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Prelude to a Pause
What if I did my weekly review?But I also have to write a report.Oh wait, my nails need clipping.Ugh, this is hopeless.Maybe I just need a “reset.” I’ll just see what’s on Instagram…
(3 hours later)
Where did the day go? I had so much to do!
Getting lost in the day, the media, in politics both grand and in the family, it is far too easy to lose our bearings.
We might blame this sense in ourselves – that we need stimulation. Whatever it is we are “supposed” to do is simply not stimulating enough. It might be quite boring in fact.
But what is that craving for stimulation?
Stimulation
Stimulation can be a stand in for a sense of vitality. We want to feel alive, some depth of meaning growing somewhere within us. Something needs to feel alive and real.
While there may be some shared, wordlessly agreed upon reality, there is also the reality within ourselves, created in the contours of intense emotion. Our personal reality is the emotions within.
When we can acknowledge that this so-called need for “stimulation” is more truly about a need to feel alive, we can find a new direction.
For example, let’s say, in some rare moment, we are able to catch ourselves scrolling through the phone. We might wonder,
Rather than either
- force ourselves to not scroll
- force ourselves to do anything else
We can pause and deliberately feel the boredom.
It is in no way easy to do this, but doing so begins to shift the emotion from driver to messenger.
From there we can decide what feels most meaningful to us, whether that is to face the difficult work of the day, dive into our scrolling phone, or recognize that there is something else that could be yet more important we hadn’t originally even considered.
- Kourosh
PS. Consider checking out the extended podcast version of today’s newsletter here in the Rhythms of Focus.
What is Productivity?
Productivity is many things. For some, it is about doing a lot in a little time.
But, truly, productivity is so much more. It is about:
- Setting yourself up for success.
- Being focused where you want to be.
- Doing things that you find meaningful.
- Being creative, sometimes even in harsh environments.
- Forging your own paths.
- Finding your voice and delivering it well.
- Knowing and actively deciding on your obligations.
- Knowing where and how to say “no”.
- Avoiding procrastination.
Too often, many of us fall into just going along with and fighting whatever the world throws at us. “Go with the flow!”, we say. Meanwhile, we might think, “I’d like to do that one thing. Maybe one day I will.” The days go by. The goal never arrives, and then we wonder why or blame circumstance.
But when we learn to take charge of our lives and the world
around us, we start living life with intention.
Of course, striking out may seem scary. It takes courage to live life with purpose and on purpose. Roadblocks and worries, fears and concerns show up everywhere.
This is my passion. I want to help you to find that sense of your own unique play to meet the world so that you can:
- Create a life that is yours.
- Find and follow an inner guide in a way that works for you and those you care for.
- Decide on your obligations and meet them while building the world you want.
Productivity Journal
Prelude to a Pause
What if I did my weekly review? But I also have to write a report. Oh wait, my nails need clipping. Ugh, this is hopeless. Maybe I just need a “reset.” I’ll just see what’s on Instagram… (3 hours later) Where did the day go? I had so much to do! Getting lost in...
It’s Too Hard to Even Make It There
Alright, Let’s see what I’ve got on my list here. Visit the gym. Are you kidding me?” Sometimes the simplest things can feel like the heaviest weights. The simpler they are, the more we paradoxically “can’t be bothered.” Head to the garage, show up to the...
Prelude to a Pause
What if I did my weekly review? But I also have to write a report. Oh wait, my nails need clipping. Ugh, this is hopeless. Maybe I just need a “reset.” I’ll just see what’s on Instagram… (3 hours later) Where did the day go? I had so much to do! Getting lost in...
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