Tag: Change
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Nothing changes, until it all does
Some systems change in a linear fashion. A little pressure, a little movement; more pressure, more movement. But some other systems are more resistant to change. They have defensive structures that are strong in the direction of their main opposing force. No amount of pressure seems to make a difference to these systems as they…
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Being intentional about decay
Primarily this looks like building terrariums and setting up fish tanks with the aim of making them as self sustaining as possible over a great number of years. One of my favourite things to do is to create small ecosystems which mirror the outside world. To do this successfully requires an understanding of the mechanisms…
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Rituals & Change
Religion doesn’t have a monopoly on ritual, it’s just written most of the classic hits. But rituals can come from anyone, from anywhere. They just require a specific combination of action, location, timing, meaning and sincere belief. Rituals can be a powerful way of codifying behaviour, of ensuring that specific actions are repeated with a…
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The part of the world within our reach
This is my second post on Clarissa Estes’ wonderful short essay “You Were Made For this”. Estes opens with the line: “Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach” So often we cast ourselves…
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Find the right mode
Not everything works in every way. Same is true of people. We thrive under different circumstances and in different modes of operation. If something isn’t working we can keep trying (which might be ok in the short run) or we can switch up the mode and try to find a something which works better for…
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Find a rhythm, not a rut
We crave habit, regularity and consistency. And for good reason. Habits allow us to automate good behaviours and leverage muscle memory. They help us achieve a state of unconscious competence with practices that we want to engage in regularly. But every behaviour turns dark when taken to the extreme and our habits are no exception. …
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Getting on a roll
Everything is harder from a standing start. The status quo has no motion. But when we make tiny gains, we build momentum which we can use to fuel bigger and bolder moves. If we can string enough moves together we can get “on a roll” where the effort to move from one point to the…
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Calls for destruction
It’s harder to build something than it is to knock it down. Building requires planning, coordination, resource management, funding and determination. Destruction can be achieved by a far smaller team in a far shorter time. Individuals can, under the right conditions, destroy things overnight that took thousands of people, many years to build. So when…
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Sometimes it just doesn’t work
This is the third piece I’ve written today. I don’t normally write more than one (I don’t have the patience) but the first two just didn’t work. One of them doesn’t know what it wants to be about yet, and the other isn’t suitable given what’s going on in the world. Neither would have added…
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Ask an oracle
I don’t believe in tarot cards whatsoever, but I still love them. They can be beautiful and they have wonderful sense of both playfulness and mystery. To be clear, I do not believe in their ability as a supernatural tool to predict the future. But I do believe in people and imagination and the power…