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Category Archives: dieter
Getting Lost in Just Doing
Sometimes we get discouraged about ourselves: we think, “I’m not doing a good job, I’m not disciplined, I’m not good enough, I suck.” Or something like that.
What can we do? Give ourselves a pep talk? (Sure!) Find something to appreciate about ourselves that’s awesome? (Yes!)
Another approach, highly recommended, is to just forget about it.
When we’re discouraged about ourselves, we’re doing a lot of hand-wringing about why we’re not good enough, not amazing enough, not successful enough, not special enough. But what’s so important about being special? Why are we so preoccupied with that? It’s a waste of brain cycles.
Instead, just pick something to work on. Write something, draw something, program something, animate something, sew something. It doesn’t matter. Anything that your heart is drawn to.
Set an intention for this activity: I’m doing this out of compassion for others, out of love for myself, to meet my commitment to so and so.
Now get started: begin actually doing it. Don’t worry about whether you’ll do it for 10 minutes or an hour. Don’t worry about how good you’ll be at it, or what people will think of it, or whether you’ll succeed or not. Those are not relevant to the task.
Just do. Put your mind completely in the activity, in the motion and ideas and emotions, in your body and breath and surroundings. Be completely mindful, completely immersed.
And this child inside yourself, worried about being special? He or she disappears. Gets lost, as you become immersed in the doing.
Try it now. Pick something, set an intention, and start doing. And lose yourself in the doing. (Thank you, Leo Babauta)
With kind regards,
Dieter Langenecker
You’re Not Doing Life Wrong
There’s an everpresent underlying feeling that most of us have that we could be doing things better. That we’re not sure how to live life. That we’re doing things wrong.
This leads us to try to optimize, to try to improve, but also to feel bad, to seek comfort and distraction, to procrastinate while we seek the answers. This is normal and there’s nothing wrong with it.
But I’d like to assure you that you’re doing nothing wrong. That you don’t need to optimize or do things better.
Try this:
For just a moment, pause where you are, and soak in the current state of the room around you, and your own state. Just notice what this is like.
Now see how this moment is enough. Just as it is. Without any need for improvement. It is a wonder, and there’s no need for more.
Now see how you are enough. Just as you are. Without any need for improvement. You are also a wonder, exactly enough.
You can go about your day, pausing every now and then to do a check: is this moment enough? Are you enough? And try answering, “Yes, absolutely and wonderfully.” (Thank you, Leo Babauta)
With kind regards,
Dieter Langenecker
The Anti-Bucket List
Have you ever made a bucket list? For me, they’re incredibly seductive – I love reading other people’s bucket lists, and making my own.
But here’s what happens when you make a bucket list:
- You put this huge burden on yourself to get the list accomplished. As if we don’t already have enough on our to-do lists already!
- If you don’t do well at pursuing the things on the list, you feel guilty or underaccomplished.
- If you do well at pursuing the list, you are probably pursuing less-than-meaningful activities. They’re usually just there because they sounded cool to do.
The truth is, most of the things we put on bucket lists are just ideas that popped into our heads, not anything connected to meaning. We put things like “skydiving” and “learn to surf” and “visit the Amazon rainforest” and “kiss in the rain”- all of which are excellent activities … but we rarely put things like, “change someone’s life” or “find meaningful work that I care about” or “be compassionate toward my family”.
Why put pressure on ourselves to achieve a huge list of things that aren’t that meaningful? Why feel guilty if we’re not pursuing them? Why not let them go?
Life isn’t a big todo list, nor is it about optimizing all the things we do in life.
The most amazing things are right in front of us, right where we are. Right now. We don’t have to go anywhere or see some incredible sights or do daring activities to experience the wonder of life.
And we can do meaningful work, right where we are. What would a shorter list of meaningful activities look like? What would your anti-bucket list contain?
And if you don’t know what’s meaningful to you … isn’t that what you should be pursuing instead of a bucket list? (Thank you, Leo Babauta)
With kind regards,
Dieter Langenecker
ReThink – Towards Ethical Paradigms
“The fundamental problem with most businesses is that they are governed by mediocre ideas.
Maximizing the return of invested capital is an example of a mediocre idea. Mediocre ideas don’t uplift people. They don’t give them something they can tell their children about.
They don’t create much meaning.”
Bill O’Brien (CEO Hanover Insurance)
They don’t create much meaning.”
Bill O’Brien (CEO Hanover Insurance)
Dieter Langenecker
The Place Where You Are
We rush through our days with so much to do, so much we should be doing, so much we’re missing out on … but how often do we stop to appreciate the place where we are right now?
I don’t mean to focus on the journey, because that’s many different places … but instead to focus on where you are at this particular time. The physical place you’re in, the emotional state you’re in, the phase you are in life.
Pause for a moment, right now, to notice where you are.
What is it like? What is the light like? What about the sounds, the smells, the feelings your body is feeling, the people around you? What is your state of mind? What are you worried about, joyful about? What is stopping you from appreciating this moment?
Find something to be grateful about where you are: if you’re around someone you love, enjoy that. If you’re doing something that makes the world a better place, be happy about that. If you’re in someplace beautiful, be thankful for that.
What if you don’t like where you are? This is something to appreciate as well. Stop and feel your emotions about where you are. See that you are hurting. See that you wish things to be different. How does that feel in your body? Allow it to happen, and realize that it is temporary but a part of life. Not good or bad, just happening.
Then think about all the things you aren’t suffering from: If you aren’t in a war-torn area of the world, give thanks to the stars. If you aren’t suffering from health problems, aren’t sleeping on the streets, aren’t about to die … that’s a minor miracle. You are alive, and life is a wondrous thing to participate in. (Thank you, Leo Babauta)
With kind regards,
Dieter Langenecker
My Favorites March 2016: Great Stuff I’ve Found Recently
My monthly “My Favorites” routine includes posting links to great content I ran across, to encourage you to check them out if they sound interesting for helping you to live a meaningful life. Enjoy!
Ancient Wisdom in Modern Times – Deepak Chopra and Sadhguru
What is the Meaning of Life ?
At some point or another we all have struggled to get answers to the questions like What is the meaning of life ? What is the purpose of life ? What is the definition of life? Why are we here? What is the purpose of MY life? What is life? Guest post by Happiness
How to Build an Empire
Leo Babauta on how to build a successful business. Read it here!
Leo Babauta on how to build a successful business. Read it here!
Uncertainty and Our Search for Meaning: Legendary Psychiatrist Irvin D. Yalom on How We Glean Our Sense of Purpose
“The search for meaning, much like the search for pleasure, must be conducted obliquely. Meaning ensues from meaningful activity: the more we deliberately pursue it, the less likely are we to find it.” Brainpickings
“The search for meaning, much like the search for pleasure, must be conducted obliquely. Meaning ensues from meaningful activity: the more we deliberately pursue it, the less likely are we to find it.” Brainpickings
Smile, breathe, and go slowly!
Dieter Langenecker