Friday Musings—15/11/24

What's new with me

One of my goals at the beginning of the year was to go out more and meet new people in person. I joined a meetup group, which led me to connect with a wonderful art therapist from England, who generously gifted me some sessions with her. This turned out to be the gift I didn’t know I needed. She also recommended the Gestalt association, which led me to my current psychotherapist. Together, they’ve helped me "get unstuck" and move into my "mindful rebooting" phase.

I also recently met a lovely Canadian woman who is training to become certified in yoga therapy, something I didn’t even know existed. For her certification, she needed someone to complete a series of classes with her, and I eagerly volunteered. After a thorough initial assessment, we had our first couple of sessions, which were amazing. I’ve never felt so rested; by the end of both sessions, I found myself yawning non-stop. I’d actually been considering somatic work for a while, so this opportunity came at the perfect time. I’m starting to believe that when you open up to new experiences and put yourself out there, the universe has a way of sending opportunities your way.

If you're curious to learn about yoga therapy, here's a quick overview. You can also find many somatic yoga and somatic exercise videos on YouTube. If you give it a try, share in the comments how it goes—or let me know if you’d like any recommendations.

The "done list"

Traditional to-do lists, while helpful for organizing tasks, can lead to feelings of failure or disappointment when not everything gets done. This sense of "never enough" often fuels self-criticism, which can make things worse; studies show that people who engage in self-criticism are more likely to feel depressed and ultimately be less productive. One simple way to counter this is by using a "done list"—a list of completed tasks. This shifts the focus from what’s left undone to what’s been achieved, helping us celebrate progress.

Interested in reducing self-judgment and feeling more accomplished each day? I recommend checking out this article for five practical strategies. I’ve been implementing them in my own life, and they do make a difference.

A deal with the devil

There’s no doubt that modern technologies have freed up our time and allowed us to live more fulfilling and creative lives. But there’s evidence to suggest that hyper-convenience may actually make our lives more—not less—difficult. A therapist explains how always choosing the easiest path can weaken our ability to handle inevitable challenges, and how a certain amount of discomfort is as essential to our well-being as rest and relaxation.

Modern hyper-convenience is a kind of a deal with the devil. It’s seductive, appealing to our evolutionary instincts, but it quietly depletes us. It has made getting by much easier, but in many ways, it’s made truly thriving harder.

What do you think? Are there technologies you fear may be stopping us from reaching our full potential?

Buttons are in again

In the past 15 years, we’ve witnessed the dramatic rise of touchscreens, but now it seems physical buttons and controls are making a comeback. What’s behind this new trend?

Historian Rachel Plotnick, who studies the ways we use everyday technologies and how they shape our relationships with each other and the world, discusses this shift and what is motivating the "re-buttoning" of consumer devices.

I always find it fascinating to observe and reflect on how technologies come and go and how they affect our lives.

Quote of the week ✍️ 

"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change."  (Carl Rogers)

As always, I welcome your insights or questions. Which musing was your favorite? What topics would you like to see covered in future newsletters? Any other suggestions? Let me know in the comments or send me an email. Don't forget to share this with someone who may find it interesting.

Enjoy your weekend and TTYS

ML