Chaser: Bring Intention to your Attention
"Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment." — Thich Nhat Hanh
How do we balance staying informed without wallowing in despair? If you are wallowing in despair, it is completely understandable. More and more people are mindlessly scrolling their phones for reprieve. I personally feel like Barbie teetering on the edge of an existential crisis whenever I learn about the latest tragedy. Living on high alert is exhausting. It’s even more distraught knowing that our elected officials with authority either do not take action to mitigate the tragedies or perpetuate them themselves (whether it is gun violence, climate emergency, housing crisis, incarceration, reproductive and trans rights, etc.) Our sociopolitical climate commands our rage and fear, in addition to whatever else we may be dealing with on an individual level. This reality is against a backdrop of capitalist messaging that tells us our worth is not ours. Instead, it is found in our productivity or beauty, or available in the latest and greatest product you can buy - right now - for 50% off.
For me, the ability to take in tragic information and just the overall chaos in our country and still function is by tending to my emotional well-being. You have to tend to yourself like tending a garden. Small, daily, actions guided with intention. The social fear we feel is the byproduct of our modern times which is why I believe turning to ancient practices is where we may find the most potent antidote.
What is emotional well-being?
Emotional well-being is “the ability to produce positive emotions, moods, thoughts, and feelings, and adapt when confronted with adversity and stressful situations.” This isn’t a quality some lucky ones are just born with. It is a skill. It is an ancient practice (it’s also not the same as mental health).
The Buddhists have known the importance of cultivating well-being since the 5th century B.C.E. The Noble Eightfold Path is a set of practices that help alleviate suffering on the path to enlightenment: Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. The spine of all this Right-ness (meaning wisdom, good, skilled) is intention. You have to intentionally and consciously choose Right Thought, Action, Concentration, and so on. In his book, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching (which I can’t recommend enough. Seriously, read this book and/or learn more about Buddhism in general), Thich Nhat Hanh writes “When our feelings are stronger than our mindfulness, we suffer. But if we practice conscious breathing day after day, mindfulness will become a habit. Don’t wait to begin to practice until you are overwhelmed by a feeling. It may be too late.” I call this bringing intention to our attention.
It’s not a coincidence that late-stage capitalism has led corporations to turn our attention into a commodity. In an information-overloaded world, our attention is valuable - to them, but more importantly, to us! I’ve found that when I intentionally use my attention, it brings gratitude and gratitude is what makes the ordinary so extraordinary. It waters the garden that is my emotional well-being.
Here is a list of 5 small actions you can do to slow down and intentionally focus your attention.
Intentional Recommendations
Indulge in your morning coffee
Chocolate and coffee are a classic combination for a reason. Intentionally sip and taste the coffee…and then intentionally taste the sweet, deep flavor of chocolate. If you’re not a coffee and chocolate person, no problem. Turn to whatever your daily morning beverage is and find a way to make it more indulgent. And slowly and intentionally enjoy it.
Watch your comfort movie/show for the 100th time
Turning to the comfort of a movie or show that you love, that brings you pure joy, can do wonders for your emotional well-being. It’s Legally Blonde or any Jennifer Lopez or Julia Roberts movie for me. Just sit down, and watch it. Don’t fold laundry and watch it or pay your bills and watch. Get a cozy blanket, light a candle, and shut your door! Do whatever you need to do to make this next hour and a half to two hours your own favorite viewing experience.
Read a new book by an author you already love
Reading is a purely intentional action. If you are not intentionally paying attention while you read, you spend 20 minutes rereading the same page.
Toni Morrison is my favorite. Her novels read like poetry. Every single word is intentional. In the spirit of celebrating banned books (my newsletter on the subject, here) I started reading Beloved for the first time. And…just…wow. If you haven’t read any Toni Morrison, I recommend you get started today. Her stories uniquely drill into what it is to experience personhood.
Take a cold shower
Just try 30 seconds at a time. I promise. Just do it! Just to show yourself you can do it and really FEEL it. Don’t think about it. Feel the cold. Don’t think about how cold it is. The thinking is the suffering, not the feeling.
Listen to music
When was the last time you intentionally listened to music, not as some background noise or distraction to make traffic go by?
The key is that you have to listen to music alone. In your room, in your office with the door closed, at a park, in your backyard, whatever. This is your own listening experience. And if you feel compelled to dance, great. If you feel moved to tears, great. The point is to really listen so you can tune into your feelings. Maybe try to listen to the different instruments one at a time or think about the lyrics. Maybe your favorite song tells a story you never heard before.
Spotify randomly suggested this song to me and now I am obsessed with it. Enjoy
Later this week I will be back with my thoughts on the Republican debate. I would prefer to entirely skip the subject but they did such a great job showcasing just how awful their platform is. Specifically, I want to share a feminist economic perspective on their pledge to cut government spending.
Have a wonderful Sunday (and watch me on TikTok!!)
Adriana <3