"I Just Don't Get It!"
The mind is a valuable reservoir of memory and ideas that help us connect the dots in our lives. We use our mind to anticipate, plan, process, and imagine. The mind gives us the internal abilities to respond appropriately to situations and circumstances outside of our control. It helps us to understand the need for and develop a plan of self-care.
However, mental activity requires a great deal of energy and concentration. When we grow weary we tend to grow mentally lazy. The dots go unconnected and we allow other parts of our lives to assume control. We may allow our emotions to overrule our best judgment. We may let the body’s aches and pains keep us from doing what we know is best for us.
Unfortunately, when we are at our lowest point we have the least energy to combat the mental fatigue. We allow ourselves to drift about in the currents of our fears, our prejudices, our discomforts, and our hatred. We talk ourselves out of tending to our mind. We do not read or explore options. We accept the easiest answer as the only answer. We allow ourselves to be manipulated by those who promise everything and have no way providing anything. We do not look out for ourselves or take the time we need to give ourselves the rest that mental activity often requires.
Mental fatigue and the ensuing mental laziness becomes a major roadblock to providing quality self-care. It drains us of the energy we need. It helps us to rationalize inaction. Mental fatigue hides itself in our unacknowledged emotions that masquerade as well thought-out opinions. Not only does this roadblock prevent us from doing what we need to do to pull ourselves out of the ditch. The spinning wheels giving us the impression that we are actually doing something to help, but remain we stuck in the mud of our mental laziness.
However, mental activity requires a great deal of energy and concentration. When we grow weary we tend to grow mentally lazy. The dots go unconnected and we allow other parts of our lives to assume control. We may allow our emotions to overrule our best judgment. We may let the body’s aches and pains keep us from doing what we know is best for us.
Unfortunately, when we are at our lowest point we have the least energy to combat the mental fatigue. We allow ourselves to drift about in the currents of our fears, our prejudices, our discomforts, and our hatred. We talk ourselves out of tending to our mind. We do not read or explore options. We accept the easiest answer as the only answer. We allow ourselves to be manipulated by those who promise everything and have no way providing anything. We do not look out for ourselves or take the time we need to give ourselves the rest that mental activity often requires.
Mental fatigue and the ensuing mental laziness becomes a major roadblock to providing quality self-care. It drains us of the energy we need. It helps us to rationalize inaction. Mental fatigue hides itself in our unacknowledged emotions that masquerade as well thought-out opinions. Not only does this roadblock prevent us from doing what we need to do to pull ourselves out of the ditch. The spinning wheels giving us the impression that we are actually doing something to help, but remain we stuck in the mud of our mental laziness.
Tip -- Cultivate Curiosity
One discipline that can help us climb out of the ditch is to cultivate curiosity. Curiosity is a prelude to wonder. And wonder has the capacity to reawaken our mind from the false slumber of mental fatigue. In short, curiosity is simply paying attention to the sparkle in our lives.
For the next week, take time to look at the margins in your life. Most of the time we focus on the same events, experiences, and people. We become creatures of the routine and expected. We lose sight of the people and events on the margins, the edges of our experiences.
When you go out to eat pay attention to the server. Ask them about their day. Be curious!
When you find yourself stuck in traffic, take a look at the cars around you. Observe the people driving them. Imagine what their day must be like. Be curious!
When you find yourself with a few minutes to yourself, try and remember the last time you went for a walk with your friend or companion. Imagine what they are thinking and doing at the moment. Be curious!
When you hear a word on the radio or in conversation that you do not understand, be curious! When you meet someone for the first time and they have an interesting accent, be curious!
In short, cultivate a curiosity about the people and world around you. For in those moments of curiosity you will feel the first waves of wonder. And on those waves you will be able to ride the surf of thought to a reawakened and reenergized mind and spirit. Be curious!
For the next week, take time to look at the margins in your life. Most of the time we focus on the same events, experiences, and people. We become creatures of the routine and expected. We lose sight of the people and events on the margins, the edges of our experiences.
When you go out to eat pay attention to the server. Ask them about their day. Be curious!
When you find yourself stuck in traffic, take a look at the cars around you. Observe the people driving them. Imagine what their day must be like. Be curious!
When you find yourself with a few minutes to yourself, try and remember the last time you went for a walk with your friend or companion. Imagine what they are thinking and doing at the moment. Be curious!
When you hear a word on the radio or in conversation that you do not understand, be curious! When you meet someone for the first time and they have an interesting accent, be curious!
In short, cultivate a curiosity about the people and world around you. For in those moments of curiosity you will feel the first waves of wonder. And on those waves you will be able to ride the surf of thought to a reawakened and reenergized mind and spirit. Be curious!
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