Mindfulness &

how to be aware in an unaware world

Tag: body

  • Control

    Control

    Changing things up a bit, this post is much less a how-to-live-better and much more a small story of a small hike I went on earlier this year. Also, If you find any value in my musings, your support will go miles long to support me! You can do so over at buymeacoffee.com/mindfulnessand

    “We treat the body cruelly to remind it that the mind is in control.”

    A beautiful and eloquent quote I cannot find the source of (or cited source of). It reminds me of every time I’ve pushed past my body and mind’s limits, from hiking Olamana’s Three Peaks in sandals and half a water bottle, or Kings Peak after springing both ankles a few months prior, or climbing Queens Bluff when my arms and legs shook uncontrollably from the danger, or camping alone and banged up in the deep woods of northern Alabama. Each time, my mind was in control even though my body was strained. I focused and re-focused on what steps ensured survival. The mind has a ridiculous amount of power over the body, we are reminded of this every 4 years during the Olympics or on any given outdoor channel. So if I could give any encouragement in this post it would be to never forget the power of your mind. Train it to your betterment, and use it to your advantage.

    It is early January as I hike up and up along the steep and dry face of Mt. Olympus in Salt Lake’s mountainous backyard, pushing higher and higher above the inversion, I turn around to see…

    Bated breath escapes my lungs as I stand and soak in the appalling and mesmerizing view, a flat lake of dense pollution and cold, trapped air floating above Salt Lake Valley.

    I can hear the momentous traffic below, a steady hum like an AC running in the background of a summer home. It is loud enough to drown out the thoughts bubbling in the mind yet soft enough to drown out the exhaustion in the body.

    Leaving the hum behind, I continue up the rocky trail, around the corner of the canyon, the sun inching out of a thing cloud above. Turning left into a dark caress of the canyon covered by trees on either side, I reach a section of the trail covered with packed snow and pause to catch my breath again.

    A few fellow enthusiasts greet me while sliding down with crampons and much more sense than I. A mental note is taken to get some crampons or spikes when I next see fit to.

    While continuing up the trail into steeper ground and fewer trees, I begin to realize the sun is getting cautiously low, hovering just above the mountains in the distance, and I get cautiously close to turning around, without the proper gear and light to push my will much further. How to Trick Your Brain into Doing Hard Things

    Though this is an interesting reflection, my will was waning, but my body was content with going further. Previously, logic would have lost to determination, yet as I age so does my determination, becoming less childlike and more deliberate. How to Train Your Brain to Enjoy Doing Hard Things

    And so, it doesn’t take long for my logical voice to win as I pause to take a sip of water, sit down on the blanketed trail, and then cautiously begin my descent back down, darkness slowly closing in…

    And here is another question. What about darkness besides the lack of light is to be feared and cautious of? Sure, there are lower temperatures and night-time creatures to not forget, however, the cold is tempered by warmer clothing and a quicker pace, and to the hidden creatures, we are just another strange predator, but unequivocally not preferred prey.

    Thank you for reading this story of mine and the associated, random thinking. Given that hard things only become harder when we recognize them as being “hard” in the first place, I will make writing an easy task. How to Trick Your Brain to Like Doing Hard Things

    In reality, when I just sit to write, I enjoy it very, very much and it’s not laborious at all, the trick is to just sit to write. Have a wonderful day!

  • Minimalism

    Minimalism

    What comes to mind when you hear the word minimalism?

    Minimalism is often thought of as the amount of stuff one does or doesn’t possess, but it goes beyond material possessions.

    Minimalism is the outward expression to own less, but it’s much more than that.

    I’ve come to define minimalism by constantly asking myself, “Does this item, activity, relationship, or opportunity bring me value in my life right now?”

    With that question in mind, as I write this post, I’ve listed a few things that bring me value, focusing on what I already have rather than what I’m lacking.

    Items
    Books: I value reading a good book in a plush sofa chair in a quiet library or while swinging slowly in a hammock at the park. A few of my favorite books are The Hobbit, The Alchemist, Ready Player One, Calvin and Hobbs, and Into the Wild.
    Black Betty: I value driving my car Black Betty, and yes she was named after the popular song of the same name by Ram Jam. I value my car not because of what color she is or how fast she goes, but because of the memories created with her. I’ve been all over the East Coast, across the Midwest, and up into Canada in my car. Currently, all I own is also sitting in my car, so it’s extra special!

    Activities
    Climbing: I value rock climbing, it is invigorating, challenging, and frightening all at the same time. Rock Climbing is often described by enthusiasts as ‘moving meditation’.
    Chess: I value a good game of chess, or any board game for that matter, which helps with critical thinking, problem-solving, and patience.
    Meditation: I deeply value my daily morning meditation. It allows my mind, body, and emotions to reset. Meditation also allows me to see my thoughts and actions not as good or bad, right or wrong, but simply as they are, and in the process, let them go with much more ease.

    Relationships
    Family: I value my parents, brother, and extended family who have always supported me no matter what path I choose in life, and whom I am eternally grateful for.
    Friends: I greatly value friendship, and seek out new friends everywhere I go. It is said there is no equal gift to a good friend. My closest friends constantly remind me how blessed I am to have them in my life.

    Opportunities
    Travel: I greatly value the incredible opportunity to travel this vast, dynamic planet, visiting friends, meeting strangers, and getting comfortably uncomfortable.
    Writing: I visibly value this blog, the journaling I do each day, and the physical and mental ability to express my thoughts and ideas in a clear, concise manner.
    Exercise: I value the opportunity to work out each day in good health and high spirits, whether it be a short walk around the neighborhood or a HIIT workout.

    I encourage you to try this list yourself. I think that you’ll find it very helpful in defining your values while finding gratitude along the way.

    As you might have guessed, yes I’m a minimalist, and the process of becoming a minimalist has not been an easy one, but not because it was hard to give stuff away.

    Most of the difficulty took place in my mind, being honest with myself about what I think I need and what I need.

    1st: Ask yourself (and be brutally honest), “Is stuff getting in the way of what is important in my life right now, friends, family, work, health, etc.?”

    2nd: If stuff is getting in the way, try doing the 30-Day Minimalist Game. Grab a few friends and a calendar, then go through each day together, remove 1 item on the first day, 2 items on the second day, and so forth. Whoever makes it furthest gets a prize (something small), like a pack of ramen, a hammerhead shark, or a left diamond earring.

    3rd: Keep a medium-sized box in your room and continually ask yourself, “Do I value this item and does it bring me joy.”
    If the answer is yes, then keep it!
    If the answer is no, then throw it in the medium-sized box semi-aggressively!

    4th: By now you have a pretty good grasp on minimalism regarding your stuff. Now apply the same idea to activities, relationships, and opportunities.

    And Wallah! You’re now a minimalist! Over time, the concept becomes a reality, and the reality becomes far too fantastic to give up.

    Minimalism is about a life filled with less of what we don’t value. And over time, this lends way to a life of more space, time, energy, and value.

    More reading on Minimalism

    1. What is minimalism anyway?
    2. Everything you own can fit inside a 40L backpack.
    3. Famous minimalists?
    4. A film about Minimalism in the modern age?

    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!