Mansions of the Mind

Where do you live?

To answer that question you might give me a location.

Let’s say New York.

And though it may be true that you live in New York, you really live in a HOUSE in New York.

Let’s say a big house.

And though it may be true that you live in a big house in New York, you really live in your HEAD in your big house.

You live in between the walls of your head — right there with all your thoughts, your beliefs, your emotions, your reactions, your perspectives.

THAT is where you actually live.

THAT is where we all actually live.

What’s it like where you live?

What’s interesting to note is that it’s possible to live in a physical mansion but a psychological shack, and it’s possible to live in a physical shack but a psychological mansion.

When asked what the “place” of enlightenment is like, spiritual adepts will often note, “It’s very spacious.”

They’re living in mansions.

REAL mansions.

Incredibly spacious mansions of the mind.

Where do you live?

Where do you turn to learn how to live? If you’re like me, you might turn to books. Or mentors. Or podcasts. You might engage in philosophical discourse with friends, family, and colleagues. You might lean into the onslaught of research and studies conducted on the topics of happiness, meaning, and life satisfaction. You might reflect through the practice of journaling. These can all be useful...

The rougher the road, the lighter the grip. I first learned how to ride a motorcycle in Northern Thailand, mostly on bumpy, rocky, winding roads. My natural tendency on many of the bumpy dirt roads was to tighten my grip on the handlebars. The rougher the road, the harder I clenched. Until I realized that by the end of the ride my hands were in such severe pain I couldn’t even open them all the...

The evolution of mankind:
Walk walk walk, hunt, rest rest rest.
Walk walk, farm, rest rest rest.
Walk, farm farm, rest rest.
Sit, farm farm farm, rest rest.
Sit, work, rest rest.
Sit, work work, rest rest.
Sit, work work work, rest.
Sit, coffee coffee coffee, work work work, booze booze booze.

Anytime you choose to think about the past you are trading the present moment in order to do so. This can be useful if you’re reflecting with the intention of learning something, but tread carefully with this trade. Similar to stock trading, there’s a fee for every transaction, and too many trades will leave you bankrupt.

Mansions of the Mind

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