Nomadic Neill

Day 29 of my 30 Day Blogging Challenge on Authenticity

1. Limit or eliminate consumption of mainstream media

There have been many studies on the positive effects of limiting your exposure to damaging media.

TV is filling your mind with crap, distorting the way you see the world and yourself.

Also consider what kind of websites you visit, reading about celebrities isn’t much better than watching them on TV.

Examine the feelings you get when using social media, both positive and negative and be aware of how it may be affecting you.

2. Meditate

In the same way that your body needs to clear out waste periodically, you should do the same with your mind. Meditation doesn’t have to be spiritual. It’s just a way to clear your mind and train your ability to focus.

Thinking is overrated anyway and it isn’t necessary in a lot of situations.

3. Start being more honest

You don’t have to be radically honest about everything with everyone. Start being honest with yourself and take little steps towards being more honest.

See how far you can push it, then pull back if necessary.

4. Accept chaos, practice more trial and error

You probably overestimate the amount of control you have over many aspects of your life. Accept the chaotic nature of the universe, pick goals and move towards them with less planning and more trial and error.

5. Act more impulsively

Follow your instincts and impulses more. They served generations of your ancestors just fine. You’ll probably break plenty of social conventions this way but you’ll find out which ones are there for a reason and which ones are just bull-shit rituals and traditions.

Obviously do not do anything dangerous or anything that will bring harm (even inadvertently) to others.

6. Deal with reality as it is, not how you wish it was

Investigate the models you have of how the world operates and test them. If you find evidence that contradicts your model, then it’s time to adjust it.

7. Find values and live by them

After all of the above you should have a better sense of what you want, what other people want and what we all actually end up doing.

It’s time to choose a compass and a direction and start travelling.

Think about what you value, maybe it’s money, fame, honesty, truth, security, adventure, equality, danger or health.

It doesn’t matter, just choose something and move towards it.