GoodFriday: On insomnia, mental clarity, and information
Happy GoodFriday!
Here’s something I heard, thought, and did this week.
Something I Heard:
“Information without feeling is empty.”-Unknown
Something I Thought:
The seed of thought is fertilized best in an absent mind.
Something I’m Doing:
I’m usually a really good sleeper, but insomnia has been kicking my ass this year. Here are some of the things that I’ve been doing lately to help me overcome this issue.
Understanding and acceptance— Insomnia is largely brought on by anxiety. Although I wouldn’t have described myself as an anxious person, understanding and accepting that i’ve been anxious made it easier to take the pressure off myself.
Breath work— if the body were equipped with a set of brakes it would be the breath. Whether it is 4-7-8 breathing or mindful breathing, breath work can just slow things down and allow you to relax.
Meditation—Having a mindfulness practice has given me the ability to observe and detach rather than react and worry. My go to for guided meditation is Waking Up, by Sam Harris.
Journaling— This is basically a brain dump for me. The main objective with journaling for me is to get everything out of my head and onto paper. Sometimes just seeing my thoughts on paper gives me a better perspective and makes them feel more manageable.
Training really hard—Training is like a hard reset for the brain. When my mind starts swirling the best thing I can do is get out of my mind and into my body.
Stoicism— Reading Stoic philosophy has helped me focus on what I can control and to let go of what I can’t. We may not be able to control everything that happens but we can control how we respond.
Until next week!
-Cameron Harn
