Why you're a mess? (7 ways to sort your life!)
Why you're a mess? (7 ways to sort your life!)
We can try to find order and serenity amid the chaos that is thrown at us by life, but it is a near-impossible feat.
We can try to find order and serenity amid the chaos that is thrown at us by life, but it is a near-impossible feat.
We all have our own unique takes on the world, magnifying the aspects that are outside of our control - whether they be evolutionary, cultural, tribal or technological in nature. We are forever pinned in a giant storm of entanglement and confusion; when put like this, going against the complex mess appears to be a foolish endeavour. We must remember that life has its ups and downs, and accept that no amount of griping can outrun them.
Has life got you feeling like a mess right now? We have all been there and nobody can deny that uncertainty is an unavoidable component of our every day existence. How do we make sense of it all? Well, here’s the thing. Shards of truth can sometimes be not very helpful in understanding just what it is that’s causing our distress. That being said, I would like to offer some strong suggestions on how to cope with those troublesome times and gain a better foothold on this abundance of mayhem.
Here are seven ways to get your life into proper order:
Developing a mindfulness routine. Navigating the noisy world we have become accustom to is no easy task. It's a challenge that requires strong dedication and consistency, something found in the form of mindfulness practices like meditative prayers. Not only will this practice bring you back to your true north, science has proven it also improves your ability to navigate everyday noisy distractions with ease - providing an inner peace that can fend off even the greatest of stresses. So rather than turning up the volume on what already is noisy, take some time to renew your peaceful spirit through prayer or meditation - I promise it has far better taste than pounding caffeine just to keep up.
Acceptance. It's wild to think that reality, in a sense, only exists within our brains. Take the color yellow, for example - it doesn't actually exist; our brains just combine the colors red and green together to create what we see as yellow. In life, acceptance of that which we can and can't control is key to success. Marcus Aurelius and Robert Lee are fine examples of past figures that mastered this concept and achieved victory due to their understanding of what was within their reach. Knowing where they could make a difference helped Marcus Aurelius and Robert Lee focus their efforts on influencing those elements they could master instead of attempting to control things they had no power over.
Know your limitations. A great life hack for the modern world is to know yourself and your limits–both physically and mentally. Understanding your capacity gives you the power to improve. You can start by tracking metrics such as your running progress, daily commute, how much time you're spending on your phone, or even how much output you're generating at work. Develop a system that allows you to measure these averages and over time you can set realistic goals and grow from them. At the end of it all, having this knowledge about yourself will open up a whole new realm of potentials!
Seek mentors and study them. From entrepreneurs to sports figures, and even ancient philosophers, there have always been mentors around us. But these days, it's easier than ever to draw lessons from them: the internet serves up a wealth of wisdom with just one search. Like many of us, growing up I had two primary mentors: my parents. From my dad I learned to become more precise and always seek quality in everything I do. My mom was the master of resilience and fortitude; no matter how tough the situation she could handle it. Their examples were profound; whenever confronted with a challenge or hurdle I find myself reflecting on which approach will yield better results. Chances are if either one of them faced it before, I can take from their real-world experience and apply it in life today – allowing their stories to be timeless reminders for future generations.
Understand that most important concepts exists in a paradoxical manner. It is almost comical that we search for comfort, and relaxation in our lives, when all around us there is chaos. On one hand we have this never-ending existence of chaos, while on the other, we strive to create order out of it. Our bad experiences are paramount in aiding this journey towards 'the greater good'. After all, how else would we know what to aim for if we had not experienced some discomfort first? Take nature for example - its very identity has been formed by a cyclical pattern between chaos and order. This pattern emerges at a universal level; from galaxies to individual humans, it appears that duality is required as part of reality's fabric.
Use powerful stories as a navigation tool. We've all been fooled into believing that structure is a wondrous thing, always out there for those brave enough to conquer. But sometimes the reality is that the only way we can truly make sense of the world is through stories -- captivating tales that capture our complexity and give us purpose. We're so accustomed to beginnings, middles and ends that anything without a clear storyline falls flat; yet at times, we dig ourselves a deeper hole by creating dangerous narratives for ourselves to fall back on. If we want clarity amidst the chaos, it's crucial for us to recognize these false sources of structure, and let go of them in favor of worthwhile stories. That's our way out of a messy world and into the light.
Seeing the world through the eyes of gratitude is a superpower. A superpower that fortifies and energizes us on our path through life can be found through being grateful. Every day, I ask myself what I'm thankful for, which gives me the strength to at least try and find the good in even the most unfortunate of situations. It's not always easy, but it's definitely worth it. Adopting a gratitude lens is an incredible source of opportunity, one with seemingly no boundaries. After all, everybody has something they can be thankful for!
Bonus one! Use tools and technology wisely. Social media platforms are pretty savvy when it comes to utilizing technology, but don't let that suck you in. Arm yourself with the knowledge of all the ways the internet and gadgets can be used for good. Notion and Jasper AI are both great tools that I take advantage of, Notion helps me organize my ideas and then Jasper AI takes care of any pesky grammatical errors before I hit publish - so helpful! It's important to keep in mind that technology has been used in times of war too; those with better tech and tools were often successful during those moments. So while it's awesome we have all these amazing devices at our disposal now, remember not to abuse them or put yourself in a disadvantage! Read my blog on social media and its detrimental effects on us.
We're all familiar with the light at the end of the tunnel metaphor, but it remains a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, light and hope exist.
Tap into this light with eight pieces of advice; guard rails for finding specific, actionable solutions when you're struggling to find your way out of any mess. Each situation has its own set of complexities; but it's comforting to know that overall guidance is available through these basic precepts – and that light awaits us once we take a step in the right direction.
This blog is part of my 'why' blog series as I deep dive our modern day struggles. Read my previous post here. A video version of this blog can be found here.
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