Flawed Systems; My Two Mantras; Nervous System Mastery
(Note: This was first posted to Substack here.)
Flawed Systems
“It takes half your life before you discover life is a do-it-yourself project.”
In middle school, I enrolled in a semester-long debate class. I enjoyed crafting arguments and presenting my case to the class, trying to incorporate compelling points as well as humor into the exercise.
As an adult though, armed with experience and knowledge gathered from books and the world around me, I came to realize the inherent weakness of debate as a persuasion tool. To persuade is to listen, to question intelligently, and not just to spin attractive arguments. The best way to change someone’s mind is to pose a thoughtful question; the best way to change someone’s behavior is by setting an example. Setting yourself up in opposition to someone and bombarding with a stream of facts and logic rarely changes anything.
Because of this, I have long questioned why debate is part of our curriculum, both in our education system and in political discourse. Isn’t it strange that we champion a method of persuasion that is ineffective?
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fundamental flaws within our educational system.
“Many brilliant minds have commented on their dismal experiences in school, their boredom, their lack of appropriate intellectual stimulation and nourishment, their sense that the last thing the educational system was designed for was the cultivation of minds. Schools were interested not in autonomy but in the manufacture of someone’s notion of ‘good citizens,’” says Nathaniel Branden in the Six Pillars of Self-Esteem.
Most people I know can also point towards numerous lessons, structures, and subjects that, in retrospect, proved to be irrelevant or even counterproductive to success later in life.
Unfortunately, upon reflection, it becomes obvious that what our educational system teaches best is conformity – rewarding students who dutifully tick every box, teaching them to continue along this path in their careers and lives. As Carl Rogers said, “In education, we tend to turn out conformists, stereotypes, individuals whose education is ‘completed,’ rather than freely creative and original thinkers.”
What Happens In A Culture of Conformity?
“Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.”
I recently came upon news about a report on the UK’s most comprehensive study to date on the four-day workweek. 61 companies cut back their working week to 4 days and 32 hours. A year later, 89 percent of them kept up with this new schedule. The payoff? Leadership teams reported heightened productivity, increased efficiency, and a jump in employee happiness, not to mention reduced staff turnover. “In a follow-up survey with the participating companies' managers and CEOs, 100% reported that the four-day week had a ‘positive’ or ‘very positive’ impact on their organization.”
If this study is validated with others, consider the magnitude of that for a moment.
It would mean that hundreds of millions of people have wasted immeasurable amounts of life energy in a system that benefits neither the employer nor the employee.
I've conducted my own experiments with various practices aimed at enhancing my productivity and maintaining a healthy mindset at work. From learning nonverbal communication skills to carving out dedicated blocks on my calendar for focused work to trying different email management systems to taking stretching or meditating breaks, I've come to find that adhering blindly to established norms is a mistake. This mirrors our education system, where unwavering adherence to structured expectations often undermines our greater goals. (Why ask a child to make straight A’s if a skill needed later in life is prioritizing valuable/profitable tasks from the inconsequential?)
Our needs as individuals vary wildly. An all-encompassing, one-size-fits-all approach will always be flawed. To flourish, students, parents, workers, and businesses need to challenge rigidity and baseless structure.
The first step is to recognize that many of the systems we find ourselves in throughout various areas of life were, more likely than not, poorly designed to begin with.
There's a world of opportunities for system improvements that could mutually benefit all parties involved. Individuals need to take agency and design their own systems that foster results over busyness and conformity. Parents, too, should acknowledge this about our educational systems, and learn to sidestep requirements that don't align well with you or what you want for your children. I don’t know anyone who wants their child to excel at checking boxes.
Be curious.
As Napoleon Hill’s quote up top suggested, we shouldn't assume that systems are set up for us to thrive. We must take it upon ourselves to break away from rigidity at every opportunity.
My Two Mantras
Mantras are little phrases or slogans that act as powerful mental tools to guide us in the right direction. Whether you realize it or not, having your own set of personal mantras can be a game-changer, steering you toward your goals and delivering positivity and focus.
Some folks swear by mantras like "I am enough" to combat feelings of inadequacy or "I got this" for that extra boost of confidence and motivation. I've developed two mantras that have become my trusty companions in navigating day-to-day challenges and facing the uncertainties of the future.
Be Here Now
My first mantra, "Be Here Now," not only serves as the cornerstone of my meditation practice but is also inspired by Eckhart Tolle and Sam Harris. According to Tolle, the purpose of life lies in transcending the mind-identified existence and embracing pure presence. Sam Harris simplifies our life's purpose into two parts: be a good person and pay attention.
Being present enhances every experience. It adds depth to the good times and provides clarity to the not-so-good ones, often revealing them to be less significant than our minds make them out to be. Considering how many challenges are illusions of the mind, being here now is key to a fulfilling and grounded life.
Whenever I feel the itch of anxiety rise, I notice the thought that has created it and tell myself to Be Here Now.
Want What You Have
My second mantra, "Want what you have," is pulled from stoicism, as articulated by Seneca: "It is in no man's power to have whatever he wants, but he has it in his power not to wish for what he hasn't got, and cheerfully make the most of the things that do come his way."
Discontent in life often stems from the relentless pursuit of what we don't have. The never-ending chase for the next big promotion, a shiny new car, or a larger house can leave us feeling unfulfilled. Seneca's insight encourages us to find joy in our current circumstances and make the most of what we already possess.
Thinking back to where you were ten years ago, most of us would likely be overjoyed to find ourselves in our current situations. "Want what you have" is a reminder that true contentment comes not from acquiring more but from appreciating the abundance that already surrounds me.
Whenever I begin to feel the dull, empty feeling that comes from thinking of something else I lack, I remind myself to want what I have.
Personal mantras can shape our mindset and lead us towards a more positive and fulfilling life. Crafting your own personal mantra can help you overcome your own challenges.
Give it a try.
Nervous System Mastery
The human nervous system is the command center of our bodies, responsible for receiving and transmitting messages from the different parts of our being to our brains.
As my readers will know, I have been working on various exercises to conquer emotional responses in certain situations. That is, to retrain my habitual responses to ones I find more preferable.
My next step in this effort is beginning Jonny Miller's Nervous System Mastery Course next week.
Many of the modern challenges we face, such as stress, anxiety, and fatigue, ultimately lead back to our nervous system. The course aims to shed light on how these problems stem from a dysregulated nervous system and, more importantly, to provide actionable strategies to restore balance and vitality.
I am excited about the course's recommendations, which include incorporating techniques like cold plunges and blue light blockers at night. I am hoping the course will give me a deeper understanding of how my nervous system operates and also a toolkit of practices to enhance my general wellness.
Stay tuned for a future update as I share my experience with the course and any newfound knowledge.