A New Year and a New Project

2021 was a tough year for me, but I am looking forward to 2022 as I continue my journey to develop a resilient home-base of equanimity. In fact, like I did with the 100 lakes project, I have set myself a lofty new goal which will keep me motivated (I hope) for the next stage of my life.

The Goal

I will achieve a state of more or less consistent equanimity from which I can live an authentic and engaged life as a writer, photographer, and visionary leader. I will achieve this goal in 100 months.

Whoa, 100 months? That is a long time! Yes, it is about 8 years. Lets say May of 2030. My 100 lakes project took about 7 years, so that feels like a good timeframe. If I have not achieved a home-base of equanimity by then, I probably never will.

How will I get there and what do I need to do?

A. I will re-read the books that have brought me to this place of understanding and make notes of what practices I need to do regularly and start practicing them. I will record my progress here. The starter books:

1. The Mind Body Code – Mario Martinez
2. Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness Written by: Rick Hanson, Forrest Hanson
3. A Liberated Mind – Steven C Hayes
4. The HeartMath Solution: The Institute of HeartMath’s Revolutionary Program for Engaging the Power of the Heart’s Intelligence – Doc Childre, Howard Martin, Donna Beech
5. The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science Written by: Culadasa John Yates PhD , Matthew Immergut PhD , Jeremy Graves
6. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking Written by: Susan Cain
7. The Highly Sensitive Person’s Complete Learning Program: Essential Insights and Tools for Navigating Your Work, Relationships, and Life Written by: Elaine Aron PhD
8. How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence Written by: Michael Pollan
9. The Undervalued Self Written by: Elaine N. Aron

B. I will read new books that will help me on my journey, including:

1. Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve – Stanley Rosenberg, Benjamin Shield

C. I will also continue:

1. my meditation practice,
2. to seek wisdom in the forest, and to understand the spiritual nature of forests,
3. to develop my photography as a path of mindfulness and source of metaphors,
4. Schema Therapy work,
5. to stay open to opportunities,
6. create mindful videos,
7. Deepen my understanding of trauma, the nervous system, and the nature of the self.