TrueLife - 10 Ways to Find Meaning in Chaos

Starting point is 00:00:01 Darkness struck, a gut-punched theft, Sun ripped away, her health bereft. I roar at the void. This ain't just fate, a cosmic scam I spit my hate. The games rigged tight, shadows deal, blood on their hands, I'll never kneel. Yet in the rage, a crack ignites, occulted sparks cut through the nights. The scars my key, hermetic and stark. To see, to rise, I hunt in the dark, fumbling, fear. Fearist through ruins maze lights my war cry born from the blaze.

Starting point is 00:00:40 The poem is Angels with Rifles. The track, I Am Sorrow, I Am Lust by Codex Seraphini. Check out the entire song at the end of the cast. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the True Life podcast. Got a great new series for you. It's called 10, 10, 10, 10. 10. 10. Every morning, we're going to be giving you 10 ways to find out something new about your life. It'll be quick. It'll be easy and I think it will be helpful. In this particular introductory version of 10, I am going to be telling you 10 ways you can find meaning and chaos. And I hope your life does become more meaningful because I know that at times it can be chaotic. Number one, mindful reflection. You know what I mean by that?

Starting point is 00:01:40 mindful reflection. Here's what you can do when you find yourself in chaos. Embrace chaos as an opportunity for self-reflection. Engage in mindful practices to observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment. Far too often when we're stuck in chaos, we find ourselves just swimming in this emotion and judgment and blaming ourselves. You need not do that because gaining insights through mindful meditation, through the mindful reflection is a great way that can lead to personal growth and understanding. Number two, seek patterns. Amidst chaos, look for patterns and connections. Take a moment to look around and see why something is happening. Ask yourself that question, why? I think that you'll be able to look and see patterns where you might not be able to see them.

Starting point is 00:02:38 if you are filled with the emotion that often comes with chaos. Often meaning emerges when you identify underlying structures or reoccurring themes, providing a sense of order within the apparent disorder. The patterns are there if you look for them. Sometimes they're difficult to see and you need a moment. So look for patterns. Number three, adaptability. Embrace chaos as a catalyst for adaptability.

Starting point is 00:03:06 Recognize that life is dynamic. and being flexible in the face of uncertainty can lead to resilience and the discovery of new possibilities. Sometimes chaos can be the very thing that will propel you forward. If you're willing to embrace it, I know that uncertainty can be frightening. However, if you think about it as an opportunity to see something new and something old, I think that you are well on your way to adapting to a better world. 4. Creativity. Chaos can be a wellspring for creativity. Use moments of disorder as an opportunity to explore innovative solutions. Express yourself through art or writing and find novel approaches

Starting point is 00:03:52 to challenges. Number five, connect with others. This is a great one. Share experiences and perspectives with others who may be navigating similar chaos. Building connections and finding a sense of shared understanding can bring meaning to challenging situations. Maybe that's one of the points of chaos, is looking for connections and finding someone who may be trying to navigate those same troubled waters as you. Maybe you find a life partner. Maybe you find a friend. Maybe you find a different version of yourself.

Starting point is 00:04:24 But look for the connections. Number six, learn from challenges. View chaotic situations as opportunities for learning and personal. development. Embrace the lessons that chaos can offer. Recognizing that overcoming adversity often leads to profound personal growth. If you're listening to this, I know that you understand this. Sometimes it's those moments of chaos. It's those moments of trouble. It's those mistakes, those things that we think are mistakes. But we often look back at them later in life and we realize, wow, that was where I turned the corner. Wow, that was where I began to see this version of myself that I never.

Starting point is 00:05:05 new before. They do in fact, challenges, even traumatic events can become the catalyst or even the turning points in our life. So when you find yourself in chaos and challenge, realize for a moment that this could be a good sign. This could be the point at which you find a new version of yourself. Number seven, focus on what you can control. In chaotic situations, identify aspects of your life that you can control. Directing your energy towards actionable steps empowers you and helps create a sense of purpose. Additionally, I think it helps you find another part of yourself. When you focus on what you can control, it's a little bit humorous.

Starting point is 00:05:53 You realize that there's almost nothing in life that is controllable. You can't control what happens to you in life, but you and you alone can control the meaning of that event. And that's usually enough. Number eight, finding beauty in perfection. Chaos often brings about imperfection. But within imperfection, there is a unique beauty. Embrace the imperfect aspects of life, recognizing that they contribute to the richness and diversity of experience. I think that there is a Japanese art called Wabi-Sabi. And in that particular Japanese art form, it's the idea of coaxing the ugly out of the beautiful. I'll give you an example. If there's like an old pot or there's this old trinket or there's this old particular item and it has these cracks in it. Well, it's those cracks in

Starting point is 00:06:46 that old item that give it character. It's the character flaws in you that make you unique. So can you embrace those character flaws? Can you find beauty and imperfection? Number nine, cultivate meaningful rituals. This is an important one. Establishing routines or rituals during chaotic times can provide a sense of stability and purpose. These rituals can be small, daily practices that ground you and bring order to the chaos. Rituals and cultivation of meaning are so important. And you can do these. You can do these every morning, roll out of bed, say, I love you. Every morning, roll out of bed, look in the mirror and kind of flirt with yourself. Like, hey, you got a good looking smile. You're like, hey, you got a good looking smile. there. Hey, they're handsome or hey there, good looking. Do it for your partner. Do it for your family.

Starting point is 00:07:37 Wake up and sing them a song. How about this? How about every time you meet somebody do a little dance? Hey, my name is George. Whatever your, whatever your ritual is, do it. And it will create meaning in your life. And it will be fun. And it will help. And it will definitely help you. Pull yourself out of chaos if you find yourself in it. Because you can just report right back to that ritual. Number 10. Mindful acceptance. Practice acceptance of the present moment. acknowledging that some chaos is beyond your control. By accepting reality without judgment, you can find peace and meaning, even in the midst of uncertainty.

Starting point is 00:08:13 So uncertainty, gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, is a world of chaos. But if you can begin to embrace it, if you can see all of these techniques when you find yourself in chaotic times, I think it'll make you a little bit better person. It'll definitely make you a better person to be a better person to be or around when chaos happens. And the good news is life is chaos. And the bad news is life is chaos. So all you have to do is work on these particular tips. And I hope that you can find the beauty and the chaos that is life. Thanks for joining me in this initial 10, 10, 10, 10, 10.

TrueLife - 10 Ways to Find Meaning in Chaos

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