Dear Diary Addendum,<\/p>\n
(Monk\u2019s Note: \u201cAddendum\u201d as in this adds to existing pieces and is shorter.)<\/p>\n
Flow is Rest in Action.\u00a0 What does that actually mean?\u00a0 Let\u2019s start from the end and work backward.\u00a0 Action?\u00a0 Action is movement, change, and work; action is us applying a force or influence upon something.\u00a0 Rest is, in essence, the ability to have an interlude between conflicts in which we can recharge ourselves.\u00a0 Rest is related to peace.\u00a0 So how can we recharge ourselves while in motion?\u00a0 Motion almost by definition causes conflict somewhere, as friction, imperfections, exhaustion, or anxiety – something happens in the process of motion.\u00a0 The answer lies in the observer.<\/p>\n
When we observe ourselves in action, it is then we are prone to feeling the friction between the present course of action and our intent.\u00a0 However, when we achieve the Flow state, we are still in motion but without the complications of observing ourselves mid-action.\u00a0 We have liberated ourselves from the inner conflict, the direst of all conflicts, and are free to execute the task to our utmost ability.\u00a0 How one ceases applying self-pressure is unique to the practitioner, but arriving at the trust to perform without conscious thought is common to all.\u00a0 The word practitioner is intentional, as it takes deliberate practice not only to develop the skill of the action itself, but also to perform it without self-observation.<\/p>\n
By performing tasks without constant thought and observation, we also avoid constant conflict.\u00a0 By performing without constant conflict, we may rest.\u00a0 Rest is not always a strictly physical activity; often, what we need is mental, emotional, or spiritual rest.\u00a0 It is not uncommon to need rest in more than one area simultaneously, and people do things like take vacations and other forms of changing scenery (\u2018to go out\u2019) to address this concern.\u00a0 What does this mainly accomplish?\u00a0 By being content to observe everything else, we forget to observe ourselves, except when it is entertaining to do so.\u00a0 However, we can cultivate a mindful practice of being present(*1)!\u00a0 Every day, there are many things we can observe outside of our thoughts.\u00a0 In fact, taking time to observe the transient nature of our thoughts is often helpful; thoughts come and go, and we can release them just as easily.<\/p>\n
(*1) \u2013 I am in no way saying travel and learning about things outside of our normal observations is bad, but it is also not the exclusive solution.<\/p>\n
P.S. :\u00a0 Who and what we surround ourselves with play a role as well.\u00a0 For me, it is limiting my exposure to insincerity.\u00a0 I find insincerity extraordinarily draining, whether it is people asking questions they don\u2019t actually want the answer to, needless or excessive sarcasm, egocentric behavior masquerading as altruism, intentional bad-faith responses, etc.\u00a0 I would rather be alone, and comfort with oneself is a required skill for the Flow state.<\/p>\n
I try to be exposed to natural light when possible, and I have a well-known fondness for music.\u00a0 I think singing, dancing, even if it is a little groove or mentally following along, can be a great form of rest and recharge.\u00a0 The idea is to find things that do no harm and make you feel better for having done them. \u00a0We will only enter the Flow state under extreme duress for activities in which we do not feel better having done them, and most of us have enough stress, eh?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear Diary Addendum, (Monk\u2019s Note: \u201cAddendum\u201d as in this adds to existing pieces and is shorter.) Flow is Rest in Action.\u00a0 What does that actually mean?\u00a0 Let\u2019s start from the end and work backward.\u00a0 Action?\u00a0 Action is movement, change, and work; action is us applying a force or influence upon something.\u00a0 Rest is, in essence, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[304],"tags":[340],"class_list":["post-240530","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dear-diary","tag-340"],"yoast_head":"\n