It's time to Flux
Let’s first review what it means when I talk about applying the philosophy of flux to your life. Flux is normally defined as “the action or process of flowing; continuous change; fluidity”. In physics, it’s “the rate of flow of a fluid, radiant energy, or particles across a given area”. We are bundles of energy, and the way in which we direct our efforts, or channel that energy is entirely our own choice. So when I say that I believe in “fluxing” I am referring to an ability to fluidly change my area of focus in order to align my activities to my highest goals. I've define the key principles of “flux” as:
fluidity— in contrast to a static, or a stagnant state; you are not a “fluxer” if you are always driving your energy into the same channels.
prioritization— decisions are consciously made to prioritize certain facets of your life over others (this is contrary to the school of thought that preaches “balance”)
awareness—you must be attuned enough with your end goal to know how and when to apply the intense focus, and when to shift back to a more relaxed state so you do not burn out.
acceptance of the need to sacrifice—people who flux do not “have it all, all at once”. They understand that sacrifice accompanies this lifestyle and that the outcome they are striving for is worthy of the effort.
I have just entered a period of my life where I have accepted that for the next 16 months, there are going to be things which matter more to me than others. During this period, I will be directing the maximum amount of energy possible into pursuing a master's degree, while also working full time, and not letting my health (mental and physical) diminish. I have priorities and commitments which certainly mean more to me than others, and simply by being aware of what matters most to me helps me make decisions regarding how I spend my time.
create a mantra: Creating a mantra allows me to reinforce to myself in a few easy words WHY I’m doing what I’m doing. There is some very interesting psychology behind mantras, and the root of the word itself translates to "instrument of thought" or "true words". Although the meaning which I've ascribed to "mantra" differs profoundly from that of the Vedic origins of mantras, I do not believe my use of a mantra in the context of bringing focus and power to my intentions is any less powerful than that of a purely religious mantra. For me, it is natural to question my decision to undertake a challenge, particularly when it isn't going well. “Why on earth did I decide to do this?” My mantra is the immediate answer to that question— it brings me relief and direction. I'm not ready to share my mantra on here just yet, but I will talk about how I'm going to stay focused for the next 16 months.
guiding principles describe the HOW behind your mantra. What exactly are you going to do to make it through this period without losing your job, your friends, and the affection of your family? I’ll share mine with you, along with the context in which I apply these principles. These three words race through my mind several times a day and for some reason I can tweak their meanings enough to answer pretty much any decisions I need to make in a day.
- efficiency—I have a demanding career, I travel for work, I value my health and fitness, and I have budgeted 3 hours a day for studying. To accomplish it all, I need to be ultra-efficient. I need to shave down the time I spend on “luxury activities” like hair/makeup, prepping elaborate meals, doing chores that aren’t necessary (like washing my car every 3 days), etc. I need to use small brackets of the day to squeeze in a short burst of exercise rather than relish in my usual 2 hour gym visit where I habitually waste time walking around, unfocused and just sort of “half-assing” it. I know that by being more efficient I will be able to enjoy those Friday night potlucks with friends rather than being holed up at home because I was wasteful with my time during the week.
discipline—I think of this word whenever I’m presented with a choice that will impact my routine. It is certainly tempting to hit the snooze button, but if I do that I will just be left with a greater workload at a later point because of lost time, or I will be forfeiting my precious time for exercise. So maintaining a commitment to myself to wake up when I’ve set an early alarm, or to eat well so I don’t need to work out as often is very important to my success. Discipline also speaks to me whenever I’ve found myself a bit off track—I remind myself that if I correct my course now the losses will be minimized as compared to what would happen if I kept procrastinating or floundering.
forgiveness—this is deeply personal, but I feel the need to share it in case it strikes a chord with one of you reading this. Because there are sacrifices that accompany this sort of lifestyle, you need to be willing to forgive yourself for any failures. You need to be kind to yourself and know that there will inevitably be some hard lessons that come with periods where you are driving so hard to accomplish something.
I challenge you all to come up with a short mantra that sums up what you're trying to accomplish this year, this phase, this lifetime. Whatever time period suits you. Apply a few simple but impactful guiding principles to describe the behaviours that will support your mantra, and see just how much relief you feel in knowing that you have a toolkit available to guide your decisions when life becomes hectic, difficult, or overwhelming. Happy "fluxing" friends!
