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I kept hearing this sound as if a helicopter were flying over my house. It was loud, yet somewhat faint. I could hear this fan-like noise with a puttering sound. It seemed to be getting closer and closer, but cozy on my couch working, I didn’t want to stop to look out the window. Then, all of a sudden, I felt my legs burning. My legs were sweating under the laptop, and at that moment, I looked at the battery level of my computer. Sure enough, it was descending like the countdown timer at my CrossFit class. I quickly lifted the laptop to my ear, and the helicopter sound got louder and louder. The computer was screaming at me (in the sound of a helicopter), I’m about to go up in smoke!”I did what I’ve been doing when this happens, quickly x’d out my twenty-five plus tabs on the internet, clicked the little Apple icon in the left corner, and scrolled down to “shut down,” as fast as I could. Whew! Saved. Again.Super T to the rescue!I waited about thirty minutes for the bottom of the computer to feel cool to touch and turned it back on. Within an hour, the helicopter sound was back, the bottom of the computer was warm to the touch, and the battery percentage descended rapidly. I told my husband, “My computer is dying! I know it’s fairly new, but it is seriously messed up! I’m so stressed it will blow up any minute. It’s slowing down my workflow, and I don’t have time for all of this shutting down business.”After taking a peek at my desktop, he suggested I delete some of the files scattering the top. “Tara, you can’t even begin to make out the background of your desktop. Geeze…for a girl who has a color-coded closet and flips out if one cooking utensil is misplaced, your computer is a disaster! Delete what you don’t need, and do NOT just drag all of those items into that “Desktop” folder and label it “Desktop and the date.”
Yikes. This guy knows me so well. I tried highlighting images and files on my desktop and dragging them to the trash, but the layers were deep. It seemed neverending. So, I moved to the list view. Problem solved. I highlighted everything that wasn’t a folder in my desktop and downloads and selected Move to Trash. The reminder popped up…
Are you sure you want to move 7,962 files to the trash?
No lie. 7,962 files!! *eyes bugged out of head*
I paused for a split second and thought, dang it–normally I’d drop them in a folder, but not this time. My computer was going to die if I didn’t permanently subtract these files.That’s when I did it.
“Yes. I’m sure I want to move 7,962 files to the trash.”
After a few minutes…BOOM! Then, emptied the trash, and my computer is like new again.
By subtracting the files, I added more room on my computer. (Obviously.) I added more efficiency to my workday, because I can actually find the files on my desktop. I added more flexibility to where I choose to work because my charger cord does not bind me to the location next to the outlet. And, I added space in my mind to create without worry that, at any minute, my computer might go up in smoke. Sometimes subtracting adds space.
What might you subtract to add space to various areas of your life–physically, mentally and/or emotionally?
How many things have been tossed at you this week demanding you buy three and get one FREE? Even though you only wanted one initially. Or, have you had an ad ask you to add another item to your cart that is similar to the one you just bought? Or, what about if you like that article, you’ll love these TEN, too?!
We live in a world where we are constantly adding more and more “files to our already full desktop.” Not literally–for all of my Type A friends who would NEVER do such a thing!! But, are you adding too much to your life mentally, physically, personally, and/or professionally that is taking way your productive energy? Are you adding things you have zero control over and allowing it to take away your mental (or physical) strength?
In our current global reality, we must take time to give our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies what they need. Let me say that again–we must. It’s no long a “I need to,” it’s a “I must.”
Dan Tricarico’s book Santuaries discusses this idea of the 5 S’s– Silence, Stillness, Space, Subtraction, and Slowing Down. After the helicopter sound and near explosion of my computer, I decided–“You know subtraction might be my next “S” to implement in my life.”
I realize we can’t control what the haters and negative people think or say, but we can manage how we speak to ourselves. This week, I reposted an incredible post by We’re Not Really Strangers on my Instagram account titled: Better Self-Talk. It has nine points to reframe how we talk to ourselves. I LOVE these! Not all of them related to me in my current stage of life, but each of them is worthy of listing. As you read them, please consider what you might delete from your daily chats with yourself. Remember, as Oscar Wilde once said, “Of all the people on the planet, you talk to yourself more than anyone. Make sure you are saying the right things.”
1) That was so stupid of me. -> That was so human of me
2) Why is this happening to me? -> What is this experience teaching me?
3) I hope they like me. -> I hope I like them. Liking someone is more about compatibility than inherent worth.
4) I wish I had their life. -> What have I been taking for granted recently.
5) I don’t look good today. -> What do I love most about myself today that isn’t physical? What value do I bring the world beyond just my appearance?
6) My love life sucks. -> My past relationships haven’t been ideal. Moving forward, I will apply the lessons I’ve learned to allow the right person into my life.
7) I keep messing up. -> My past mistakes are my greatest teachers. What do I keep doing that keeps hurting? What accountability do I need to take? How can I be kinder towards myself when I mess up?
8) If I admit I’m wrong, I’ll seem weak. -> Evolving my point of view when presented with new information is a sign of strength.
9) I’m not enough. -> I am worthy of all the things I want. Even the things that feel out of reach.
Did you find one relatable?
There are many things out of our control right now, but how we talk to ourselves is one within our power.
What negative language will you subtract from your self-talk this week to add value to your heart, soul, and mind?
Fear is so frustrating. It’s as if we know it has come upon us but feel as if we have no control of how it treats us. Fear is debilitating. Fear is cruel. Fear causes anxiety. Fear hurts.
There is fear clouding our view right now. The fear of not knowing when this global pandemic will ever end. The fear of worrying about the safety and health of our loved ones. The fear of speaking up for what we believe or not speaking up for what we believe. This list could go on and on.
But, how do we rise above the fear? I have found subtracting a few things from my life has helped calm some of the doubt. One, I make time to sit with my thoughts each day for three-five minutes. It’s not long, but I use the Headspace app and allow myself to subtract all the thoughts clouding my mind–even if for a short time–and fill it with breathing and stillness. I’m not kidding, it is a game-changer. I feel like it is the “restart” of this human-computer and helps me get back on track. *Headspace is a paid app, but it’s bascially forsaking one Starbucks coffee each month for a year. I do think it’s discounted for teachers–or maybe free. Even if paying, the return on the investment is dynamic.
A few other subtractions I’ve found to be helpful to overcome fear and add peace in my life are:
What subtractions might you make to add peace to your life?
As you might have noticed, with each subtraction, we gain power. We take back the control that we had all along when we added too many files to our “desktop.”Right?! I knew I was steadily adding things to my desktop, but I just kept doing it, because my computer could handle it. And, there came a day when it could no longer handle all of that clutter. Were some of those files valuable? Definitely. But, were some of them layers and layers I used for graphic designing promotional images for work? Yes. Did those layers now serve me? No. The masterpiece was already created and shipped. Yet all of that was left on my desktop–taking up space and causing my computer a near blow-up. But, when I deleted all of those files, my computer ran like new.Your heart, mind, and body are more valuable than any computer. Duh…right! But, how often do we allow “files” to be added day in and day out that are not serving us? Are there files that are not needed on your “desktop” aka mind, heart, and body? If we are not careful, this clutter could cause your system to burnout.But, YOU have the power! You decide.
Give your heart, mind, and body a restart–subtract some things that no longer serve you, because subtracting adds life.
I am an educator who values the individuality and uniqueness of others. Writing the blog R.E.A.L. is an outlet for me to pay it forward by sharing ideas, influences, lessons learned and exposing a little vulnerability while encouraging others to maximize their R.E.A.L. potential, as well.