encoded notions

Fight Club mantras come to my mind often.

The things you own end up owning you.

Reject the basic assumptions of civilization, especially the importance of material possessions.

In the face of consumerist decisions, this line floats the forefront of my consciousness.

Whenever I go shopping I think about it. When I ponder how I’ll furnish my apartment in the fall I think about it.

Living in a dorm situation for three years helps enhance the words. When packing for move in, there’s always a little demon sitting on your shoulder whispering don’t take that, it’s not important to you or if that were to burn in a fire tomorrow, would you be sad?. It’s about minimalization. Finding out those things that you need to feel comfortable and functional in life. I don’t feel the need to go overboard like Jack & Tyler do in the movie & book, but there is a fair amount that I do not need. The difficulty arises in drawing the line between utility and junk.

Hitting bottom isn’t a weekend retreat. It’s not a goddamn seminar. Stop trying to control everything and just let go! LET GO!

When I was taking my CORE at the end of my second year, I thought about letting go. Surrendering to the flow of events has a calming effect. I went into the exam thinking “I studied my best for this. I’m fairly well-prepared, and whatever grade I receive is one that I deserve.” I was only trying to impress myself with my performance.

One minute was enough, Tyler said, a person had to work hard for it, but a minute of perfection was worth the effort. A moment was the most you could ever expect from perfection.

Being somewhat of a perfectionist will eventually drive you mad. If you approach every problem, try to solve it perfectly, and keep it like that you will seriously go bonkers. A prime example of this is someone with OCD; some will get very upset with you if you happen to disturb the finely vacuumed and arranged fibers in their carpeting. If you realign your concepts of perfection so that transience is acceptable, you’ll be happier and have less stress in your life.

It’s only after you’ve lost everything that you’re free to do anything.

If you lost all of your possessions, money, friends, and family members what would you have? Goals, concepts, and ideas. At that point, the sky’s the limit for turning your dreams into reality simply because you’d have little to no consequences barring your way.