Friday Musings—21/07/23

Is personal development worth it? If you haven't read it yet, in this week's post I discuss what self-development means to me and why I think everyone would benefit from making it an integral part of their lives. As always, I invite you to share your thoughts and insights in the comments, I'd love to get your feedback and continue the conversation.

Now onto my weekly musings 😎

More sleep for a better society.

In this article, Russell Foster, head of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute at the University of Oxford, delves into the far-reaching implications of sleep deprivation. His analysis highlights how these negative consequences extend well beyond personal well-being and affect society as a whole. For instance, according to him, sleep deprivation might be to blame for the economic crash of 2008. It could also be the reason behind the much higher divorce rates experienced by night workers.

As someone who has dealt with sleep issues all my life, I'm always drawn to any discussion on this topic. While this article may not provide much practical advice, it will 100% convince you to make sleep a priority. I also appreciate Professor Foster reminding us that sleep, as many other valuable resources, is not equally accessible to all. From night shift workers to people who lack the basic privilege of a comfortable bed, a significant portion of the population is particularly hit by sleep disruptions. This issue ultimately impacts us all, because a better-rested society would be kinder, more reflective, more constructive, and more intelligent. Who wouldn't want that?

Going into "rest and digest" mode.

When I asked my contacts to take a personal-development survey a while ago, the overwhelming majority of them listed stress management as one of their top concerns. It's a topic I've been exploring for a while, mainly because I'm not immune to stress myself. In fact, I've been told it contributes to my health issues.

I plan to write more extensively about this in future posts and possibly create a workshop. In the meantime, this piece by Dr Lipman, whom I've been following for a long time, offers a comprehensive overview and a wealth of practical advice on how to activate our Parasympathetic Nervous System. The PNS, often referred to as our "rest and digest" system, plays a crucial role in inducing relaxation, rest, and restoration, so learning how to activate it can be a game changer.

On spirituality and rituals.

This past Sunday I attended an open-air mass celebrated at 2300+ meters. The service was led by a priest who is a bit of a local celebrity due to his contrarian views and his stance against the Vatican's power. My relationship with organized religions has always been complex for several reasons, starting with my upbringing that exposed me to different faiths. It was always impossible for me to believe in a single religion and a single God. When asked, I usually describe myself as an agnostic and going through a "mystical crisis". However, I do feel a need for spirituality, and I like to believe that we are more than mere biological machines. Research also demonstrates the positive impact spirituality has on mental health.

Witnessing people gather to sing, pray and listen to sermons also reminded me of one of my sociology classes, where we discussed how group rituals are essential for social cohesion. It also made me reflect on the scarcity of powerful group rituals in today's world and the epidemic of loneliness plaguing our societies. I'm not suggesting Catholic masses are the answer, far from it. However, I do believe our pursuit of individualism may have gone too far. We need to recognize that we are part of a whole and actively look for more occasions to come together, appreciate what we have and cherish our shared identity as a society. Do you agree?

Quote of the week ✍️

"True silence is the rest of the mind and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment". (William Penn)

That's all from me today, enjoy your weekend and TTYS

ML