The weekly perspective
One question to ask yourself
Am I focused on the process or am I attached to the outcome?
Non-attachment in Buddhism refers to the practice of letting go of our attachment to things that we desire. It's less about not wanting these things, but the idea that one of our major causes of suffering is attachment to a specific outcome. As if life, god, the universe, doesn't have any influence over the outcome (news flash - it does). To reduce our suffering, we can focus on the process (the habits, the actions, the present), and not the outcome over which we have no control. Things sometimes go our way and sometimes they don’t. All we can do is give our best effort and emotionally let go of the outcome. Because if we obsess about an outcome, we can't possibly honour the present.
Something to consider
“Beautiful people are made through overcoming.”
If you're in the depths of hell right now, or even in the shallow end of a Monday meltdown, breathe through this as an affirmation or simple reminder. Overcoming > Paris filter.
One thing I'd tell my younger self.
Often, which choice you make it not as important as making a choice and committing to it.
Stop deliberating. That deliberation is a choice, a choice in the opposite direction of the alternative. Each day is a page in your book - learn to turn the page.
One thing to try this week
If you can do it, ask yourself if you want to do it before you do .
People pleasers unite. Yes, I can do that bit of work. Yes, I can stay up an extra hour for that phone call. Yes, I can come for drinks after work. Why do we live by 'cans' and not 'want to's'? Oh, because we're conditioned to keep people happy and put them first, that's the one. This week, before you find yourself saying yes I can, stop and ask yourself, do I want to?
A few things to tell you...
Should you take collagen supplements? Do we watch porn? Can creatine help hypothalamic amenorrhea recovery? We covered way more topics than this on the latest EIQ Nutrition podcast. Listen to it here.
I loved this podcast with Leo Tyson a few months ago. We got into the depths of relationships with food, mindful eating and went into topics you haven't heard me speak on before. Listen to it here
One more thing...
Please share your favourite stuff.
I'm really trying to have a more positive impact this year (it's where this Monday email spawned from). If there's something you really relate to or know someone who'd benefit from something in this email, please share it and pay it forward. Words are magical, and if I've learned anything from writing these emails to you for years, you never know when someone needs to hear the exact thing you've got to say.