I've always loved the line in the Tao Te Ching that says "nature is never in a hurry, yet everything is accomplished." Maybe this is what non-grindy productivity looks like--not trying to control the parts of your behavior that don't respond to control anyway, and riding the horse of your natural energy flows to get things done.
I'd say if that's really your genuine want – like if you are perfectly happy socializing and drinking as the central feature of your life – then that's no problem? I have known many gadabout types who occasionally get things done but mostly just extrovert, and they seem happy enough
I'd say if you're going to the bar a lot but regretting not doing other things, then there's some inner tension to be addressed, some sort of natural energy blockage, parts of your system not fully communicating with each other, or you're in an environment that's unhealthy for you
Well put, this is actually really insightful. When it comes to natural energy blockages, and parts of my system not fully communicating with each other, do you have any resources you would recommend?
Hey I realize this is an old comment and I'm not Sasha, but the book No Bad Parts is a good intro to IFS and parts work which you may find helpful. Sasha has also recommended Existential Kink in the past.
I like how you say your output in all areas tends to be high, including ones we typically don't see as "productive" like social media. “comfort with smoothly transferring my energy into the world" is a very good definition of productivity; one I haven't heard before. thank you for your insights Sasha
Hearing someone communicate something much closer to what my own productivity (and life) look like is deeply reassuring.
Thanks to “productivity” guru culture (and just the way successful people often tends to talk about their productivity) I often feel like I’m doing it wrong, despite the clear evidence that the way I do what I’m doing is working for me in my life.
I felt very uncomfortable about this disparity years ago but have come a long way in just accepting it as the way I operate, while thinking that the “productivity ideal” that’s bandied about the internet either just doesn’t work for my brain for some reason, or is all sort of a fantasy anyway. But I think I wasted a lot of energy on trying to fit into a mould of what productivity should look like, that should have just been spent on, well, just doing stuff.
as always, resonates very much. My life looks far less disciplined than it ever has and yet feels far more beautiful, full and productive than before. Less strict routines, more strictly noticing the flow of my being and not blocking it.
Sounds like you’ve become very good at doing this and have a lot of ease with the ways you naturally show up in life
This is my ideal lifestyle, and one I'm working to create for myself. Thanks for putting words to it, so helpful to know there's at least one other person who "gets" this.
I've always loved the line in the Tao Te Ching that says "nature is never in a hurry, yet everything is accomplished." Maybe this is what non-grindy productivity looks like--not trying to control the parts of your behavior that don't respond to control anyway, and riding the horse of your natural energy flows to get things done.
love this
What if my natural energy flows to not doing much at all to reach my goals and hitting the bars instead?
I'd say if that's really your genuine want – like if you are perfectly happy socializing and drinking as the central feature of your life – then that's no problem? I have known many gadabout types who occasionally get things done but mostly just extrovert, and they seem happy enough
I'd say if you're going to the bar a lot but regretting not doing other things, then there's some inner tension to be addressed, some sort of natural energy blockage, parts of your system not fully communicating with each other, or you're in an environment that's unhealthy for you
Well put, this is actually really insightful. When it comes to natural energy blockages, and parts of my system not fully communicating with each other, do you have any resources you would recommend?
Hey I realize this is an old comment and I'm not Sasha, but the book No Bad Parts is a good intro to IFS and parts work which you may find helpful. Sasha has also recommended Existential Kink in the past.
Started reading No Bad Parts, thanks!
It worked for Bukowski, sort of
Interesting (and a bit sad) that I need someone else expressing my way of being in order to give myself permission to be me. Thanks for sharing Sasha.
I like how you say your output in all areas tends to be high, including ones we typically don't see as "productive" like social media. “comfort with smoothly transferring my energy into the world" is a very good definition of productivity; one I haven't heard before. thank you for your insights Sasha
Hearing someone communicate something much closer to what my own productivity (and life) look like is deeply reassuring.
Thanks to “productivity” guru culture (and just the way successful people often tends to talk about their productivity) I often feel like I’m doing it wrong, despite the clear evidence that the way I do what I’m doing is working for me in my life.
I felt very uncomfortable about this disparity years ago but have come a long way in just accepting it as the way I operate, while thinking that the “productivity ideal” that’s bandied about the internet either just doesn’t work for my brain for some reason, or is all sort of a fantasy anyway. But I think I wasted a lot of energy on trying to fit into a mould of what productivity should look like, that should have just been spent on, well, just doing stuff.
Anyway I appreciate you sharing, Sasha.
This was very permission-giving for me, thank you, mettacittena.
as always, resonates very much. My life looks far less disciplined than it ever has and yet feels far more beautiful, full and productive than before. Less strict routines, more strictly noticing the flow of my being and not blocking it.
Sounds like you’ve become very good at doing this and have a lot of ease with the ways you naturally show up in life
This is my ideal lifestyle, and one I'm working to create for myself. Thanks for putting words to it, so helpful to know there's at least one other person who "gets" this.
"Productivity, for me, is a natural outgrowth of passion." resonates deeply
This is such an important viewpoint on productivity. Thanks for sharing.