new and uncomfortable situations. Situation that are outside your realm. When people tend to call what I do from time to time spontaneous, I can kind of see it, I can sort of get what they're inferring, but to me it isn't all that spontaneous because all the random actions and driving at the edge of my seat, eh, it's all still within a certain comfort zone of mine. I think only if you knew me well, you'd know whether something I was doing was truly "spontaneous", and one that is nothing more than ordinary for me, but outwardly, there might be little differentiation between the sorts of activities I partake in.

 

[Lord Lavender]

To me it's a very simple yet complex concept. At its essence it's action taken on a whim without forethought or planning and on a more technical aspect it's action that is more nervous system than higher brain planning.

 

[Mole]

Spontaneity is the deepest pleasure, yet so much stands in the way.

 

[Ace_]

Being spontaneous requires not thinking all the time, so for me it's nearly impossible.

 

[Mole]

Spontaneity is an essential part of creativity, that is why creativity is so rare.

 

[Qlip]

It means being able to be surprising and delightful to people who have trouble entertaining themselves, even if you have to plan it. It's not the same as being undependable or chaotic, that's not acceptable.

 

[Lark]

spontaneity is just not rationalizing and/or repressing what you feel like doing in the moment.

Is that not impulsivity or compulsivity?

 

[Mole]

We cured neurotic children by talking with them on the telephone because the telephone requires spontaneity.