Thoughts on Intentional Living
by btublin
We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.
– Seneca
To be fearless is an illusion.
We can fool others into thinking we’re immune to fear by the way we carry ourselves, but we all know what it feels like. We feel threatened by some sort of danger, whether physical, psychological, or perceptive. We sweat, hesitate, and stutter. Sometimes we go to great lengths to avoid whatever haunts us, just so we don’t feel the discomfort. [Read more…]
by btublin
You just did that thing you were scared of.
Made the big speech…
Pushed the “publish” button…
Had that difficult conversation…
Now you’re relieved. And free.
And nervous it will backfire on you. That you’ll get a negative reaction. That others won’t like it.
Even worse, what if people ignore it? [Read more…]
by btublin
About a year ago I was obsessed with developing the perfect habits.
I wanted to write more, meditate, work out, and sleep well.
My goal was to lead a happy and productive life, and I wanted it all at once. I devoured articles, books, and blog posts about developing sustainable habits. I even wrote briefly about my journey to create the ideal morning routine.
And for a while, this worked. Every morning I would wake up early, do something physical, sit still for five minutes, write a few words in Evernote, and eat a quick breakfast. The routine felt a bit rushed and compartmentalized, but at least I was doing everything I wanted to do.
At least that’s what I told myself. [Read more…]
by btublin
What are you thankful for?
We hear this question asked a lot this time of year, and it’s genuine enough. With Thanksgiving taking up much of our collective mind space, we naturally take the opportunity to reflect on what makes our lives worth living. Similar to the way New Years Eve has become a singular moment we use to reflect on past achievements and future desires, Thanksgiving is our yearly placeholder for tapping into appreciation and gratitude.
And this is a good thing. Creating space to acknowledge what we’re grateful for in our lives enables us to reflect on the people, places, and actions that matter most. It allows us to step back from the daily grind, and comprehend the bigger picture in a positive way. Despite any struggles and negativity we face day to day, gratitude helps us realize we all have reasons to love our lives. [Read more…]
by btublin
“I HATE tomatoes!”
My friend was adamant as he slid the plate of freshly sliced red veggies to the other end of the table.
“Trust me,” he said. “I just don’t like them. Never have, never will.”
It was early fall, and we were enjoying a delicious, home-cooked meal, made with ingredients bought from the farmer’s market that morning. Everything looked and smelled amazing, but my friend simply refused to try the juicy heirloom tomatoes that were newly in season. [Read more…]
by btublin
I was talking with a friend recently about his efforts to build positive habits into his daily life. He wants his activities to more closely align with what makes him feel true and whole as a person, something he has apparently strayed from in recent years. He’s on a quest to rekindle his identity, and is focusing on daily tasks and activities to get the flame burning again.
To paraphrase his point of view, he’s trying to stack together positive actions that are congruent with who he is as a person. The more consistent he can be with these actions, the more his identity is reinforced, and the more whole he feels.
It’s an interesting approach to rediscovering yourself. Most of us think we have to zoom out to get a better view of who we really are—we travel, visit family, go off into nature. We get away from it all, hoping we can return with greater clarity for who we are and what really matters. [Read more…]
by btublin
One of the most beautiful views in the country sits just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, atop a 900 foot peak known as Hawk Hill. The steady climb winds up into the Marin Headlands, leaving the bridge and the SF skyline behind, revealing the sparkling edge of the Pacific Ocean in front. It’s an unbelievable destination, and you’ll see dozens of runners, hikers, and tourists winding along the switchbacks 365 days a year. [Read more…]
by btublin
Is it better to be idealistic or pragmatic?
On the one hand, realism gets things done. Nothing can move forward, and no real change can happen, without connecting the dots between ideas and how to manifest them in the world. A foundational skill set grounded in reality is required by anyone hoping to implement ideas of any size, let alone the lofty ideas expressed by the most idealistic among us. Pragmatism is a virtue in this regard, ensuring ideas progress forward towards some attainable goal. [Read more…]
by btublin
My roommates and I had dinner together on a recent Tuesday night.
No laptops. No cellphones. Just the three of us, sharing our company and a meal we made together.
It had been a while since we sat down together and just talked. Summer plans, traveling, and general life busyness kept us hopping in and out of each other’s lives for the past few months. We’d hang out and have a great time, but it never resulted in the kind of deep interactions that foster meaningful connection among friends.
So we decided to put aside our busy schedules and catch up, distraction-free. [Read more…]