Streams Of
Consciousness
Relish in Moving Different
There have been few mindset shifts more life altering in my journey than the pivot from being self-conscious about not fitting to relishing in not fitting in. For years, I was intimidated. Intimidated by the seamless social grace everyone possessed when gathering for common social events. I tried to move like them and behave like them. Wondering if they are staring at me and thinking if I belong here.
But the more I focused on my path and what energized me, the greater the separation became between me and everyone else. But what I realized after sometime is that it wasn’t separation between me and all of society, just separation from me and the mob. Those living blindly, following each other blindly, chasing average dreams without much thought, wasting their days on simple pleasures, cheap laughs, and basic experiences. Their realized potential sitting at ~ %25. Even the high performers- their understanding of the human experience ends at money, love, and life style design.
Once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it, and its made permanent residence in my head since. Intimidation? My condolences are more appropriate. These are unfulfilled lives and potentials unrealized that I am encountering everyday. There are wild layers to the human experience most don’t even know exist.
So yes, I now relish in moving different. I smile when I walk past the mob. They are all starting to look like paid extra’s in my movie.
What Persists Today, Will Deteriorate You Tomorrow
A nagging rut you can’t shake today, will manifest in depression tomorrow.
I was only to have 2 glasses of Wine last night, but we ended up having 5, and a night cap. Alcoholism foreshadowed.
4 hours of sleep is all I can manage, there is work to be done. Burnout is on the horizon, to be sure.
There is nothing of greater importance than to play close attention to that which is troubling us today. It will require a pause in what is likely a busy life with an infinite task list.
But a pause not taken today will give way to a decade of pain.
What persists today, will deteriorate you tomorrow.
The Uncommon of the Uncommon
I heard David Goggins use this term the other day and I haven’t been able to shake it since.
For years I have walked by what feels like an infinite loop of patrons indulging in, and enjoying food and drink. Where ever I turn, bars and restaurants are full. But I no longer care for neither food nor drink.
A game is always on to make plans around. But I have lost the plot on sport sometime ago.
I was walking through my main street earlier today and saw an endless wave of people window shopping; the herd feeling eerily similar to an episode of the Walking Dead.
Everywhere you turn, it seems human beings are fully immersed in all the pleasures and entertainment our society today has to offer.
For years, I’ve felt quite self-conscious about not fitting into this construct or participating in ‘normal’ events. Being in an empty gym on a late Friday evening. Holiday after holiday coming and going without acknowledgement. In bed at 9pm on New Years eve followed by a long walk early morning on New Years day on top of deserted streets.
But of late, that self-conscious feeling has turned into a feeling of pride. Seneca, in his writings, has many times cautioned against associating too often with the mob. Back then the mob could most often be found at the Coliseum. Today? The bar. The restaurant. Twitter.
Today, I pay tribute to a great milestone in my journey. For I have realized that the goal is not to be common. But rather uncommon. And eventually, the uncommon of the uncommon.
Life is an Energy Game
Guilt consumes energy
Rumination consumes energy
Expectations consume energy
Fantasy arguments consume energy
Self Doubt consumes energy
Paranoia consumes energy
Worry consumes energy
Judgment consumes energy
Imagine how much time and energy one can regain in life by minimizing how often we engage in these things. A day would feel like 48 hours, a week like 14 days, and a life, well like a lifetime.
The Alchemy of Failure
Try, fail, reflect, take data from failure, iterate, repeat.
Try, fail, reflect, take data from failure, iterate, repeat.
Try, fail, reflect, take data from failure, iterate, repeat.
Try, fail, reflect, take data from failure, iterate, repeat.
Try, fail, reflect, take data from failure, iterate, repeat.
Try, succeed.
Happiness is the #1 Currency
Cliche? For good reason.
Happiness sits on top of the food chain. It is also one of the few universal truths. Every action taken by every person is in some way tied to the overarching fundamental objective of attaining more of the currency of happiness. This includes:
Trying to attain wealth
Trying to attain fame
Engaging in service
Engaging in philanthropic work
Chasing a dream
Setting goals
Starting a family
Finding a significant other
Eating pizza
Etc
While our paths and choices are all unique, the primary driver behind them is universally the same- to be Happy, or Happier.
A simple illustration below to depict this:
Macro versus Minutiae
Using the Macro as a tool
Remind yourself of the insignificance of man relative to nature and the broader universe. It is liberating.
Remind yourself of how minuscule this era is that you’re living in relative to the entire timeline of humanity…and that you are one of 7.9 billion currently living within that minuscule era. It is liberating.
Ask yourself- what is the importance of the difficult feeling or circumstance I am currently grappling with relative to the entire timeline of my life?
Using the Minutiae as a tool
Your dream is a direction to point the car towards (e.g Writer). The arena you’ve identified that you want to perform in and corresponds to that dream is an 8 lane highway heading in that direction (e.g. Poetry). In which lane were you destined to drive in? (e.g. Inspirational Poetry). This is not to be confused with ‘staying in your lane’ (Avoid limiting thoughts like the plague). Keep double clicking and zooming in till you’ve found the exact alchemy of your purpose. Also explained with Poetry here.
Details matter. The word that you choose matters. That small note matters. Color schemas matter. Strategic sequence matters. 9 repetitions versus 10 matters.
Rules and the Creative Arts
Learn them. Respect them. Appreciate them- Fundamentals are important.
But
Don’t ever compromise your art in the name of them. Lead with your creativity and let structure come second, or never. One cannot break new ground while following existing rules. Innovation is born outside the box.
Humans
If it is humanly possible, then it is possible.
Don’t fear other humans, they are only human. You know what humans are about, you have been one your entire life.
Struggle versus Sacrifice
You will often hear the greats talk about the necessary sacrifice required in order to achieve a dream.
The liberating secret?
Everybody has the ability to sacrifice and it is not difficult. How can I make such a bold statement and expect it to be applicable to everyone reading it? Because we’ve all already proven it.
We’ve struggled and had difficult times and persevered through them all. How do I know? Because you are here now reading this, which means you pushed through to fight another day.
So if you can persevere through struggle, you can persevere through sacrifice.
The kicker?
Sacrifice is actually easier than struggle.
You did not ask for the struggle, the universe brought it to your doorstep. But sacrifice? Well that is a controlled choice and calculation which has intent, purpose, and a desired outcome. It has meaning. And meaning is all we need.