Let the fires burn

Waking up to the news of downed planes, political turmoils, and the potential emergence of World War 3, it’s easy to succumb to the pressure of letting myself be swept hither and thither. These times are strange and often feel very dire - my own world seems to be moving at a breakneck pace. As I take a deep breath to remind myself to come back to the present, I reflect on the importance of protecting one’s mental space and energy.

Mental space is a finite resource.

I am no stranger to the productivity buzzwords: willpower, grit, saying no, and focus. In essence, it’s about taking control of life - some semblance of control in the least. In reality, countless little things tug at my attention, draining the willpower I just recharged overnight. A quiet voice in my head immediately answers - ruthless prioritization and hyper-focus on very few things. So I do know this, and yet, I act childish automatically pacifying every thread and trying to do it all.

Let some of those fires burn.

Some fires are of my own making - sparked by habits, over-commitment, or fear. I’ve been caught in a Sisyphean loop, fanning their flames. That stops here. That stops here with a heads-down focus on those immediate fires. The world could be destroyed by Vogons tomorrow and I wouldn’t know - that’s the focus flow I aspire to in this period. Put my blinders on, and Godspeed! Nothing else matters.

Maybe, though, letting a few fires burn, is the way. It’s not failure; it’s wisdom - not all alarms are mine to answer, and not all smoke needs me choking on it. After all, fires burn to clear the path and unencumber the weary, confused traveler from fighting his way through the thick forests.

And then some fires are truly a figment of my imagination. These are trespassers who have been squatting in my headspace, letting excessive rumination fester. I am serving notice - no more mental court hearings though. I am evicting these squatters the only way I know how; by dancing it out. With every move, I reclaim my body and let my mind slow down. Each joyful step is a conscious shift in energy — no need for logic or explanation — into the present. No more grappling with these phantom blazes; Just movement, just release.

Makes you look at the gif very differently, doesn’t it?