Minimalism and Yielding

 

 

“All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power.”

 

-        Lau Tzu

 

 

 

 

Have you ever witnessed someone attempting to rescue a drowning victim from the ocean? Occasionally, the rescuer is the one who ends up drowning. Aquatic professionals are trained to either extend a solid object, like an oar, to the drowning person or throw the person an object that floats or is buoyant in some way. Only as a last resort is the rescuer to go into the water to save a conscious victim. The reason being, it is the natural response of someone drowning to latch onto anything within their grasp to push themselves up to the surface for another breath of air. Due to this struggle for survival, adrenaline and external forces like riptides, the victim survives and it is occasionally the rescuer who drowns.

 

There are times in our lives where the circumstances we are going through feel as though we must rescue our livelihood from disaster. We find ourselves fighting against the riptides of inevitability and fate. Then, someone comes along to help us in our struggle, such as a family member, friend or significant other. Unfortunately, there are times when these bystanders can get caught within our grasp and end up taking on a challenge that they did not initially anticipate. They were originally only trying to give a helping hand, only to discover that now they must fight hard to keep their own head above water.

This scenario can be avoided by practicing the concept of yielding to your circumstances. On first glance, this simply sounds like I am telling you to give up on finding a solution to a known problem or to give in to a failure. However, the reality is far from rolling over and playing dead for life’s challenges. The goal is definitely not to allow people, problems or unfortunate events to run roughshod over you situation. The simplest and most direct explanation I can give is contained within a famous quote commonly referred to as the serenity prayer:

 

 

 

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.”

 

-        Reinhold Niebuhr

 

 

In this common quote, we see three things that the person reciting this prayer is requesting from God:

 

1. Serenity to accept things outside of my control

 

2. Courage to change things within my control

 

3. Wisdom to know the difference between what I can and what I cannot control

 

 

This is something most often used by people fighting addictions to alcohol and drugs. This “serenity prayer” is even recited at the end of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Basically, to be able to overcome many difficult situations in life, one must relinquish control of circumstances from external forces, challenge circumstances that can be controlled by internal forces and be wise enough to distinguish between the two.

 

 

 

 

Much like fighting an addiction, often times, it seems impossible to overcome the difficult circumstances that we must face day to day. In general, people are proud, independent and do not want other people or outward circumstances to control their lives. Unfortunately, this manner of thinking is also what gets us into the same frame of mind as the drowning victim. We feel like we can only be happy if we are able to save ourselves. To rely on another person to do for us what we wish to do for ourselves is scary and can make us feel vulnerable and out of control. However, I attest to you that the moment when you relinquish control over external circumstances in which you are unable to influence by your own efforts is the exact moment that you gain the advantage. In this section, I will be discussing the following strategies for yielding to your circumstances: yielding to your past, achieving a “flow state” in the present and visualizing your future state.

 

Yielding to your past

 

 

“You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.”

 

-        Johnny Cash

 

 

 

Every single one of us has been molded by our past. We all have wonderful memories that we treasure and mistakes or unfortunate events that we would rather soon forget or undo if we could. Realizing that the past cannot be changed, it is appropriate to ascribe to the concept that we should yield to those events and place them in the proper context of our experiences. Though negative memories are unpleasant, sometimes they are the very moments in time which define us and shape the lives that we have come to know as our present reality, for better or worse! Good memories provide us with the knowledge and experiences that we would like to repeat and negative memories give us a roadmap of pitfalls to avoid in our future endeavors. Use those mistakes and bad experiences to your advantage by allowing those lessons to give you wisdom for the future.

 

 

Unfortunately, there are negative events in our past that do not provide the type of educational or experiential knowledge to edify our present or future selves. When someone experiences a major trauma, such as a physical assault, PTSD or another related tragedy, often times seeking a professional psychiatrist is necessary. There are times when relying solely on your own abilities to permanently overcome such a mental barrier to move out of a past event, like a major trauma, would be irresponsible at best. In such circumstances, it’s best to rely on a professional to guide you into a cathartic realization that will free you from fear, pain and undue guilt for events outside of your control. 

 

 

Achieving a “flow state” in the present

 

 

“Wherever you are, be there totally.”

 

-        Eckhart Tolle

 

 

 

Reaching a flow state is usually attributed to a state of mind, because mostly it is! However, I believe that few are consistently successful in reaching this state because they think too narrowly. Entering into, achieving and maintaining a “flow state” can be a very sensual experience. Invariably, I find that the people who are the most proficient in reaching this condition of being are such because they are intentional about achieving it with all five senses. Each of us is a complete being. As such, reaching such an epicurean sensation requires us to engage all five senses simultaneously and fully immerse ourselves in the moment. The following section will discuss how to achieve flow by engaging all your senses: visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile, and even the sensation of your taste buds can be utilized to constrict your focus from the general to the specific.

 

1. Visual: Whether you are doing something physical, a mental exercise or a creative pursuit, fully immersing yourself in seeing what it is that you are working on can have a profound psychological effect. While it is vital to remain extremely concentrated on the subject at hand with both eyes, your main focus should be to reduce or eliminate any and all visual distractions that could draw your attention away from what you are doing. Make sure most, if not all of your screens are off. Turn off the television, home entertainment electronics, AI virtual assistants and anything else that gives off a light show. Change the settings on your cell phones, tablets and all other electronic devices to the do not disturb mode until the time you have allotted for the project has elapsed. The last thing you need is a Twitter notification to pop up on the screen resulting in your loss of focus. Make sure if what you are working on is being displayed on a computer or laptop that any and all tabs that are not necessary for the completion of today’s focus are closed. Allowing your eyes to be present will keep your mind in “the zone,” so to speak!

2. Auditory: Just as crucial to your flow state is your sense of hearing. If you are deciding to take on this project at home, remind your family or roommates that you are about to be unavailable for an extended period of time. While some of the suggestions from the visual distractions list translate to the auditory (television, home entertainment electronics, AI virtual assistants, etc…), I would like to suggest an additional step be taken. Utilize a set of noise-canceling headphones or high quality ear buds to play either white noise or a soothing background track that you find pleasing. Canceling out all auditory distractions will allow your mind to focus solely on the task in front of you.

3. Olfactory: While often ignored in seeking a “flow state,” your sense of smell is a powerful link to both your conscious and sub-conscious mind. Whether the scent you experience is a physiological response to a chemical that binds with receptors in your olfactory system or simply a trigger for a memory of positive experiences in your past, each of us react to the smells to which we are exposed. More commonly referred to as aromatherapy, smells of lemon, lavender and peppermint have been found to increase mental awareness and productivity. Invest in some essential oils and diffusers to place around the area in which you will be entering your “flow state.” Ensure that the scents selected act as a barrier to any unwanted smells that would distract you from your task.

4. Tactile: The sensation of touch is also important to achieving a state of flow. First off, ensure that you have recently showered and are wearing clean, comfortable clothes. If completing the task on your bed at home, ensure that there are a fresh set of clean sheets and pillowcases changed out and ready to go. I assure you, if you are uncomfortable, then you will be constantly preoccupied by your physical condition the entire time! Make certain that if you are standing that your posture is upright and not hunched over. If sitting, ensure that the furniture you are using is comfortable and in an ergonomically correct position for the arrangement of your work station.

5. Taste: Another factor seldom considered is your sense of taste and hunger. If you have not recently eaten, then make sure to do so within 45 minutes to an hour from the time in which you plan to enter this state of flow. This way, you will not be distracted by constantly looking at the clock wondering whether or not it’s meal time. Additionally, there are some foods and drinks that you can enjoy during your task to increase mental focus, clarity and productivity:

a)    Coffee: highly caffeinated and effective

b)   Matcha: slightly less caffeinated but released over a much longer duration that gives this beverage a level of endurance that coffee lacks

c)    Dark chocolate: caffeine, sugar and magnesium makes this sweet favorite a triple threat

d)   Almonds and walnuts: loaded with healthy fats, vitamins and protein, these nutritious treats will keep you satisfied and focused

By being mindful of all the sensory factors interpreted by your body at any given moment, you can use the senses you already possess to redirect your focus away from distractions. The key is to be fully present and mindful of the task and the moment. Once you have achieved flow, be sure to stay in the moment. Allow this mental state to empower you to accomplish far more than you ever could living a life full of distractions and multitasking!

Visualizing your future state

 

 

“Visualize this thing that you want, see it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blue print, and begin to build.”

 

-        Robert Collier

 

 

 

What is it that you hope to achieve in the future? We can see how important compartmentalizing your past and using your former mistakes as stepping stones to a brighter future helps de-clutter our past baggage. Just as clearly, finding a mindful “flow state” in the present keeps us grounded in the moment, neither anxious about the future nor obsessive about unpleasant experiences in days gone by. So, how does visualizing the future have anything to do with minimalism?

 

 

Remember, minimalism is about removing anything in our lives that takes away from those things that bring us the most joy. I cannot imagine a bigger distraction from a joyful life than a person whose existence is bereft of meaning, purpose and direction. Few things will allow your life to come into focus more quickly than to discover your passion. Identifying your dream, visualizing the type of life you want to create and having an actual plan to pursue that dream complete with specific details and deadlines is a necessity for living your best life!

 

Identifying your dream: Have you ever meditated on those things for which you have a special talent? Perhaps you are great at working with your hands and enjoy building things. In your spare time, do you work on fixing up cars or remodeling your house? You may even have an artistic expression that needs only a little time and effort to begin honing your craft. Whatever your passion, perhaps now is the point of your life to pursue a change. Identify what gives you passion and energy in life. You may be afraid that pursuing your dreams may interfere with providing a high income. You may be afraid of failure. There will even be people in your life that will try and convince you that taking a risk to achieve your dream is selfish on your part. The truth is, you may deny your dreams and take what others would consider a safer route only to end up failing anyways! There are no guarantees in life. Since there is a possibility of failure either way, wouldn’t you rather be in the camp of people who prefer to try? The saddest thing in the world would be if you ended up as one of those poor people who lie on their death bed wishing that they had lived differently and chased after their dreams. This is the only shot you get at doing life. One of the few certainties in life is that you will never achieve your dreams unless you pursue them. If you do not ask, then the answer will always be no!

Visualizing your dream: Spending time meditating on what your life could look like in the future is an important component towards making your passion a reality. Once you have defined what your dream is, being able to see this in your mind’s eye will allow you visualize your concept of which direction you would like your life to go. For instance, do you want to start your own business? Are you currently a freelance photographer who desires name recognition, business cards and your own brick and mortar studio? Would you like to work remotely as a travel blogger living out of an RV and touring the country? You must be able to see it inside before it will ever become your reality on the outside. Whatever you do, dream big!

Design a specific plan: Many people have dreams. The difference between a dream and a goal is a deadline. This step is crucial in determining the success or failure of seeing your dream come to fruition. Write in a notebook specific details of exactly what you want. Do your research in the library and online to determine exactly how one becomes what it is that you want to be. Create a roadmap of sorts with multiple ways of achieving the same goal. By doing so, you will increase your odds of success and avoid putting all of your eggs in one basket. Whether it is expanding your education, gaining practical experience on a side job or simply volunteering your time with a company or individual to get real world experience, you must take real, tangible steps towards your goal in order to see the results that you want to achieve. Make sure you are specific about creating realistic deadlines for not only larger goals, but also for the small steps in between. Don’t forget to celebrate each achievement, no matter how small! Once your real life experiences increase in frequency and duration, then you will begin to gain traction and confidence towards living your best life. Just remember, if you don’t believe you can do it, then no one else will either! The one who typically needs the most convincing is the person in the mirror. By making a specific plan and taking concrete steps towards achieving it, you will have accomplished far more than most people ever will! Attaining your goals is simply a combination of planning, effort and sheer willpower. There are people far less talented than you doing the things that you dream of accomplishing. Never give up!