Comments on: Stimulation

By: ames

ames — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:18:45 +0000

Great comments!

I think we also need to be careful not to put presence in external surroundings. I’ve learnt that the hard way recently. Facebook can be looked at as distraction from internal presence but also as a form of external presence. MTBing, or whatever we use external to us is putting that presence outside of ourselves. Even a challenging, amazing job. Just like material possessions, these things are external and can go, can be taken away.

Recently I went through a process of fully accepting a situation I did not want to, meaning I had to be present with it. It taught me a good lesson – not to put presence, just like happiness, outside of myself.

I like your rules David! I have a <20 in my inbox policy…

By: David

David — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:04:16 +0000

I can totally relate to your post. Up until late last year – I was plugged in to the mainframe that was facebook, stuff.co.nz, sportzhub.com… anything I could find. Radio was on, tv on, internet on – all the time. If I wasn’t plugged in, I was dialling out – putting in a serious amount of ill-intentioned junk miles. All this because I was going through some difficult times which I didn’t really want to confront, life situations I didn’t want to sit with.

And then it began to turn. Yes, it started with a very positive (external) shift in my employment arrangements. Before I started my new role, I created literally 100 email auto rules in my inbox. Rules that would sort my news from my daily readings, from sale emails, from club and membership emails, what’s happening in town emails… After about a week of setting up these rules as they came in – the space that created was incredible. Reality was, I was only really getting 2-3 quality content emails a week directed to me. The hundred other ones were a lesser form of junk mail. The freedom this created and the realisation it caused was astounding. I do not have to be plugged in 24/7. If someone wants me, they will call, text or email me personally. The rest of it is really wasting my life in 60 minute chunks a day.

Now, in my new stimulating and challenging role – I end the day and it feels like it only was 2 minutes long (it’s great when a job opportunity is so in line with your values and desires!). And I leave seeking peace – quiet and stillness after being present with my work almost all day long.

AMT: “So maybe one day I will find myself in the middle of nowhere completely present and enjoy the lack of external stimulation”. Nothing like a sifty mountain bike ride with no real set direction, intention, intensities or loads to do. The space to connect with the wild and be present. And, if the old monkey mind does start to wander, well corners, roots and gravity have a natural way of reminding you to be present on the single track. Time to cruise

By: Christy

Christy — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:47:06 +0000

We do live in a distracting world and so many people take pride in their ability to scan information and multi-task. I agree with you about cell phone and text interruptions. Nothing makes you feel less important than having someone pick up a phone and check or send a message in the middle of a conversation.