Good morning, and welcome to another edition of Mindful Mondays!
It’s hard to believe it’s already February. This week I took some time to reflect on this first month of 2023—what I’ve accomplished, what challenges I’ve faced, and what lessons I’ve learned.
This led me to further clarify my goals for the year and prioritize my projects and action items. Rather than being stressful, this process led me to feel more relaxed, knowing that I’m doing the things I need to be doing to reach my goals.
How has this first month gone for you? Are you making progress toward your goals for the year, or do you perhaps need to take a step back, reflect, and redefine your priorities?
You could spend hours refining your time-management or productivity systems, but knowing what you really want, and how you want to be spending your time, is the ultimate time hack.
Articles of Interest
Revealing the Genes That Shape The Human Brain: This article from Scientific American provides a peek inside the research of neurologist Christopher Walsh, who studies the genes that contribute to brain development and brain disorders. Key takeaway: while studying brain disorders provides clues about what genes influence the development of certain disorders, genetics are far from the whole story. I’d argue that environment (including everything from childhood trauma to nutrition and light exposure) is as important or more important in the development of mental illness.
- , former strategy consultant and
author of The Pathless Path, has had a front row seat to the changes taking place in how individuals relate to work over the past decade. In this essay, he reflects on the impact of Tim Ferriss’s seminal book The 4 Hour Workweek and its influence on early adopters of new ways of living and working. As someone who read 4HWW back in 2008, I found myself nodding my head as I read this graf:
Whenever I mentioned the book to people outside of this bubble, they would mockingly dismiss it: “Only four hours a week—good luck, buddy!” They had never read it. If they did, they would have found that it is a philosophical wake-up call disguised as a bunch of life hacks. The whole book is basically him channeling the energy of poet Mary Oliver and yelling, “Don’t waste your wild and precious life!”
Change The Channel: What do you do when mindfulness fails you? When sitting with your emotions feels like being plugged into a wall socket? When thoughts are running through your brain faster than hamsters on a wheel? When it’s too painful to be present? At times like these, neuroscientist and meditation teacher Rick Hanson suggests, just do something, anything, else. You have permission.
Podcast of the Week
Famed Explorer Wade Davis — How to Become the Architect of Your Life: This episode of the Tim Ferriss Show is probably among the top 5 podcasts I’ve ever listened to. As a former Religious Studies major, I geeked out hard listening to Davis—the closest thing to a real-life Indiana Jones—talk about his adventures with Andean shamans, Haitian Vodou, and all kinds of mind-altering plants and practices. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, just take my word for it and give this a listen—you can thank me in the comments.
Quote of the Week
“It is not daily increase but daily decrease, hack away the unessential. The closer to the source, the less wastage there is.” —Bruce Lee
That’s all for this week. As always, I appreciate your feedback on Mindful Mondays. What was your favorite thing I shared this week? How can I make this newsletter more helpful to you? Reply to this email, comment on Substack, or hit me up on Twitter to let me know.
Thanks,
Chris Cordry, LMFT
PS: Would you like personalized guidance toward leveling up your mindfulness practice, clarifying your goals, and building a more meaningful life? I currently have one spot open in my coaching practice. Just reply to this email to let me know if you’re interested.
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Great article Chris! I love the Bruce Lee quote. I'm recommending your substack to readers of mine, Think. Read. Write. Repeat.
I've finally gotten clarity about what I really want. Everything. But somehow that hasn't improved my situation.