default state of being

training my mind "muscles"

The default state of being is an individual's typical or habitual mind-body state. It's the state a person reverts to when not influenced by external factors. This baseline emotional and psychological disposition, beautiful in its nature, is dynamic and moldable, much like the individual themselves.

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the default state of being that i am cultivating

an ever-evolving list.

• Thinking for myself at all times. ¹

• Making decisions out of curiosity, not fear or survival.

• Living mindfully.

• Being radically honest with myself and the world.²

• Maintaining eye contact.

• Living intuitively instead of overthinking.

• Talking with strangers with ease.

• Loving myself.

• Being comfortable with saying “no” to anyone at any time.

• Minimizing the time between idea and execution (intuitive living).

• Freeing myself from 'good girl' conditioning.

• Not eating sugar. Being slightly hungry some time of a day.

• Listening deeply to the state of my mind and emotional well-being.

• Fostering a kind and compassionate relationship with myself.

• Choosing my words carefully.³

• Listening to others with curiosity, not judgment.

• Seeing myself as I truly am. ⁴

• Welcoming the contradictions within me.⁵

• Not comparing myself to others.⁶

• Intuitive eating and healthy diet.

• Remembering the smallness of human existence.

• Being bold and confident.

• Viewing the world as a playground.⁷

• Turning to a book (VS Instagram) in a state of nothingness.

• Being comfortable with asking for help.

• Engaging with questions in my mind rather than ruminating, agonizing, and overthinking.

• Crying at ease and letting emotions be.

• Not using “bad” or “good”. Non-duality.

my non-blood sister’s hometown. Contagem, Brazil.

brazil and muscle training

Brazil is a paradise for fruit-lover. But with buses being canceled due to covid, I had to walk home carrying kilograms groceries on my own. Every grocery run left my weak-at-that-time body exhausted, so I had to plan my schedule and energy around intrusive basic needs task.

Two years and many trainings later, I now feel much stronger. Carrying most things feels easy. No longer am I drained after steep biking with my groceries in my 50L hiking backpack.

The change happened. My default state of physical being has strengthened. And it makes my life a lot easier now, lifting constraints on the activities I can undertake.

what are some other “defaults” that i choose to tweak?

Similar to the default physical state of being, there exists a default way of seeing and being in the world. And just as you can train your muscles, you can also train your mind.

I now work on consciously introspecting the nature of my defaults and tweaking those that no longer serve me. At first, it is an effortful training process, mainly inner work of intention setting, regular reminders for my future self, and mindful therapy. But with time and training, my chosen defaults will become deeply embedded in my life, helping me lead a happier and balanced life.

What are some of your favorite defaults? Lmk, let’s learn together:)

1. “If your opinions on one subject can be predicted from your opinions on another, you may be in the grip of an ideology. When you truly think for yourself, your conclusions will not be predictable.”

2. “There is simply no adventure quite as grand as committing to tell the truth about everything.” — Someone

3. Metaphors we live by.

4. “The biggest obstacle to increasing your self-awareness is the tendency to avoid the discomfort that comes from seeing yourself as you really are.” — Travis Bradberry

5. “We like to think of ourselves as consistent, rational beings, possessing certain attributes and not others. Yet a person who is completely consistent, who possesses no contradictions, comes across as less real. Plastic. Wooden.” - Rick Rubin

6. Like I used to in handstand training.

7. “Life is not a journey” — Alan Watts