Seriously? A whole day each week without work? Sitting in the orientation that day, I could not imagine pulling it off. I had spent a decade of my professional life running from event to event, fighting for the time to read and write and reflect.
I’d like to suggest a layer of nuance be added: One can only achieve a certain “width” of change for that one day each week. You cannot have a completely relaxed day if the other six are maximally frenetic. If you live with the chaos and noise turned up to 11, you cannot turn it down to 2 on a particular day. By “width” I mean you can really only turn it down somewhat; If you’re normally living at an 11, you can only expect to get down to, perhaps, a 7 on your sabbath. If you really want to have a relaxing day of rest, that’s probably down around like a zero on the chaos and noise knob.
So, Sabbath? Certainly. And work regularly—every day—to turn that chaos and noise knob. Live life at 2, and then your day off can be a sublime zero of rest and recovery.
[The common refrain is t]hat what you do for work doesn’t define you. That the health, hobbies, and relationships you cultivate outside the office are more important. That you’re a human being, and not a human doing, damnit.
It’s the kind of thing that sounds great in the abstract. Yet, no matter how often we rehearse it cognitively and rhetorically, it never entirely resonates viscerally.
I define “work” as: The things I do so that I can trade the results with others. We can all trade in many ways, but a common way to trade is to use money as a way of storing and exchanging value. I don’t think I’m veering off into economics. That definition is critical. There are an enormous number of things which I do that, by that definition are not what I’d consider “work.” How much work one does in terms of hours-spent is going to vary tremendously (and it’s going to vary for countless reasons). There are 168 hours in a 7-day week. If one works 50 hours a week, that’s fully 30% of your total time. Conversely, if one works 5 hours, it’s 3%.
Let’s take it as true that what one does for work matters. That it matters in a real way, which affects your physical and mental health. I do believe that one is able to outgrow this need for meaningful work; I do think one can grow from our inherent nature of a being in need of meaningful doing, to become simply a human being as Mckay (and many others through history) has pointed out.
As one works less, doesn’t it become increasingly important that each moment of work be good work? A couple good hours a week used to make those 50-hours-a-week good. Where’s the “good work” balance for 5-hours-a-week? This inherent need to do work that matters gets stronger as one’s trading-with-others needs diminish. This seems to me, to suggest that the necessity of shifting to the “human simply being” becomes more urgent.
How does exploring one’s center and asking questions influence personal growth and understanding?
Asking the right questions transforms challenges into opportunities for growth.
I think that a way to find creativity and inspiration is, try to read something, try to see something that is not what you usually see, that is not what you usually do. Make yourself feel uncomfortable, and make yourself feel comfortable in the uncomfortable.
~ Sebastián Ruiz Jiménez (2:30)
The discussion explores the concept of finding one’s center and how this aligns with personal growth. Sebastián emphasizes the importance of stepping outside comfort zones to spark creativity and curiosity. He shares insights on seeking inspiration through diverse experiences, such as books, podcasts, and challenging unfamiliar activities.
The conversation also touches on the importance of asking meaningful questions, both of oneself and others, to uncover purpose and direction. Philosophical principles, movement practices, and mindfulness techniques are interwoven to illustrate how individuals can align their actions with deeper values. Practical lessons, like maintaining good technique in physical training, underscore the need for balance and awareness.
Takeaways
Finding inspiration — Engage with unfamiliar or challenging ideas to spark creativity.
The importance of questions — Use questions to challenge assumptions and uncover deeper understanding.
Solid foundations — Build strong roots and bases to support sustainable growth.
Teaching through challenges — Encourage self-discovery by posing questions and fostering problem-solving.
Movement as a center — Align physical and mental practices with a central guiding principle.
Mindfulness in action — Maintain awareness by centering thoughts and actions in everyday life.
Avoiding injury — Prioritize proper technique and self-awareness to prevent harm.
Philosophical connections — Relate ideas from philosophy to practical life applications.
Resources
Simon Sinek — Author of “Start With Why” and creator of the Golden Circle framework, emphasizing the importance of purpose in personal and professional contexts.
Start With Why — A book by Simon Sinek that discusses the power of understanding “why” to drive inspiration and success.
Peace Revolution — A meditation project by a Buddhist foundation in Thailand, promoting inner peace as a foundation for sustainable world peace.
Rise of the Guardians — An animated film by DreamWorks that explores themes of purpose and identity through characters like Santa Claus and Jack Frost.
CrossFit — A functional fitness training program combining strength and conditioning, emphasizing holistic body movement.
How can individuals harness empathy, creativity, and purpose to achieve personal fulfillment and make meaningful contributions to others?
Empathy becomes a transformative practice when it evolves from effort into compassionate action.
Empathy is really hard. It requires a lot of effort to put your—to see, hear, and understand someone for where they are.
~ Scott Perry (9:33)
The conversation explores how authentic, engaging conversations can foster personal clarity, growth, and meaningful connections. It highlights the value of leveraging creativity and podcasting as tools for understanding oneself and one’s purpose. Insights from Akimbo courses and personal experiences underscore the importance of community and serendipity in learning.
Empathy and its connection to compassion are central themes, with a detailed discussion on how understanding others can lead to actionable support. Stoicism emerges as a guiding philosophy, offering practical wisdom for navigating life with intention and resilience. Gratitude and generosity are emphasized as foundational practices for improving one’s mindset and relationships.
Takeaways
Conversations as way-finding tools — Engaging with others can help clarify personal goals and purpose.
Empathy and compassion — Empathy requires effort, but it can lead to actionable compassion that benefits all involved.
Gratitude practices — Simple acts of daily gratitude can enhance mood and perspective.
The value of a compass — Instead of following predefined paths, individuals should develop their own compass to navigate life.
Stoicism as guidance — Stoicism provides actionable principles for resilience and intentional living.
Creative endeavors — Sharing one’s creativity through podcasting and blogging supports personal exploration and connection.
Learning through community — Collaborating within a community accelerates learning and idea refinement.
Resources
Creative on Purpose — Scott Perry’s platform for helping individuals find purpose and fulfillment.
What lessons and insights can be drawn from personal experiences in Parkour and community development?
Exploring how personal growth intertwines with professional experiences in Parkour and community development.
Getting things out there, 85, 90% done, and then there maybe being a few little fixes you do, is actually harmless compared to making people wait or never getting to the end of a project.
~ Chris Grant (15:49)
The conversation explores the evolution of roles and responsibilities within the Parkour community. Chris discusses his transition from being a coach to a development manager at Parkour UK, emphasizing the value of building systems that support practitioners. He reflects on how stepping back from Parkour full-time provided him with a broader perspective and transferable skills, which he now applies to help others in the community.
The discussion also touches on practical advice for those navigating entrepreneurial endeavors in niche fields. Topics include the importance of financial stability, embracing imperfection in projects, and the benefits of setting boundaries to avoid burnout. Chris highlights the need for humility and openness to new learning opportunities, even after years of experience in a field.
Takeaways
Financial stability — A foundational element that enables greater flexibility and decision-making power.
Adaptability — Skills learned outside a primary field often enhance one’s ability to contribute meaningfully.
Perfectionism — Often a barrier to progress, where action is more valuable than ideal outcomes.
Community support — Building systems that ease the workload of active practitioners is vital for growth.
Perspective — Stepping away from a practice can offer valuable insights when re-engaging with it later.
Boundaries — Setting limits on work hours is crucial for maintaining personal well-being and professional effectiveness.
Continual learning — Embracing a mindset of humility and constant improvement enhances one’s impact.
Resources
Parkour UK — An organization focused on the development and promotion of Parkour in the UK.
You may fail miserably, or you’re gonna break through it— you’re gonna learn something new about yourself, and you’re gonna develop a new skill out of necessity that you didn’t have at the beginning of the painting. So that’s what keeps me excited about making paintings, is because I couldn’t do the same thing over and over again. I have to manufacture some sort of potential failure there.
It’s inevitable that you’re going to fail. If you’re not failing, then you’re definitely doing something wrong because you’re supposed to find your limits. There are parts of it that are going to suck the whole way along— that’s a perfect possibility, but you’re going to grow.
What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn’t have any doubt—it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn’t want to go anywhere else.
I’ve recently begun the long project of looking through my past recordings. Only in the last month or so have I been keeping notes about the conversations as I record them, and I want to go back to day-one, (January 28, 2017,) and update my notes on who, when, where— but also the themes and ideas that were discussed. (I’m not listening to everything, just going through the scattered information I already have about the recordings.) Although it’s a lot of work, it’s rewarding to see so many things organized in one centralized system! These days, ideas and connections I find in the slipbox also point me to my specific conversations.
It’s inevitable that you’re going to fail. If you’re not failing, then you’re definitely doing something wrong because you’re supposed to find your limits. There are parts of it that are going to suck the whole way along— that’s a perfect possibility, but you’re going to grow.
You may fail miserably, or you’re gonna break through it— you’re gonna learn something new about yourself, and you’re gonna develop a new skill out of necessity that you didn’t have at the beginning of the painting. So that’s what keeps me excited about making paintings, is because I couldn’t do the same thing over and over again. I have to manufacture some sort of potential failure there.
The worker must be stronger than his project; loads larger than the bearer must necessarily crush him. Certain careers, moreover, are not so demanding in themselves as they are prolific in begetting a mass of other activities. Enterprises which give rise to new and multifarious activities should be avoided; you must not commit yourself to a task from which there is no free egress. Put your hand to one you can finish or at least hope to finish; leave alone those that expand as you work at them and do not stop where you intended they should.
This moment of forgetting always begins with a thought that you’re somehow different, morally speaking, than the rest of the crowd. That guy didn’t signal when he changed lanes. I always signal. That car could’ve made the light—I would’ve been quicker. I am always very efficient with overhead bin space.
It’s been a long time since I‘ve gotten upset about crowds (of any sort.) But there was a time when stuck in traffic, or held up by a crowd, etc. really pushed my buttons.
Now I just feel sympathy for everyone who is in the crowd, (as I am as well,) but who doesn’t yet realize it.
Deep in the vast, mostly forgotten (yet immediately accessible) archives of the blogosphere lie billions of touching, hilarious and brilliant thoughts that humankind has been stockpiling for years. Here are nine that moved me, with excerpts. Bookmark this if you don’t have a lot of time right now.
This is not like the think-pieces I’m normally drawn to share. This is literally a list of nine, individual blog posts (from among the billions) which are worthy of being called great writing. These are among the best things humans have ever written.
There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried.
The term “adrenal fatigue”, which refers to the aforementioned disturbance in cortisol rhythm, is characterized by general fatigue, difficulty waking up in the morning, and difficulty going to sleep at night. It’s a term that’s commonly used by alternative medical practitioners but not generally accepted by mainstream medicine, possibly because it’s difficult to demonstrate and the symptoms are fairly general. Robb Wolf talks about it in his book The Paleo Solution.
I yap about sleep a lot, for a very good reason. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:
Improving my sleep was the single most important thing I’ve ever done for my health. The first small improvements in sleep led to further steps onward and onward.
Uh, remember that project where I scanned 2,500 of my dad’s slides? …people who bought the house found more squirreled away in the garage. …3,000 more. D: oooooookay. Time to make a seperate web site for all my scans/history…
Thousands of reps to go, and winter is coming. Closer to the house to minimize snow/ice… my “10k in a year” project is getting more challenging as temps drop. At least we have lights on the patio for when I run out of daylight. #crazyinagoodway
