This weeks contributors: Ron Rivers
The inspiration for this article draws from ongoing discussions I've been having with sales leaders across SaaS industries, many of whom need help detaching their value from their quantifiable performance. We all inhabit a world of rules and norms we had no say in choosing, an inheritance of frameworks of cooperation rooted in eras of scarcity. In a world of immense abundance, the majority toil in productive occupations unworthy of their effort and imagination. Many can relate to the feeling that working a job we don't like (the profession itself, the environment, or the organizational intent) is a stressful experience. It can leave you feeling drained, unfulfilled, unhappy, and without alternatives outside of destitution. In this essay, we'll explore the benefits of developing a series of small rituals to grapple with the grind in the present and lay the foundation for future alternatives.
In the post above, I outlined a few approaches towards working in a career like sales that is, in its very nature, diminishing to its participants. Most forms of employment share in the perpetual threat of removing our security within a moment's notice. The small ritual is a commitment that expresses our power in a way that no others may diminish. These routines can be as simple as taking a walk during your lunch break, practicing yoga before starting work, or writing in a journal before bed. By practicing these small rituals daily, you'll create a sense of structure and consistency that cultivates a greater degree of control over the direction of your life. Of all the small rituals one might undertake, meditation is one of the most accessible and most beneficial. It supports a sense of inner peace and calm, a wholeness with the totality of the moment that bleeds into all you do, and is particularly helpful when dealing with difficult coworkers, bosses, or clients. By practicing meditation regularly, you can learn to respond to challenging situations more clearly and with equanimity. Research has shown that daily small ritual practice can have significant mental and physical benefits[1], such as reducing stress levels, increasing productivity and creativity, and improving overall well-being. [2]
Our mastery of the moment through small rituals is a significant step in cultivating resistance to the diminishment of wage labor. Still, it is only a single step towards a broader process of developing our powers. Detachment is letting go of attachment to outcomes, expectations, and desires. When you detach from a situation, you are no longer invested in the results as they relate to your value—a constructive approach when working in a job that is high pressure or whose purpose does not align with your own. By detaching from the outcome of your work, you can focus on the process and find joy in the work itself, or at the very least, remain unburned when your efforts do not produce the intended outcomes, when we distance our value from outcomes that depend on a multitude of factors (many of which that are entirely out of our control) you are free to let go of stress, anxiety, and frustration.
Most importantly, developing personal power through small rituals helps the individual understand their value better. An act of aligning the two observable infinities, human imagination and the momentary universe, where we must fully embody our divinity in the moment. It provides us a framework of reference to demand more within our productivity and participation. Grappling with the grind isn't easy, especially considering that we are on the verge of another economic depression that will rip away the illusion of security many presently cling to. In these trying times, it is vital to reject the diminishment of our value and power that the systems surrounding us encourage. Remember that you are more than the culmination of your circumstances.
Arlinghaus KR, Johnston CA. The importance of creating habits and routine. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2018;13(2):142–144. doi:10.1177/1559827618818044
Eilam D, Izhar R, Mort J. Threat detection: behavioral practices in animals and humans. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2011;35(4):999-1006. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.08.002
Weekly Happenings
📰 Newsletter will be moving to a bi-weekly cadence (2x a month) until further notice.
💰 We've been working on applying for several values oriented community grants.
💌 We've updated our standard Book/DAO postcards (see Discord) - If you would like some to share DM Ron Rivers.
🔗 Guild.xyz setup complete / bugs resolved.
🎨 Graphic Novel art is COMPELTE!! The next phase is the designer. Conversations scheduled.
🎓 Ron Rivers has been confirmed a four-part lecture at the University of Florida (4 lectures (1/week), 90 min each, 1/18/23 - 2/8/23) to explore Self-Actualization in the Age of Crisis and SpiritDAO.
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