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I've always been bothered by what I call this 'life-perspective problem", and of course, I'm always bothered more when something horrible like this happens. (Th

I've always been bothered by what I call this 'life-perspective problem", and of course, I'm always bothered more when something horrible like this happens. (The preceding statement has its own problem buried in it- because something horrible is always happening, at every second.) I've spoken about it in other forms- "procrastination should be solved by lighting fires, not filling buckets" and so on. There is powerful emotional energy to be harnessed, but a lot of us (maybe just me, but clearly others too) have no idea how to manipulate it effectively, so we typically go without it. When we do get a flash of inspiration, the energy needs to go into a system where it generates something lasting- otherwise we just get the one-off blogpost or product that doesn't go anywhere. We get tired and everyday life dehumanizes us again. It's the same central idea: Can we modify our circumstances and environment such that they remind us of the things that matter, in a way that disrupts us from settling into sub-optimal comfort zones? I used to think that maybe this was a self-indulgent problem that I had, simply romanticizing the moping around, but clearly it afflicts even highly productive and accomplished persons like Mr. Sivers. Clearly this is a broader human problem- our inability to contextualize things, to see the bigger broader picture except when it's too late, or when we're unexpectedly inspired. Is meditation the solution? I think meditation is a practice that encourages the broadening of perspective, but I'm sure there are other ways to reach the same destination- I'm sure we could design for it into our media, into our daily lives. There is some very meaningful work to be done in this "perspective/reminder" space, but I don't know what exactly, and I don't know how to do it. But I'd like to get involved in it somehow, someday, before it's too late. I hope this is helpful to someone. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for reading.

andrewb 13y ago
Cheers. I found it helpful. I too would like to have an answer but having the question is the most important thing. http://kiriakakis.net/comics/mused/a-day-at-the-park http://kiriakakis.net/comics/mused/a-day-at-the-park
nataraja 13y ago
Meditation helps. I also recommend mindful use of psychedelics.
kirse 13y ago
There is some very meaningful work to be done in this "perspective/reminder" space This falls under the category of "knowing thyself". Each man must learn his own rhythms and behaviors well enough to build a system custom-tailored to his needs - and adapt it as he changes, too. Even in something as simple as the Lord's prayer ("Give us today our daily bread..."), we are taught that, yes, this sort of perspective shift is required daily. And to skip it means that one will begin to drift. I heard a great phrase once, and it's that "vision leaks." Whether in your own life or leading an organization, if you are not daily renewing the "stickiness" of your vision, it will leak. I like to keep an ever-changing whiteboard (otherwise my brain soon ignores it) of short reminders on the wall next to my front door, and also a plain notebook that I carry everywhere for weekly to-do / prayer / big-picture reminders. Journaling helps too, but I don't do that daily. The thing that ties it all together though is the daily restoration via a relationship with Christ, I am always learning something new in prayer and through reading the Bible. Many on HN would deny and balk at the existence of a man's soul/spirit, but what you're talking about missing has been known for thousands of years as daily spiritual renewal. If you think the answer is a daily ritual like meditation, you'll simply grow tired of that habit quite soon. And rightfully so, it entirely misses the point of what God intended - a grace-filled and dynamic daily relationship with Him.

andrewb 13y ago

Cheers. I found it helpful. I too would like to have an answer but having the question is the most important thing. http://kiriakakis.net/comics/mused/a-day-at-the-park http://kiriakakis.net/comics/mused/a-day-at-the-park

nataraja 13y ago

Meditation helps. I also recommend mindful use of psychedelics.

kirse 13y ago

There is some very meaningful work to be done in this "perspective/reminder" space This falls under the category of "knowing thyself". Each man must learn his own rhythms and behaviors well enough to build a system custom-tailored to his needs - and adapt it as he changes, too. Even in something as simple as the Lord's prayer ("Give us today our daily bread..."), we are taught that, yes, this sort of perspective shift is required daily. And to skip it means that one will begin to drift. I heard a great phrase once, and it's that "vision leaks." Whether in your own life or leading an organization, if you are not daily renewing the "stickiness" of your vision, it will leak. I like to keep an ever-changing whiteboard (otherwise my brain soon ignores it) of short reminders on the wall next to my front door, and also a plain notebook that I carry everywhere for weekly to-do / prayer / big-picture reminders. Journaling helps too, but I don't do that daily. The thing that ties it all together though is the daily restoration via a relationship with Christ, I am always learning something new in prayer and through reading the Bible. Many on HN would deny and balk at the existence of a man's soul/spirit, but what you're talking about missing has been known for thousands of years as daily spiritual renewal. If you think the answer is a daily ritual like meditation, you'll simply grow tired of that habit quite soon. And rightfully so, it entirely misses the point of what God intended - a grace-filled and dynamic daily relationship with Him.