Wallace’s Weekly Wrap
Happy Friday you wonderful humans.
The ultimate freedom is to know intimately who you are and what you need at this very moment
“Some people need more focus
Others need to broaden their perspective.
Some people need to try harder
Others need to stress less
Some people need to care more
Others need to let it go
The secret is that you are both people.
You need to know which one you are in the moment” // James Clear
Humans are complex individuals, we are also incredibly hard on ourselves and at times blissfully unaware of what it is that we are feeling. This is a recipe for frustration, misunderstandings and can often lead to dissonance, both within ourselves, and with others, we care about.
No doubt you’ve all been in situations, as I have, where you feel that something is off. You can’t quite comprehend what is wrong. But that anxious feeling arises, communication becomes difficult and you find yourself unable to work through what it is that is bothering you. You’re doing your best, but today your best seems to be falling short.
Something is missing and you can’t quite put your finger on what that something is.
That something is awareness.
Awareness is the lens through which we perceive and understand the world around us. It is knowing. Knowing the what and the why and the how. To be conscious of how we are feeling, acting and interpreting the events of our lives.
If we are more aware, we become more placid and more able to navigate the chaotic nature of our existence. We can learn to process information in a way that is future proof. We observe and act, rather than react. Shifting our mindset from a haze of frustration and reactivity to one of calmness and acceptance.
Increasing our awareness is not an easy thing to do, but it is a challenge that when undertaken will bear many fruits.
Each of us will be different in how we observe and foster our awareness. We will each have things that help cultivate this understanding, here are 5 things which I think may help.
1. Sleep: Hitting 8-10 hours regularly will give you superpowers. You’ll think clearer, feel better, and have more capacity to learn and grow and give.
2. Journalling: I’ve been an advocate for this practice for a while now and one that I tick off daily. It’s been a slog at times but when I finish my daily page I feel lighter and more capable. You can never write faster than you can think and this habit will force you to slow down and observe your thoughts.
3. Time by yourself is almost non-existent in this day and age. But even an hour without phones and any human interaction will give you the space to breathe, to think, and to expand. Going for a walk is a fantastic way to explore the inner workings of your mind, without the flurry of inputs when have become accustomed to.
4. Conversation: Long-form, distraction-free conversation. It is an art, and if you have people in your life you can go on a deep dive with hang onto them. Explore each other, and learn more about yourself in the process.
5. Meditation: Whether it’s for an hour or a single breath, meditation is about awareness. Anchoring yourself in the moment can bring both relief from the outside world and an understanding of your inner world.
Don’t take my word for it, explore your awareness. Realise that you are both right and wrong, and work on adding tools to your toolbox to better understand and express who and what you are.
The ultimate freedom is to know intimately who you are and what you need at this very moment
Wallace
Below: Last week I sat down in front of the podcast mic solo and riffed on a few things. I think it’ll add value.
Hit this link to give it a listen and let me know what you think.
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“If all you did was just looked for things to appreciate
you would live a joyously spectacular life”