Thoughts

I opened up the mobile game 2048 today, it's a game where the goal is to multiply multiples by 2 across a grid. It is offline as far as I know and last I checked numbers didn't need any personalization.

Still I were met with this 🥸

Privacy information This app will treat personal data and device-related information that may be stored, analyzed and/or shared with 696 third-party providers to provide you with a more personalized experience. You can consent to the processing of your personal data for the purposes specified below. Some suppliers may process your personal data on the basis of legitimate interest, which you can object to in our supplier list. You can change your privacy settings or withdraw your consent at any time by opening the menu item privacy settings.

I know this isn't new, but isn't it wild how a simple offline game has 696 parters that they share data with!

I miss the old internet...

Any parent will recognise that having a 3 year old and a newborn requires a certain level of attention. Not to speak of the attention needed to perform at work, maintain a relationship with your partner, a clean home, healthy body and any other things you might have going on in life.

I end up spending a lot of my personal free-time scrolling various news, watching youtube or reading books. Which is great! I'm mostly staying off social media, but still: my brain remains in consumption-mode at most times and isn't given much time to weed out the trash.

Then add on top of that; one, two or even -gasp- three thoughts that you keep unresolved for a long period of time. “Should we move to a new area?”, “Do I really like what I'm doing professionally?”, “Should we get a dog?”, “<fill in blank>?”

poof! 💨 ...and just like that a mind knot is formed and we are stuck dealing with it.

The perfect day exercise

I recently listened to a podcast with Dr. Martha Beck where she went through her “perfect day” exercise.

At its core, this exercise is about building a perfect day, not by imagining it but, by experiencing it in your head. When it works you can instinctively navigate a complex problem that would have taken forever to work out logically.

I used this recently to approximate where I want to live and raise my kids, a mind knot that had been plaguing me for a some time. It successfully helped me eliminate a couple options I have been going over a lot recently with no winning logical reasoning.

As for the exercise, I imagined myself waking up in a “perfect day” future, feeling relaxed and content. I focused on the emotions the surroundings gave me – the sounds, smells, and people around me as well as the house I were in, it's backyard and general neighbourhood. Sometimes details emerge, but don't linger on them.

What I have found most helpful with this exercise is to connect to my emotions. Once you have that connection you can figure out the rest and let the details emerge over time.

Going out of the exercise I had really good optics of what type of neighbourhood and house I would want to live and raise my kids in, which has provided me with a great sense of calm. I encourage you to give it a try as well, and just perhaps, you might feel the sweet release of calm and joy as your mind untangles the knot! 🌈