[Reclaiming the self: Image from https://app.wombo.art/]
Hello good soul,
This month, I have been feeling into the tension between taking time for myself and the pressure to do.
Our society suffers from a cognitive dissonance between caring for oneself and honouring one's responsibilities to the world.
The old worldview, still extant, is one of stiff upper lip, life as a journey of the lonely hero, suffering in quiet dignity. The parts of society still sympathetic to this view, and the parts of ourselves in which it still lives, are suspicious of 'self-care'. It sounds indulgent, weak, even dangerous.
There is, as such, a quiet form of protest in taking the time out to consider what we truly need, and giving it to ourselves. It is a protest centred around the reclamation of the self and selfishness, challenging the notion that selfishness is a bad thing and rather advocating that it is an essential part of not only being happy, but good. That they may in fact be the same thing.
This article is about how that little process of protest has been.
If you liked the article, or want some help in becoming a happier, calmer human, check out the new 'Resources' section below.
Enjoy!
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Thanks!
🧠The World Inside: Insights and strategies in Psychology, Spirituality and personal growth
Reclaiming Selfishness: Treat yoself.
🌍 The World Around Us: Understanding and addressing social and environmental issues
Poem: Windmills - tenuously continuing the theme of gentler forms of activism.
🤪Playtime: Just for fun
April is the Kindest Month: Don't listen to T.S. Eliot. His name is an anagram of toilets. Listen to this.
🔥Monthly challenge: Get involved with a challenge I am taking, designed to increase self-discipline and wellbeing
Amor Fati: This challenge is influenced by Nietzsche's doctrine of the Eternal Recurrence, where he challenges us to embrace and sanctify every moment of our lives, right down to the bone-shaking suffering. As such, this challenge involves finding three things each day that you might typically tend to regret or wish hadn't happened, and instead practice gratitude for them. As Nietzsche said, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. But only if we embrace it. Otherwise, our suffering claims us, and we become defeated and bitter.
🔥Resources: Bits and bobs I've been using to help me overcome life's hurdles, which I hope can also be of use to you.
Shadow Journalling: Some journal prompts to unearth the repressed, neglected parts of your psyche.
Self-compassion: Some exercises from the world's leading expert on compassion, Kristen Neff.
Manifestation meditations and visualisations: If you want to get a bit woo, try manifesting your ideal reality. And get some crystals or something.
❤️Spreading the love: Other sites and newsletters you can try if you enjoyed this newsletter
Matt Karamazov: Matt is the mind behind High Existence’s Stairway to Wisdom newsletter, where they give detailed, actionable breakdowns of books that can change your life. Matt has taken reading to the next level, having not only read but really digested over 1000 books. For insights on what to read, how to read it, and to understand all the ways this will change your life, check him out.