talking myself out of a rut | ASMR vlog, soft spoken + cooking

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Talking Myself Out of a Rut | ASMR Vlog, Soft Spoken + Cooking

Hey guys, welcome back to another video. Today, I'll be doing something a bit different. I haven't done a vlog in a while. Recently, I started an Instagram to help me keep track of the things I'm doing, which I can later discuss here. Initially, it went well, but this past week I felt like I’ve fallen into a bit of a rut. It's a place I've been before, and I'm determined to get out of it once again.

To get out of my head, I find that engaging in big activities like traveling, volunteering, or hanging out with friends helps. But sometimes, lack of money, energy, or motivation makes these options infeasible. Waiting around for motivation doesn’t work for me; it's like waiting for happiness before doing things that will make me happy. When I recognize that I'm spiraling into negative thinking, I know I need to force a change.

Today, I'm going to read some comforting and encouraging wise words that I've found helpful in putting things into perspective. Hopefully, this will help both you and me focus and get something positive out of it—even if it's just the relaxation required to fall asleep.

Let's dive into some wisdom from The School of Life's blog post, "Living Long Term with Mental Illness." It echoes the harsh reality that mental struggles are long-term companions, not just temporary illnesses. Instead of despairing, we should adapt by celebrating small wins and redrawing our horizons. It’s crucial to find the right people who understand our unique challenges and continue living despite relentless obstacles.

In my personal life, recent events could be stirring up emotions. I initially planned to start my day differently by going to the beach. Though it’s winter and I hadn’t gone for weeks, I decided to give it a try. Wrapping up warmly, I spent some time reading by the beach. Despite a beautiful day, the wind and sand soon pushed me away, and I ended up crying on my way home.

I also found solace in a Buddhist teaching on desire from the Buddha Dharma website. It discusses how humans act prompted by internal conditions and how our desires shape our actions. When everything is alright physically and mentally, our minds wander, exploring endless possibilities. However, if things go wrong, we sink into gloomy thoughts, leading to anxiety and depression. Setting small, achievable goals helps anchor us, offering direction and combating that feeling of aimlessness.

Buddhism teaches about wholesome desire fueled by wisdom, promoting good health, happiness, and fulfillment. Wisdom guides us against harmful cravings, urging us toward beneficial actions. Alan Watts, in his speech "Buddhism as Dialogue," similarly suggests that playing out our follies can sometimes lead us to discover our mistaken assumptions and help us grow.

Struggling with overwhelming thoughts and feelings throughout this week, I found comfort in spiritual teachings and reminders about balance, intentions, and wise cravings. It’s a reminder not to take life too seriously and to see challenges as guides, alerting us to necessary changes.

This week, my goals were simple: make a video and get out of my head. Realizing the mind’s tricks, I focused on understanding the underlying guidance rather than being bogged down by negativity. This vlog turned into a therapeutic session, helping me rethink and refocus.

Thanks for listening, and I hope your week is going better than mine. See you next time!

Keywords

  • Rut
  • Motivation
  • Mental Illness
  • Perspective
  • Wisdom
  • School of Life
  • Buddhism
  • Wholesome Desire
  • Alan Watts
  • Fulfillment
  • Balance

FAQ

Q: Why did you start an Instagram? A: I started Instagram to keep track of my activities and use them as content for my vlogs.

Q: What is the main message of "Living Long Term with Mental Illness"? A: The post explains the importance of accepting that mental challenges are long-term companions and advises adapting by celebrating small victories and finding the right support system.

Q: How do you use Buddhist teachings to combat negative thoughts? A: By understanding desires and intention, and shifting focus to wholesome desires guided by wisdom, I find balance and fulfillment, mitigating anxiety and depressive thoughts.

Q: What key takeaways do you get from Alan Watts' teachings? A: Alan Watts' teachings remind me that our minds can trick us, and by playing out these follies, we can learn and grow, seeing things from a new perspective.

Q: What was your goal this week, and how did it help you? A: My goals were to create a video and get out of my negative thought spirals. Focusing on achieving small, manageable tasks helped me reassess and refocus positively.