"Think less, do more." That has been my motto for a while now, as I’ve become increasingly aware of a deeply-engrained habit that consists of thinking through every conceivable possibility before (a) deciding to actually DO (or not do) whatever it is I’m considering or (b) curling up in a ball and putting off any decision or action until I’m in a more stable place from which to properly evaluate how this decision will potentially effect my entire life. You may see how this creates a self-perpetuating cycle of procrastination, hence the need for the “think less, do more” mantra.
Recently, thanks to the favorable alignment of the planets (or maybe it’s the hopeful scent of spring in the air) I’ve been feeling a bit more motivated to not only get organized, but to take actual steps towards bringing my lofty goals and colorful dreams out of my busy-little head and into the world.
Of course, the first step is to sit still for long enough to get some clarity on what exactly those dreams are. But there I go again with that exacting, need-to-know, black-or-white trap that gets me caught in the same procrastination game! How about a new approach: find some time to practice doing nothing, sitting still to let the general shape, flavor, and textures of my hopes and dreams start to emerge, without instantly needing to define them and restrict them to self-drawn boundaries…yeah, that’s more like it. And based on how I’m feeling lately, a more consistent meditation practice – carving out time to practice non-doing – is definitely helping to clear (or maybe just see more clearly) the clutter of my brain. Revised mantra: "Don’t just do something, sit there!"
And yet, even with the good intentions to practice self-awareness through yoga & meditation, to take care of my physical body, and to maintain clean, organized spaces in my home and workplaces so that I can more actively create the life I want, there are still so many distractions! Granted, we all need a break sometimes. I’m not berating myself for turning on the tube for an episode of Nova or Glee (depending on my mood), watching TED or YouTube videos on my laptop, or catching up with who’s-doing-what on Facebook. While none of these things are inherently good or bad, I am starting to become more aware of how I use them...for comfort, relaxation, in moments of boredom, sometimes just to distract myself from anxiety or some other task that I am avoiding, even if that very task is taking a step towards a goal that I am passionate and excited about! Why would I do this?
Habit. Because there are so many options, so many entertaining, easily-accessible ways to distract myself, and because I’m not really paying attention all the time, because I’m practicing living mindfully, which means I’ll never get it down perfectly. But here’s the thing: there is a difference between making a conscious choice to go out to see a movie, to sit and relax for an hour-long t.v. program vs. losing track of time while clicking away through photos and status updates on Facebook. And if I am practicing awareness – if I’m truly not caught up in the clutter of my mind – I know the difference.
Of course, the first step is to sit still for long enough to get some clarity on what exactly those dreams are. But there I go again with that exacting, need-to-know, black-or-white trap that gets me caught in the same procrastination game! How about a new approach: find some time to practice doing nothing, sitting still to let the general shape, flavor, and textures of my hopes and dreams start to emerge, without instantly needing to define them and restrict them to self-drawn boundaries…yeah, that’s more like it. And based on how I’m feeling lately, a more consistent meditation practice – carving out time to practice non-doing – is definitely helping to clear (or maybe just see more clearly) the clutter of my brain. Revised mantra: "Don’t just do something, sit there!"
And yet, even with the good intentions to practice self-awareness through yoga & meditation, to take care of my physical body, and to maintain clean, organized spaces in my home and workplaces so that I can more actively create the life I want, there are still so many distractions! Granted, we all need a break sometimes. I’m not berating myself for turning on the tube for an episode of Nova or Glee (depending on my mood), watching TED or YouTube videos on my laptop, or catching up with who’s-doing-what on Facebook. While none of these things are inherently good or bad, I am starting to become more aware of how I use them...for comfort, relaxation, in moments of boredom, sometimes just to distract myself from anxiety or some other task that I am avoiding, even if that very task is taking a step towards a goal that I am passionate and excited about! Why would I do this?
Habit. Because there are so many options, so many entertaining, easily-accessible ways to distract myself, and because I’m not really paying attention all the time, because I’m practicing living mindfully, which means I’ll never get it down perfectly. But here’s the thing: there is a difference between making a conscious choice to go out to see a movie, to sit and relax for an hour-long t.v. program vs. losing track of time while clicking away through photos and status updates on Facebook. And if I am practicing awareness – if I’m truly not caught up in the clutter of my mind – I know the difference.
But seeing as I’m a novice here, and life is busy and hectic enough as it is, I’m gonna make it a little easier on myself. Because I do have some dreams and ideas I’d like to get working on (make a website, update this blog, write more in general, play more music, work on my stand-up comedy act, create collaborative, public performance art, spread love far and wide…), and I need some help in clearing out the distractions, or at least just one.
They say that it takes 21 days to form a new habit (or to break an old one?), so from April 10-30th, I’m taking a hiatus from social media. No Facebook (which is really the only thing I use regularly), and a generally more conscious approach to any internet-based work/searching I’ve got to do. I’m curious to see how it might change my days, my thoughts, my productivity. After all, conquering the world with fun love is a pretty serious commitment!
Will my deepest desires and inner light finally get the attention and space to grow and blossom to their full potential? Will I celebrate the completion of my social-media fast on May 1st with an update on my Facebook profile? We’ll just have to wait and see…
They say that it takes 21 days to form a new habit (or to break an old one?), so from April 10-30th, I’m taking a hiatus from social media. No Facebook (which is really the only thing I use regularly), and a generally more conscious approach to any internet-based work/searching I’ve got to do. I’m curious to see how it might change my days, my thoughts, my productivity. After all, conquering the world with fun love is a pretty serious commitment!
Will my deepest desires and inner light finally get the attention and space to grow and blossom to their full potential? Will I celebrate the completion of my social-media fast on May 1st with an update on my Facebook profile? We’ll just have to wait and see…
