Mindful Matter
19 things to remember.
- Remember to dream big- Remember that it’s OK if life doesn’t go to plan- Remember that this moment is precious- Remember to not take yourself too seriously- Remember to say yes to adventure- Remember to value the things you have- Remember to value the relationships you have- Remember that life is challenging- Remember that challenges can be good- Remember that no one has it figured out- Remember that we are all in this together- Remember that you need to take responsibility for your actions- Remember that things are constantly changing- Remember that you can be a force that changes things- Remember to get out of your comfort zone- Remember to lead with love- Remember that even the haters need love- Remember that the world reflects back the vibes you put out- And always remember that you are enough -- We made a letterpress print of this list! Check it out!
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It’s never, and always, the right time.
“It isn’t a good week for a day off; things are bit too hectic.” “It’s too soon to tell her how I feel.” “It’s too late to ask for help.” It often feels like now is not the right time. But is it ever really? I notice this tension daily between the things I really want to devote my energy to versus the things that pull at my attention. Most recently, I encountered it while trying to build a new meditation habit. I had decided that it was important to me to carve out 20 minutes a day to sit quietly with my thoughts. Rationally it made sense — the science is there — and I was determined to make meditation a priority in my life. But day after day, once I got into the swing of my to-do list everything else felt higher in priority and definitely more urgent then sitting quietly for 20 minutes, even though I knew from experience that I could bring more energy and clarity to my work after even a short meditation. I saw this happening in other areas of my life as well. My wife and I recently planned a getaway for a few days. As it got closer, it just didn’t feel like the right time to get away — there was too much uncertainty, too much work, too many things that had to be done. With a non-refundable travel itinerary booked, we went despite my anxieties. And of course, the moment our train left the station and I started seeing the landscape pass by, I was reminded of the power of perspective and fresh energy that can come with distance. When it comes to things that are important but not urgent — taking time to recharge, having that conversation, reflecting on how you feel — it almost always feels like it’s not the “right time”. I’ve come to appreciate that there may never be a “right time” for many of the important things in life — and because of that, almost any time is. To making time for the important things, Dave RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee P.S. Our goal with the Holstee Membership is to help you connect and reflect on what is important in your life through the lens of 12 mindful themes.
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Passionate about this chance to live.
A couple of weeks ago, we talked about how “Passion” can be a loaded word. This week, I want to share some wisdom from one of my favorite, if unexpected, modern philosophers — the rock star and writer Andrew W.K. In 2015, Andrew was asked, “How do you figure out what your passion is?” by a reader of his popular column in The Village Voice. Andrew’s response struck a chord with me. It centered on the idea of living fully and allowing space for our passions to reveal themselves in the process. “One’s true purpose in life is not always something that can be decided upon, discovered through personal introspection, or encountered while following one’s tastes and preferences. It sometimes seems to be brought out by some sort of universal need: A person suddenly finds him- or herself called upon to do something extremely important, and instantly, everything surges in that direction.” He continues (and here is my favorite part): “The greatest work is the tireless effort to understand and be worthy of one’s life. When it comes to everything else, just give yourself a break. Work to make yourself as strong, and as good, and as available to the world as you can, so that when destiny calls, you’ll be ready, willing, and able to answer it. Be passionate about having this chance to live, and everything else will reveal itself to you at the perfect time.” To being open to what reveals itself, Dave RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee P.S. This is one of a handful of our favorite articles around this month’s theme of Passion. Members can check out the full list of Curated Resources for more on Passion from great thinkers like Paul Graham, Simon Sinek, and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. P.P.S. You may remember I referenced Andrew W.K. in a past Reflection when sharing some of his wisdom on not getting homesick.
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A holy moment.
“This moment, it's holy. But we walk around like it's not holy. We walk around like there are some holy moments and there are all the other moments that are not holy … but this moment is holy, right?” This quote comes from a conversation in Waking Life, a 2001 animated film that takes us in and out of surreal conversations, raising deep questions about our dreams and reality while blurring the lines between them. I rewatched the movie over the weekend and love this scene, as well as so much of the movie. It reminds me just how incredible every waking moment is. In our day-to-day lives, it’s easy to forget and even easier to take for granted the magic of right now — magical in the sense that so many unlikely, incomprehensible events had to transpire in this universe to make this very moment possible. Even the sad moments, the stressful moments, the mundane moments — these are of course magical too, but rarely feel that way in the moment. Then there are the moments where you can definitely feel the magic. Like the moment I made my newborn daughter, Mala, smile for the first time. I will never forget that unbelievable sense of wonder and connection. It is a gift to appreciate the magic of what’s happening right now. What is one magical memory that you have from this year? Mike RadparvarCo-Founder, Holstee P.S. This question is just one of 100+ thought-provoking questions and conversation starters in our new Reflection Cards, which are perfect for sparking meaningful conversations with friends, family, and coworkers. There are less than 60 hours left, pre-order a deck on Kickstarter!
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