Just for today, ‘Do Life Differently’…
I am a nature lover, I feel energised and creative in true wilderness. BUT, my reality is long hours and screen time writing about and sharing others stories about the great outdoors. Not today—today I am doing life differently.
The impetus for this change is due in part to the research and reviews I am working on. As a journalist fuelled by insatiable curiosity, I delight in exploring outlier philosophies and practices—turns out millions share my interest, with altered state and human performance a $4 trillion dollar industry, that consistently tops the charts as the most downloaded content on the inter-webs. As such I am taking the Flow Fundamentals Course and reading ‘Stealing Fire: How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work’ (#StealingFire) by Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal.
Science has never been so translucent or applicable, Wheal and Kotler are detectives for a revolution set to disrupt and advance our actions and attitudes towards life, potential and conservation. Sticky issues or as the authors coin them ‘Wicked Problems’ are the bane of our generation—more than aggravating (as in growing populous and traffic jams) but life threatening (as in species extinction and health compromising pollution). Solving dynamic and decades-in-the-making problems of this paramount, require genius, novelty, and edge-walking beyond what humans are typically comfortable with. Amongst the most compelling stories are those of explorers, extreme athletes, fearless reporters and visual-storytellers who risk life to reveal it’s worth and our stake in it’s preservation.
This is the subject of my research: ‘How adventure (flow states) can influence conservation, inspire innovation and change lives.’
As part of the Flow Fundamental Course (#FlowGenomeProject) students are assigned a series of challenges, of these one resonated deeply with my love of nature. Big Wild and untamed nature (think #MeruFilm), demands adaptive and acute attention as the deciding grace between life or death. In this high stakes environment the self is consumed to the force of nature and time or other distractions fade. This equates to the ultimate challenge but the course suggests more modest degrees of the same principle—nature immersion (i.e. watch the sunrise and set each day for a week).
As I pondered my level of commitment and action, I was influenced by another source of inspiration: ‘Never Look A Polar Bear In The Eye: A Family Field Trip to the Arctic’s Edge in Search of Adventure, Truth, and Mini-Marshmallows’ by Zac Unger (Da Capo Press, 2013). The author and self-proclaimed James Bond of Vertebrate Zoology, was disillusioned by suburban environmentalism (aka: the gap between eco-friendly actions and experiencing climate change first-hand)—his resolution was to pack-up the family and head to the Arctic (Big Wild) in search of the ice bear and a tangible connection to nature.
Reading Unger’s story compounded my growing desire to ‘Do Life Differently’.
As I write this, pioneers of ecstasis are leveraging the potential of flow for rewilding, technology innovations, discovery sciences and creative exploration. We are all part of some aspect of these advances, and finding our role within them—is key to instigating pivotal and vital change that benefits mankind and nature.
So, just for today: How will you ‘Do Life Differently’?
Albert Einstein succinctly describes the definition of insanity as: “Doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results.” I believe we are all capable of tapping our potential, and flow is a viable and efficacious method for achieving this. By this equation finding your flow trigger (mine is unequivocally nature) will lead you to discovery your personal power and place in the world—begin today with one great step, ‘Do Life Differently!’
As for my #DoLifeDifferently? Today I will seek-out a peaceful patch, get a little grubby, meditate for a moment, and breathe in the scent of fresh rain.
Resources and Recommended Reading
Flow Genome Project / Fundamentals Course (flowgenomeproject.com)
Stealing Fire (harpercollins.com)
Never Look A Polar Bear In The Eye (dacapopress.com)
Meru, 2015 documentary film chronicling the first ascent of the “Shark’s Fin” route on Meru Peak in the Indian Himalayas. Co-directed by married couple Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and winner of the U.S. Audience Documentary Award at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. (merufilm.com)
When the ‘Big Wild’ calls to you, but buildings obscure your view… scroll your screen to this: ‘The Art of Flow’ a short film to kindle your fire until you can up-stakes and make neighbours with a polar bear.
Polar Bears International is the ultimate resource for all things Big, Wild, and White (polarbearsinternational.org), and for a virtual close-up with the king of the Arctic checkout their Polar Bear Cam!
For those who dare to #DoLifeDifferently and Look A (REAL…WILD) Polar Bear In The Eye, checkout Frontiers North (frontiersnorth.com) who offer a variety of Arctic Adventures.
If bears are on your bucket-list, checkout: Churchill Town & Tundra Enthusiast and Tundra Buggy Lodge Enthusiast.
