Taking a breath

Yesterday, I made it a point to talk about the state of the country and mental health.

It was a way to vent my frustrations about what I see in the world that grinds my gears.

• Injustice

• Willful ignorance

• Deliberate incompetence

These aren’t things that we act on as children.

These are learned behaviors.

What’s really funny is that I see these types of behaviors in my pets as well. The cats are masters of the art form, and the youngest one naturally drives me up the wall at night with his antics. While my dogs are a little more mature, they definitely like to use the side eye to let me know that they’re not satisfied with the situation when they get irritated.

I needed to get some stuff off my chest, but these three aspects of life definitely trigger me the most.

So what do you do when everything appears bleak and going down the toilet?

Step 1: Take a step back

As writers, we cultivate a kind of background noise in ourselves throughout the day.

You are aggressively attuned to your thoughts and your emotions as well as your immediate surroundings. Anything or anyone could be an inspiration for an idea for your next piece, and when you get a handle on this hyper-awareness, some days can give you days or weeks of material to chew on.

At this point in the process, I don’t have a problem with lack of content. I have way too much of it.

It’s ok to step away for bit and embrace the silence. Tell the monkeys to settle down and stop flinging poo. Go away to a quiet place in your mind, one that doesn’t have “how can I use this thought to help others?” on repeat.

Once you’ve mentally stepped away, it’s time for the next action.

Step 2: Unplug

You read that right.

Turn off the phone or leave it in another room. It’s just you and your clothes (somewhat optional). Actually, going for a swim does sound like kind of a nice thing, but you’d be surrounded by people. I certainly can’t afford anything more than a public pool at least, but you do you.

Don’t be anywhere near anything that needs an outlet to work.

Your fingers are itching for that device aren’t they?

And yes, for a parent of young children, this is a frightening idea. Putting yourself in another area away from them for even a moment is harrowing. A million things could happen all at once during your absence, and your mind is afire with the possibilities on a Biblical scale.

It’s ok. You need this.

Step 3: Breath and let it all out

There are a few options here.

Mine is to do Tai Chi as I breath, but you can sit and meditate or even take a nap. Whatever you do, don’t dwell on anything that bubbles up in your consciousness. Just observe the thought and let it go. The fact that you can’t capture anything in this phase is the price of admission for long-term sanity. There is nothing beyond this moment, this place. It’s just you and yourself and your breathing.

I know. Mind-boggling isn’t it?

Forcing yourself into stillness beyond the hustle of life seems to be an alien concept, one that tests just how bad your FOMO has become in the current age of constantly being connected. If you’re at least a Millennial, then you’re going back to your roots. Otherwise, this is definitely not territory that you’ve explored.

Imagine your brain in a jar, just floating.

No inputs. No outputs. Just a brain in a jar. A happy brain to be sure, but still floating there. I’m getting Bob Ross vibes as I type this out…

Actually if you can’t stand the idea of doing step 2, then go to the Bob Ross channel and just watch a few episodes of that. It has the same effect.

Life isn’t fair

I know, I know…this issue is a cheap reminder to not let things get you down.

I feel like I needed to do a pallet cleanser after yesterday, and I know it won’t be the last time that I share my thoughts about what’s happening. But this newsletter isn’t centered around politics. It’s centered around identity, growth, and legacy. Things like politics and religion are shaped by those aspects.

We’ll be starting our next 7-day series tomorrow.