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Ever since I embarked more fully on this journey of trying to understand myself and the world, ever since I started asking better questions, and exposing myself to new ideas, there's been an undeniable pattern emerging: recurrent themes.
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The process I go through looks something like this: I stumble upon a novel and possibly life-changing concept, I chew on it for a while, maybe I even integrate it into my life, then I move on, not because I've growing out of it, but rather ready to let it permeate into my life more naturally, as I continue on my quest to explore the nature of reality deeper. But, somehow, everything I've learned and tried and assimilated is not lost.
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Take yoga for example. I practiced diligently for two years. I immersed myself not only in the physical practice, but the philosophy and history of it too. Now I'm no longer practicing regularly, but I take it with me in my daily life through the mode of living it inspired, and I can bring it into my exercise sessions by being mindful of my movements.
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Every bit of wisdom, every transformative practice or idea, every crucial concept lurks in the back of my mind, brewing, infiltrating all of my psyche and re-emerging as a mature integrated concept. As I continue to discover more about myself and the world, I notice that patterns or cycles begin to emerge and I've got a hunch that ideas which pop up over and over again might tell me something not only about my interests, but the universality of the ideas themselves.
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I like to think of this like placing jars on a shelf. Each jar is an idea, practice or piece of knowledge. You come across them, but it's not always clear right away how you're going to integrate them in your life, or if ever, for that matter. So you examine the contents and place it on the shelf, then wait. Time will tell what happens to it. Does it collect dust, or does it continue to be a resource of wisdom and clarity?
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During this time of exploration, my constant preoccupations (such as writing) provided the support and stability I need, allowing me to to never lost track of what's important.
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Timeless Content by Derek Thompson | 10 minute read
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In this absolutely poignant and crisp piece for the Atlantic, exploring where we are and how we got here in terms of managing our time and expectations, Thompson distills why we seem to never have enough time. He gives 3 reasons: the effect of better technology on our standards, the status games we play and the broader economic context. It's a short and powerful read that will expose why the impressive breakthroughs in technology over the past century haven't offered us more downtime, quite the contrary, because we are busier than ever. At the end, he attempts to answer the question: can we, as individuals, reclaim our time, or is there a need for systemic change?
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Tool for Thought This is a wonderful resource for learning about the ways in which our brains sabotage us, by taking the easier route and favoring the immediate, obvious and straightforward explanations for the events we observe. Each behavior (like noticing flaws in others more easily than we do in ourselves) is associated with several effects or fallacies that fall under its umbrella. If any of them peaks your interest, clicking on it will take you to its Wikipedia page, where you can read more in depth a explanation.
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Picture of the Week |  |
Quote I'm reflecting on | | The most effective way to sap distraction of its power is just to stop expecting things to be otherwise—to accept that this unpleasantness is simply what it feels like for finite humans to commit ourselves to the kinds of demanding and valuable tasks that force us to confront our limited control over how our lives unfold. (Oliver Burkeman, Four Thousand Weeks)
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Question for you to ponder Is there any idea or practice you noticed you come back to over and over? What does this reveal about you?
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Thank you for reading. Wishing you Happy Holidays!
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