Category: health

Unmoored

What does “having it all” mean to you? Is it attainable?

The concept of ‘having it all’ implies an appreciation of what is also ‘moderate’ and what is ‘minimal’. It also assumes a type of thinking process based on linear measure. There are numerous theories as to the origins of this type of thought (too numerous for this blurb) but it is fundamental in our modern Western way of life. Everything is measured and compared, everything is scrutinised and evaluated from numbers of grains of sand, kilometres travelled to the size of the universe. How much have you got in the bank? How tall are you? How pretty or influential are you? Science, engineering and technology are each based on specific terms of measurable analysis bringing us closer and closer to what would appear to be greater appreciation and understanding. Similarly, sport and artistic endeavour are measurable when applied to competition providing supply for the gambling industry. But the fallout is severe with addiction and personal financial loss.

However there is another way of living, another way of seeing that is quieter and seems to go unnoticed in today’s noise. Terms such as ’go slow’, ‘vibration’ and ‘present’ reflect something else that is gaining traction. There is nothing new in this of course. Writers such as Eckhart Tolle focus on contemporary dilemmas and reveal how we fall victim to abstract thinking. Burkeman in Four Thousand Weeks speaks of our artificial appreciation of time: ‘this strange moment in history, when time feels so unmoored, might in fact provide the ideal opportunity to reconsider our relationship with it.’

Gratitude

So if you reframe your perception of experience to include gratitude it is possible to shift from a negative to a positive attitude. If you allow this to happen enough in everyday experiences, a subtle but fundamental change can occur in your personality. Those around you respond to your positivity, and they in turn take on positive energy – a kind of flow from one person to another. Conversely, the opposite may occur whereby negativity flows from one individual to the next. We see this increasingly occurring on the internet, especially on social media. In turn, there is a flow of negative energy in the wider community from the virtual world to the real world. Interpreting ideas, concepts, situations or experiences can include positive or negative evaluation. A choice can be made to see things positively. Without meaning to sound too grandiose, we need to energise ourselves and the community in positive ways. Ultimately and depending on the intensity of our experiences, we can reframe them positively.

Drifting off

What daily habit do you do that improves your quality of life?

The one thing I try to do each day is to experience an activity as if for the first time. For some reason this simple act seems to have a positive influence on me. Now, I know this may sound strange but it can be quite fulfilling if you think about it in different ways. While it is recognised as a form of mindfulness there are some instances that are open to interpretation. Perhaps a more straightforward example of mindfulness is to eat something sugary. You could think about the sensation of sweetness and aim to isolate the experience.

Another task could be the simple act of moving your fingers. Such action may seem trivial and simply time wasting (justifiably so given daily priorities and time constraints etc). But if you decide to partake it can be interesting. Remember, the ordinary and mundane were once extraordinary for the uninitiated child. Feel the sensation of grabbing a bowl or picking up an object. Try attempting to write for the first time. If this doesn’t grab you (no pun intended) try doing so with your non dominant hand. The unfamiliarity and lack of dexterity forces you to focus on the task at hand. The immediate feeling may be one of frustration but then again you may begin to experience a new sensation.

Try tasting chocolate with no expectation or as if for the first time. Now, this may be a tricky one because chocolate is known to trigger the release of feel good chemicals such as dopamine, theobromine and anandamide but hey, you didn’t know this as a kid (at least I didn’t). I challenge you to really taste it separating the cacao flavours from the sweetness component. Yummmm!

Another task is to follow your train of thought as you drift off to sleep. This is not the linear thought process of the conscious mind. The catch is sustaining some awareness without actually falling asleep:)

On the other hand you may find this so completely uninteresting that you are falling asleep anyway 💤

Just weird

How do you know when it’s time to unplug? What do you do to make it happen?

There is a moment when you realise you have to unplug when you start exhibiting strange or unusual behaviours. It’s surely better to unplug well in advance but as is so often the case the ‘red flags’ are often ignored. Considering the rather strange and ever-changing world we inhabit I guess it’s to be expected.

Nevertheless some of these distraction strategies are a bit weird. Sucking ice cubes, counting Pi (π) decimal places, cold showers, water submersion, obsessive cleaning, cracking nuts, fidgeting and nail biting, peeling glue from your hands, popping bubble wrap, hoarding, smashing glass, ceramics throwing, folding hot towels, watching gross videos on YouTube, listening to foreign languages (without understanding them), reciting recipes and polishing silverware. 😮 Some of these activities seem normal enough but the weirder ones are concerning.

So how do you unplug and what’s the best way to do it? While I admit to fidgeting, watching YouTube (but not gross videos) and buying stuff that I don’t need, the best remedy for me is physical activity whether it be stretching, yoga or just stepping out and taking a walk. Nothing beats a good book for distraction. But a real one and not some generic digital text generated by ChatGPT.