Break the Twitch
Love Your Attention, Build Better Habits
I’ve been thinking a lot about minimalism recently, specifically the idea of living with less stuff and prioritizing experiences. Over the last two years, this philosophy has been incredibly effective in helping Amy and me slowly craft our lives into what we’ve wanted them to be. There are just so many different considerations that it can sometimes be overwhelming to think about whether or not we’ve landed where we should be.
[Read more…] about Creating Checks Points for Living Well
Last week, we went on an adventure–one that I have feared for a very long time. It was one of those opportunities that you have to jump on, as the conditions couldn’t be replicated anywhere else in the world. I wasn’t without hesitation, though.
I seem to have natural fears of being just about anywhere except flat ground. My fear of heights has always caused my palms to sweat even watching videos of tower climbers. Any time a second or third story railing is just a little bit too low I start to squirm uncomfortably walking next to it. I usually find myself moving over to the middle of the walkway and positioning myself as far away from the edge as possible.
[Read more…] about An Adventure Below The SurfaceI learned about meditation back in my High School days and have been practicing it on and off ever since. Recently, I’ve found that I really enjoy taking some time out of my day to just breathe and be present. Remember, there are many wonderful forms of meditation and prayer that you can explore, this is just one way that I like to practice.
Most importantly, meditation doesn’t need to be intimidating. If you’re wondering how to meditate, or simply how to get started, check out this video. I explain why I started meditating, the benefits I’ve seen, and provide some tips on how to get started with meditation.
Over the last few weeks, Amy and I have become particularly interested in making sourdough bread. We love the idea of making bread the same way that humans have for many thousands of years. Besides the delicious nature of the bread, there are some great reasons for doing it this way, too.
[Read more…] about Five Things I Learned from Sourdough BreadAs I enter this new phase of my life, largely having complete control over my time, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about how I should be spending my time and attention. Outside of a typical career, personal growth can be a little more difficult to track. Without the traditional promotions and positions, I’ve had to come up with my own definitions of growth and success. Right now, reigning in my schedule, creating my own accountability structure, and working efficiently are my priorities.
Historically, I’ve allowed myself to get distracted by exciting new projects, meeting random interesting people, and generally expanding my social sphere. What I’ve realized in the past few weeks, is that right now is not the time for that particular type of growth. Currently, my primary focus is making videos and writing for this site, as I have a ton of ideas and opportunities to do so–now it’s simply a matter of producing and executing on that plan.
That’s what got me thinking about these different types of personal growth and how, if we’re able to recognize which we need, we can make better decisions on how to spend our time and energy. Each type of personal growth will benefit us more or less depending on whether we need to discover new interests and redefine who we are, or simply go ‘heads down’ and crank out the work.
While they can be blended, even switched back and forth each day or week, it’s important to be aware of which type you’re currently in. That way, your attention can be focused in a meaningful way on achieving that particular type of growth. Knowing this will also prevent you from getting too laser focused on the wrong narrow path if what you really need is to be expanding yourself in all directions.
This is the first time I’ve shared this idea about the types of personal growth, so please check out the video above and leave a comment below when you’ve figured out which type you’re geared towards right now. I’d love to hear what you think!
I’ve spent the last week in my hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan. I’m heading back to Minneapolis today, but I have had a great time visiting family and friends here. I’ve been staying with my parents, in the house where I grew up, which means I’ve spent quite a bit of time sitting in a great deal of my own history.
[Read more…] about How An Early Failure Jumpstarted My Intentional Living Journey