Nature holds a fascinating concept of balance at it’s very core. But what truly is balance? Is it the formation of a perfect middle road in the absence of left and right or does it demand a stark contrast in order to exist? Some questions lingering on my mind over the past few days as the ebb and flow of life enchant me once more.
Many Buddhist teachings postulate that the root of all suffering is to want and long for that you do not possess. Following this train of thought – why do we not reverse the dynamic and direct our energy into appreciation of what we already have. Is this not the key to happiness?
It would be fair to say I consider my entire purpose and desire is to explore life and find beauty wherever I go. In my eye, it is the only way to truly enjoy every day, and yet in today’s society we never consider the artistic value and appreciation for beauty. Why is this? What is even considered beautiful? And can the eye of the beholder be trained?
As my parents prepare their will and write down at what state of health they want to their life to be terminated – I am inspired to face the facts of our existence once more. All of us are born, and all of us will die. An uncomfortable fact too often pushed aside and ignored to hide from the primal fear for the infinite void. But as in all things, there is a balance and sparkle of greatness to be found in facing the truth head on.
As the successful launch from SpaceX brings tremendous scientific progress, wonder, and awe to the world the event is contrasted by mass negativity stemming from a global pandemic and racial division. During these times I cannot help but reflect on the scores of coincidences that have brought us – you – to the present day, and how so many are misguided in their negative focus.
We human beings are not rational. Our mind is flawed with shortcuts and biases. A common bias is the confirmation bias, where we tend to assign more value to evidence that supports our existing belief system and are more likely to disregard nonsupporting evidence. Being aware of the bias is already powerful, but this flaw in our mind can also be exploited in a great way.
A common saying in the field of entrepreneurship is the notion that you should plan for success. You should set goals for yourself, measure the progress and pursue your plan with laser-like focus. However, as seen in numerous projects all across the world – a plan is rarely successful. In fact, more often than not, a plan is missing crucial information that is impossible to know beforehand. So if following a plan is ineffective, how can we cultivate success?
One of the most useful theories I keep going back to is the theory of flow. We have all experienced the state of flow, and with it wield the natural creativity that flows through us all. In fact, it can be argued that not being in flow is an unnatural state to be in. So what is the state of flow, and how can we leverage it in our daily lives to become more productive, creative and happy?
Constantly, our minds are being bombarded by various products and behaviors that offer quick, dangerous boosts of pleasure. Where in the past man had to struggle for conquest, invention and success, many people are now enslaved to dopamine-releasing hedonistic treadmills – ever increasing our tolerance to pleasure and slowly but surely leading us down a path of inevitable addiction and depression. What will happen if we stop having fun?
Fear should – by definition – be a guidance of our natural state to avoid death or serious injury. Unfortunately, more often than not, we feel absolute terror in situations where there is no real risk. We experience crippling anxiety before having to come on stage or before meeting a person you want to impress – while this is completely unnatural and illogical.
