Winter reflections

"If clarity is the absence of doubt, why do I doubt after being so sure?"
Winter is here, along with new avenues for exploring, new ways of looking at the world and new lifestyles to live by.

Becoming vegan has been on my mind, but it took something to really humble me to look beyond myself and my own health, and instead the happiness of other beings on this planet. I'll start officially on the 12th, making my own vegetarian meals 3 times a week, going down to one night of meat eating on the 18th. 

Different veiwpoints from the physicist Neil Degrass'e have made me think about life, in the context of being constrained by time, its our knowledge we will die tomorrow which spurs us to live, love life, be ambitious today. Why would you want to live forever, when you always have tomorrow?

Krishna monk Devamrita Swami have made me realise material outlooks on life don't bring us satisfaction but emptiness, and is the main problem for ecosystems, the climate, ethical treatment of humans, and poverty around the world. Consumerist culture also drives the waste problems affecting the oceans, wildlife, deforestation, carbon emissions etc. List could go on forever.

So to simplify this we just need to live more simply, with less material possesion. Get what you need, give what your given, life is for the living. Relationships matter. Building strong moral values matter, practicing them. Deciding on the foundation and materials you want to build your house with, to live a meaningful live. Accepting material needs for our mind and body, such as significance (mastering a discipline or occupation, sense of pride) connection with like-minded others with similar viewpoints and aspirations. Appreciating spiritual needs beyond yourself, such as contribution (tree planting, beach cleanups, climate protests, treating other beings as you would yourself)

Discipline and choices

Planning discipline has always been something I lack and its time to change this. My sleep routine is a cold shower, and breathing exercises outside before sleep, trying not to eat 2 hours before bed. 

Morning is planning out my day from 6:30 to 7am, setting tasks and a set priority list on google calendar and my diary. New blog post 1st of the month

Perceptiveness and coherence

My behaviour work on for this month is being more mindful, focusing on being perceptive and noticing what is going on around me. Eg. How to engage someone in a conversation based on thier mood/body language. How to set up and prepare for a band practice based on equipment, people. 

Coherence is about being in a present state to pick up cues from environment quickly. 

Yesterday I had poor coherence, not noticing what was needed in drill at training.

The answer to the first problem; Maybe because I always question, "The unexamined life is not worth living" Looking at all possibilities is part of our nature, choosing best eventuality. But living more simply involves going with feeling rather than logic sometime, when you feel something is right, do it.