THE ARCHIPELAGO OF OPPOSITES

2 IDEAS FROM ME

• We live in a “Desolation Sound” type Archipelago of universal opposites (eg. Joy-Suffering, Love-Hate, Truth-Delusion. Peace-Conflict, etc.). The narrow channels between islands are like the synapses between neurons in our mind. Even though tidal currents frequently reverse direction between islands, mindfulness enables us to exercise what Viktor Frankl calls “The Last Human Freedom”. This is the freedom to choose which opposite we focus our awareness and energy on regardless of which way the currents are flowing. Where our awareness goes, our energy flows turning temporary mind-states into default mind-traits through Hebbian learning, memory formation, habit development, and skill acquisition.

• Failure to mindfully exercise our last human freedom can leave us beached like driftwood on the islands of suffering, hate, delusion, and conflict.

2 QUOTES FROM SAGES

• "As soon as we control where awareness goes, we control where energy flows. As soon as we control where energy is flowing, we control what is manifesting in our life."—Dandapani

• “Neurons that fire together, wire together.”—Donald O. Hebb (The Organization of Behavior 1949)

1 QUESTION FOR YOU TO EXPLORE

• In James Clear’s “Atomic Habits”, he notes that a small daily habit that improves your skill by 1%, results in a 3,678 percent improvement over one year. Conversely, having no daily habit can reduce your skillset by 1%, leaving you with only 2.6% of what you started with at the beginning of the year. What daily atomic mindfulness habit do you have that helps you navigate the archipelago of opposites in your life?

Namaste,

Duane Nelson