how to be aware in an unaware world

Author: Josh Avery

Transformation
“I’d rather dream large and fail than shoot for mediocre and never discover my limits.”
– Diana Nyad

I both love and agree with this quote. It reminds me that we are limited by our own willingness to transform in life.

I say transform because I don’t particularly like the word change. When we change, say a bad habit to a good habit, we can just as easily change right back.

But when we transform, it’s implied there is no going back, it is set in stone.

Transformation: Noun: A marked change, as in appearance or character, usually for the better.

I do understand there are many forces out of our control that can make our path to transformation extremely difficult, but there is still a way. There is always a way through small, deliberate, logical choices every day.

Those who read this blog know how much of an advocate I am of routines. Routines make the world go round. Without them, we would be wandering around aimlessly like zombies, without care and without purpose.

When you look at some of the most influential people in the world, they all dared to dream big even though they encountered many limitations along the way, but eventually, they succeeded in transforming themselves over time.

What matters most is how you see yourself, not how others see you.

Some spend their entire lives realizing the meaning of that notion, while others recognize it early on.

We must equally be kind to ourselves, forgiving the mistakes and failures we make, so that we can move on.

Everyone who has made a name for themselves in this world had to experience disappointment, judgment, and hatred from others, but it was their view of themselves that kept going.

I encourage you today to try and catch yourself when you use the word change, and see what happens when you use transform instead. Write down three things that you can do to transform bad habits into good ones.
Three Links
Thank you so much for reading! If you enjoyed this post or the three links, you can consider Buying Me A Coffee.
July 21, 2023
Value
“A human sacrifices their health in order to make money. Then they sacrifice their money to recuperate their health. And then they are so anxious about their future that they don’t enjoy the present; the result being that they don’t live in the present or the future, they live as if they are never going to die, and they die having never really lived.”
– The Dali Lama

I absolutely love this quote by the immensely influential Dali Lama because it has led to the life I lead today, as a minimalist and explorer who constantly questions his values in life.

I had always agreed with being value-focused but didn’t really put it into practice until recently when I sold almost all my possessions, packed a 40L backpack, and began traveling the US and Europe.

Throughout a year on the road, chasing my passion to travel and explore, meeting so many new people, and seeing so many new places I learned that a simpler life is a more fulfilling life.

Through seeking minimalism, I found that recklessness is abundant in the Western world’s view of success and that success needn’t be defined by the amount of money in our bank accounts or the number of places we’ve been, it ought to be determined by the love we give and the love we receive!

What I found through my journey was a greater discernment of choice. I began being able to see the impact of my choices at a deeper level. I started asking myself what my decisions, relationships, purchases, and commitments really meant.

Constraints breed resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and invention. So choosing a minimalist lifestyle with that in mind really made it easy.

I was actually less content with more because all that stuff was getting in the way of my values: Time, Nature, Travel, and Connection.

Every day we have a choice, albeit a difficult one, to make.

Choice 1: Abandon the idea that power, prestige, and position provide happiness (because happiness is tainted).

Choice 2: Abandon the idea that experience, relationships, and service provide fulfillment (and resort to Choice 1).

It’s like the difference between change and transformation. Change sounds nice, right? Well, change is only temporary. If I change a habit today, then I can change that habit again tomorrow. But if I transform that habit today, there is no going back, no transforming back. As I write this, I am committed to a path that transforms me, not changes me.

Today, I encourage you to reflect on the things that bring you true fulfillment. Take a moment to jot them down and commit them to memory. Let this realization guide you toward transforming your life in a way that aligns with your deepest desires.
Three Links
Thank you for your time and attention in reading this post. It is a rare gift. Feel free to leave a comment or share this post. You can also buy me a coffee here if you feel so inclined!
July 6, 2023
Destiny
You alone can truly determine your destiny. But there is no need to emphasize such a remark. The question posed here is what factors determine our destiny and are those factors controllable?
Destiny is defined as the events that will happen to a particular person or thing in the future.
Destiny simply is your future.
Destiny is not a straight path leading to a single result in the future, it’s an ever-changing series of tracks that is a result of our choices.
It’s a beautiful yet difficult thing. We can choose our destiny, but we cannot choose our fate. That feeling that we are supposed to do something grand or minuscule is our destiny.
How do we live in a way that we are content with whatever outcome arises, whether pleasant or unpleasant?
Since awareness precedes contentment, noting the present would lead to a more content mind.
Contentment can be defined as a state of happiness and satisfaction
Getting off track for a second, we’re going to try a quick noting technique.
Noting can either be spoken out loud or in your head. We will focus on the five senses that make up our human experience (I wonder what technology the future holds in store).
Touch: Can you feel the gentle force of gravity? What about the temperature?
Sound: What noises imbibe your attention? Can you hear your thoughts and ideas?
Smell: Take a deep breath through the nose. Can you smell even the faintest of smells?
Taste: Move your tongue around in your mouth. Can you taste anything in particular?
Sight: Opening your eyes, what immediately beckons your attention? How does the light bounce off objects? What about any movement?
Close your eyes for a few moments and try this on your own!
It’s a beautiful thing to notice the present isn’t it? The world around us moves as we remain still. People are wrapped up in ever-busy lives as we pause, even for a few minutes to do nothing at all.
Practicing noting helps us see our destiny, and helps us answer that burning question of why we were here.
Where we’ll go and what we’ll achieve is all happening now, in the present. Each small choice decides who we will be in ten years.
Our destiny is constructed by the way we interact with others. Our interactions are immensely important as they are the growing branches of our tree of destiny.
We must also have a guide to begin navigating this life if we hope to venture out on our own.
Therefore, I believe destiny is intertwined with friendship and community, a full understanding of our destiny requires the support of others.
Simply put, we would not be where we are, who we are, or why we are the way we are without those who made pivotal impressions in our lives. This is a cue to gratitude. It is our destiny.
Three Links
1. Fate vs. Destiny (read)
2. Staying engaged (listen)
3. How to change your genetic destiny (watch)
Thank you for your time and attention in reading this post. It is a rare gift. Feel free to leave a comment or share this post. You can also buy me a coffee if you feel so inclined!
June 19, 2023