Accountability: Pushing FitBit

Hello!

Another sprint and the FitBit continues to be a good tracker of my daily activity. Whilst I have not won any badges this sprint the device encourages me to walk to work and be more generally active.

But there is something slightly annoying about this device. The rash.

Apparently this is a known issue and may mean I need to take the device off for a day each week or so. I would post a photo but there are many on Google, so if you would like to see a flaky, grim rash go ahead, just would rather not put that here.

However, despite the irritation I still really enjoy using my FitBit and will continue to use it, perhaps when this little device decides to join the other pieces of plastic, silicon and circuits in the sky I may upgrade to the even fancier model.

Has my activity increased? Yes. Is it leveling out? Yes. Do I think I can go further? Yes.

Come on FitBit!


Thanks for reading!
AT

Accountability: Meditation Redux

Hello!

Meditation does have many benefits as I've listed before, but so far a good way to meditate has thus alluded me.

So what are some good methods of meditation and what am I trying to achieve?

Meditation is a practice in which an individual trains the mind or induces a mode of consciousness, either to realize some benefit or for the mind to simply acknowledge its content without becoming identified with that content, or as an end in itself. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation

An excellent resource I've found to help me understand the basics around meditation is Giovanni's Live and Dare blog where he breaks down different meditation techniques. Below is an excerpt of his piece of the 23 types of meditation. (http://liveanddare.com/types-of-meditation/)

Focused attention meditation

Focusing the attention on a single object during the whole meditation session. This object may be the breath, a mantra, visualization, part of the body, external object, etc. As the practitioner advances, his ability to keep the flow of attention in the chosen object gets stronger, and distractions become less common and short-lived. Both the depth and steadiness of his attention are developed.

Examples of these are: Samatha (Buddhist meditation), some forms of Zazen, Loving Kindness Meditation, Chakra Meditation, Kundalini Meditation, Sound Meditation, Mantra Meditation, Pranayama, some forms of Qigong.

Open monitoring meditation

Instead of focusing the attention on any one object, we keep it open, monitoring all aspects of experience, without judgment or attachment. All perceptions, be them internal (thoughts, feelings, memory, etc.) or external (sound, smell, etc.), are recognized and seen for what they are. It is the process of non-reactive monitoring of the content of experience from moment to moment. Examples are: Mindfulness meditation, Vipassana, as well as some types of Taoist Meditation.

Effortless Presence

It’s the state where the attention is not focused on anything in particular, but reposes on itself – quiet, empty, steady, and introverted. We can also call it “Choiceless Awareness” or “Pure Being”. Most of the meditation quotes you find speak of this state.

This is actually the true purpose behind all kinds of meditation, and not a meditation type in itself. All traditional techniques of meditation recognize that the object of focus, and even the process of monitoring, is just a means to train the mind, so that effortless inner silence and deeper states of consciousness can be discovered. Eventually both the object of focus and the process itself is left behind, and there is only left the true self of the practitioner, as “pure presence”.

In some techniques, this is the only focus, from the beginning. Examples are: the Self-Enquiry (“I am” meditation) of Ramana Maharishi; Dzogchen; some forms of Taoist Meditation; and some forms of Raja Yoga

 

Looking at the above definitions I think my aim is to achieve effortless presence. Whilst my mind wanders from subject to subject quickly flitting, I need to develop a greater focus, whether that is through focused monitoring or open surveillance is something I'm not sure of.

I think an approach I may take will be to attempt a state of relaxation through quiet surveillance, perhaps using ambient sounds, incense and darkness. Isolating myself from loud modern life and attempting to find some relaxation, focus and calm.

Hopefully I will achieve this!

Thanks for reading!
AT

Accountability: Charity Begins in a Committee

Hello!

For today's update I'm looking at my work within the charity committee and what can be done to raise money in the most effective way possible. Utilising skills and techniques from the business world I thought what would be best would be to pitch for a BHAG.

A BHAG you ask? Well just type it in to Google or look at the fancy screenshot below of what a BHAG is which I stole from Google just seconds ago.

 

Look at that big hairy audacious gorilla.

So, what I suggested for the charity BHAG is that each year we would aim to raise £10,000 a year for charity. Each quarter we would look to choose a charity or cause and donate time, effort and money to.

Each quarter we would have a different chair of the committee which would ensure continued energy and also some competition between the committee members.

Whilst the BHAG of £10k may appear imposing what I'm suggesting is more than raising money. One thing that would be highly valuable to those in the local area would be our time and resources. If individuals were able to donate time or teach skills to young people that may be incredibly valuable to the local community. If we value developer time at £40 an hour and that developer visits a school to teach young people coding techniques and the value of STEM education, that would be £200 worth of resources donated to the local community.

We're meeting again soon to discuss our approach and hopefully I should have more information for you soon!

Thanks for reading!

AT