diff --git a/content/posts/be-more-productive-by-being-bored/feature.webp:Zone.Identifier b/content/posts/be-more-productive-by-being-bored/feature.webp:Zone.Identifier deleted file mode 100644 index e69de29..0000000 diff --git a/content/posts/my-wilting-mind/feature.aseprite b/content/posts/my-wilting-mind/feature.aseprite new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9d1d3c4 Binary files /dev/null and b/content/posts/my-wilting-mind/feature.aseprite differ diff --git a/content/posts/my-wilting-mind/feature.webp b/content/posts/my-wilting-mind/feature.webp new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0282b72 Binary files /dev/null and b/content/posts/my-wilting-mind/feature.webp differ diff --git a/content/posts/my-wilting-mind/index.md b/content/posts/my-wilting-mind/index.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fb0033b --- /dev/null +++ b/content/posts/my-wilting-mind/index.md @@ -0,0 +1,206 @@ +--- +title: My Wilting Mind +date: 2024-06-03T15:48:31+01:00 +author: "ahmza" +draft: false +weight: + + +tags: ["lifestyle", "mental health"] +description: "What happens when you stop challenging your mind ?" +canonicalURL: "https://blog.ahmza.com/Page%28/posts/my-wilting-brain%29" + +cover: + image: "webp/posts/my-wilting-brain/feature-anim.webp" # image path/url + alt: "Wilting Brain" # alt text + caption: "" # display caption under cover + relative: false # when using page bundles set this to true +--- + +## **Introduction** + +What happens when we stop challenging our minds? While some people might enjoy +the tranquility boredom, I strive to strike a balance. I appreciate quiet time +to think and process my thoughts, but I also need challenges to exercise my +brain. Without these challenges I notice a decline in my cognitive abilities, +affecting my problem-solving skills, memory and attention span. I become less +creative and less inclined to develop new ideas. My desire for new knowledge +wanes, and I start to feel too comfortable with what I already know. This +stagnation also impacts my self-perception, leading to a negative view of +myself and struggles with my identity. + +## **The Problem** + +In April, I started a new job after being let go from Twitch. I was eager to +face new challenges in a different industry—broadcasting—where I could expand +my skill set and apply my existing knowledge. However, once I began, I felt a +sense of emptiness. During training, I realized the job description was +inaccurate, and there was limited room for technical growth. I went from +managing 50,000 bare metal servers and 4,000 network devices worldwide, +ensuring the network and services ran reliably, to opening tickets and sending +emails while other teams fixed the issues. The contrast was stark and +disheartening. + +## **Initial Feelings** + +A flood of emotions ensued. For context, I had just returned from South Korea, +spent a day at home with my family, and then moved to an Airbnb in London to +start my new job. I needed to find a permanent place to stay, all within two +weeks. The rapid changes left me struggling to understand my feelings, like +being lost in a river with strong currents, unable to find direction. Realizing +I had no control over these changes added to my torment. + +## **Balancing Emotions** + +Balancing emotions is a skill that takes time and effort to learn. In our busy +lives, learning to manage—not control—our feelings often falls to second +priority. We have "more important" things to focus on, such as work, family, and +relationships. However, our emotions play a significant role in everything we do. + +### Self Awareness +Recognising our emotions and being aware of how we feel helps us to make +conscious choices about how we respond. + +### Dual-Processing +Humans use two processing systems: +- **System 1 (Emotional)**: Fast, automatic and unconscious processing of emotional cues + - Intuition + - Emotional Response to stimuli + - Habitual behaviour +- **System 2 (Rational)**: Slow, controlled and conscious processing of logical information + - Deliberate + - Logical + - Critical Thinking + +Leveraging both systems simultaneously reduces cognitive bias, with each system +feeding into the other. + +### Emotional Regulation +Once we acknowledge and accept our emotions we can begin to regulate how we +feel. We can then refocus our perspective to find a more balanced response + +> **Note:** +> +> Reactions and Responses are different: +> - Reaction: System 1, Emotional, Impulsive +> - Response: System 2, Logical, Thought out + +### Coping Mechanisms +We can combat overwhelming negative emotions using coping mechanisms such as +mindfulness or humor. These help us find a sense of equilibrium. + +## **Pushing Through** + +Talking to people about my situation helped me process and better understand my +feelings as well as get another opinion. I Identified the parts of my life I +have control over and put a plan in place to make changes. In my case, taking +control meant applying for new jobs and keeping myself busy outside of work. +This practice gave me hope and the push I needed to keep going. + +## Continuous Learning + +Lifelong learning is crucial for maintaining mental agility and personal +satisfaction. There are numerous ways to continue learning, some example that I +do: online courses, reading books, and engaging in new hobbies. This commitment +to continuous learning helps keep the mind sharp and opens up new opportunities. + +## The Connection Between Mental and Physical Health + +Maintaining mental health is deeply connected to physical health. Regular +physical exercise can greatly improve cognitive function and emotional +well-being. For bonus points adopt healthy diet and adequate sleep. note to +self: work harder on this part :| + +## Building Resilience + +Building resilience is essential for coping with setbacks and challenges. +Developing resilience skills and adopting a growth mindset can help view +challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles. This perspective +is vital for personal and professional development. There are many aspects that +make up resiliency, I have listed some of them that are important to me. + +### Build Strong Relationships +- Seek Support: Maintain strong connections with family and friends. +- Engage in Community: Participate in community activities or join support groups to build a network of support. +### Improve Emotional intelligence +- Self-Awareness: Recognize and understand your emotions. +- Emotional Regulation: Learn techniques to manage and respond to emotions effectively. +### Set Realistic Goals +- Small Steps: Break larger goals into smaller, manageable steps. +- Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. +### Develop Problem-Solving Skills +- Analytical Thinking: Approach problems methodically, considering various solutions and their potential outcomes. +- Adaptability: Be flexible and open to changing your approach if necessary. +### Self-Confidence +- Self-Efficacy: Believe in your ability to overcome challenges and succeed. +- Past Successes: Reflect on past successes and how you overcame obstacles. +### Develop a Sense of Purpose +- Meaningful Activities: Engage in activities that align with your values and give your life meaning. +- Volunteer Work: Participate in volunteer work to help others and build a sense of community and purpose. + +## Social Connections and Support Systems + +Strong social connections and a reliable support system are critical for +getting through difficult times. Engaging in a community or groups can help +build new relationships and provide necessary support as well as give you a +sense of belonging. + +## Setting and Achieving Goals + +Setting personal and career goals is important for maintaining motivation +and direction. Creating actionable plans to achieve these goals and making sure +to celebrate small wins along the way. This will keep the momentum going and +provide a sense of accomplishment. + +## Mindfulness and Self-Reflection + +Incorporating mindfulness practices can help manage stress and enhance +self-awareness. Regular self-reflection is crucial for assessing personal +growth, understanding emotions better, and making informed decisions about +future actions. Some practices that I use are: +- Journaling +- Exercise +- Writing blog posts here and there +- Sitting alone, just me and my thoughts + +## Professional Development + +Continuously working to improve your professional skills is important, even if +the current job does not provide the necessary challenges. Networking within and +outside the industry can help explore new opportunities and stay updated with +industry trends. As well as this try to find chellenge, find areas that you lack +experience or would like to improve on. For me this happened to be confidence +in hosting large meatings and taking charge. Although I was not challenging my +mind with technical problems I was still challenging myself to improve. + +Sometimes it's all about perspective. + +## Finding Purpose and Meaning + +Finding purpose and meaning in life give us motivation and satisfaction. +Taking part in activities that contribute to the greater good, such as +volunteering, can provide fulfillment and a sense of purpose. + +One community I found to be very beneficial for me was joining the local hackspace. +The hackspace is new and still spinning up as I write this post. I was there, +I helped put parts of the space together, I left my mark on the space with work +I could be proud of. Volunteering gave me the feeling of contributing to +something bigger than myself. A space that people will use for-hopefully-years +I was able to help build. That is something I can be proud of. + +## **Conclusion** + +Life's challenges can be daunting, but they also offer opportunities for growth. +By balancing our emotions and taking advantage of both emotional and rational +thinking, we can navigate these challenges more effectively. Recognizing and +regulating our emotions, while also employing coping mechanisms, can help us +maintain a sense of balance and well-being. As I continue to seek new +opportunities and keep myself engaged, I remind myself of the importance of +challenging my mind and staying proactive in managing my life. + +We are the captains of our ship and where we sail is our story. Take control +and become a little bit better everyday. Society asks a lot of us but we need to +take a step back sometimes and simply admire everything we have achieved and how +far we have left to go. I am 22 (as of writing this post) and I have a lifetime +ahead of me, this part of my life is simply the pebble thrown into the lake, I +am excited to see what the ripples look like.