Are we losing focus as an art?
“We require a multitalented person who can work in a fast paced environment.”
Why do companies these days glorify the ability for one to juggle fifteen roles? Pressure, fear, anxiety, all of these internal emotions have been proven by studies to lead to health complications later in life. So will endure this mental stress to suffer later in life?
Do you know that you spend more energy getting back into context each time to leave one thing to do the other thing?
You are not as productive as you think because your brain keeps shifting to get context.
Why can’t we focus on a thing at a time?
It doesn’t help that government keeps making the citizens feel like they are racing against a time they would never win against.
Focus, the dedication and time to bring out beauty is fading slowly and with the incessant need to make everything today be a consumable video—we sit like robots behind our screens eating away precious time to create magic.
That’s where slow living comes in and is slowly becoming a lifestyle for many people.
I stumbled on a TikTok video where this guy said, “Slow living doesn’t mean you are unproductive and most of you are using slow living as a cover that you are lazy and unwilling to do anything.”
To him slow living meant cultivating hobbies that drag you back to earth to connect with it. A hobby that takes your mind off the bustle and hustle.
I found his video kinda accusatory.
I completed a series “Love Next Door,” kdrama btw.
It covers the life of a product manager who was a “yes” girl for 10 years working at a big corporation but eventually had stomach cancer and multiple events that brought her back to her roots. She returned back to her small town neighborhood and began a lifestyle I might ascribe to slow living.
Watching this movie and seeing my own life how it has been made me want to tell the TikTok guy that, most of us have been so used to doing and being busy that being unproductive time to time is okay.
We are trying to have a softened life and if slow living means cultivating hobbies that bring him close to earth, good for him! However that isn’t the standard as slow living can be whatever anyone defines it as long as there’s mindfulness and rest present!
This year I interviewed a slow living artist who is a fashion model and one thing she said was she doesn’t buy a lot of clothes, makeup, skincare, hair products, etc—because she doesn’t wish to be an active consumer.
With the skincare industry today you see many influencers consistently promoting one product or the other week in and week out.
Today it is simple she gives simple products a 5/10 tomorrow, she gives one ordinary products 7/10, next week she’s on to the next one recommending.
The consumers can’t focus on what they actually like because they is no time to actually focus on your skin and know yourself.
They try so hard to heavily influence us with these insecurities they feed our minds. Women keep many industries rich and happy through active consumerism.
Our focus so all over the place. It shows in career too and I have been a victim.
Be a generalist or be a specialist? Take all tech courses or focus on making a career out of writing? Become a farmer? What part of writing should I focus on? What’s my offering? What can I do better? How do I up skill? And so much more!
We can be everything but if being everything is not from the fact that you focused and decided to do it then what’s the point?
That’s why we should breathe and know thyself intimately to be sure that whatever you decide to do in life was your choice. It should come from your heart, this way you own up every mishap and be happy that you tried even when it doesn’t go well.
What is slow living?
Slow living according to Google is a lifestyle that emphasizes simplicity, sustainability, and mindfulness.
It's about slowing down the pace of life, prioritizing well-being, and cultivating a deeper connection with oneself, others, and the environment.
Core principles of slow living include
1. Simplicity. Having a minimalist consumer behavior and reducing unnecessary clutter.
2. Living in harmony with the environment and reducing waste.
3. Being mindful and demure haha. It is being present and fully engaged in the moment.
4. Intentionally prioritizing what truly matters.
5. Having your community of meaningful relationships to heal and to grow.
6. Nurturing your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
How slow living shows itself
1. You just having the time of your life. You prepare and enjoy whole, locally sourced meals.
2. You invest in quality, sustainable clothing.
You travel locally and take time to appreciate surroundings.
4. You create a peaceful, clutter-free living space.
5. You limit your screen time, by blocking some apps and using technology mindfully.
This is beneficial because I believe it makes us focus which reduces stress and anxiety time to time. You have clarity most times, build sweet relationships, better physical and mental health.
It is world mental health day. It doesn’t matter what faith you confess to, I want to say it is okay to not feel okay.
Sadness, depression, anxiety, ADC, ADHD, are all a part of the mental health struggle. There’s a broad spectrum of them and if you struggle with anyone, it doesn’t mean that your faith isn’t strong enough.
It doesn’t mean that you are incomplete. Be aware of your emotions and accept yourself as you come.
In every religious text there’s a struggle between balancing the dark and light in all of us. Ignoring the dark sides doesn’t make them go away. Without darkness there won’t be the appreciation for light.
So in your dark moments hold yourself, acknowledge your emotions, cry as you need to, seek healthy ways to heal, and drink tea or water whichever one you prefer.
Do not substance abuse, do not seek comfort in sex, do not seek thrills in therapy shopping, or comfort eating.
Try to seek healthy ways to comfort yourself. Journal, write in your notes, sing in concerts or church, or mosque.
Plant something, sleep, off your phone and read. Watch kdrama or any drama you like, wear your finest shades and do karaoke in your room.
Find and collect pockets of joy’s everywhere.
Healing is not linear and some of us might battle with somethings longer than we want to.
My brain forgets people so fast and deletes experiences that caused me pain. I am aware of them but I forget the feeling and speak of them like I watched someone from the outside. I dissociate fast and because I am aware of it I tend to hold on longer.
None is healthy.
I get bursts of joys and heavy doses of grief sometimes for no reason. I feel a lot, I come across as intense, I do not know how to regulate the love I feel so I pour. I pour till I feel empty only to begin again.
It is a cycle therapy has taught me to “cope” with.
Some mental health issues can only be managed when we focus, meditate and keep trying everyday.
And if you relapse like I do once in a while, don’t sweat it. Let go of what cannot be helped. You can try your best and have empathy for yourself, but never beat yourself up. If you do because I mean human nature cannot be helped, forgive yourself.
Happy mental health day! ✨
I can only say thank you right now.