This is a Journey Into Yogic Sound

2010. Four years into working for corporate America - I came across a number of articles targeted at young professionals, like myself, who are in the grind and looking to find 'balance'. My first thought was: Balance? What balance? I had money in my pocket, a place of my own, a socially respectable job, I was dating with some success (and some failure), I was driving a badass truck and drinking delicious single malt scotch with the fellas while visiting Black Jack tables at the Hard Rock. How much more balance do I need? Who needs emotions when you have work to do and booze to coat the rest? At the time I didn't know it, but a void still existed because for the next four years, I continued to come across these articles of balancing the mind, body and soul. And each time I read about yoga, I found it to align with some unknown part of me. Still a bit dehydrated from the night before and brain-fried from last week's engineering plan set submittal, that alignment never felt any more than a blip of dialogue in my brain saying - "sounds kinda cool".

Then shit hit the fan.

I starting dating a most beautiful young lady. We had known each other for a few years already, so when we went on our first date, it felt like the 10th. Things progressed pretty quickly and I had stars in my eyes. Smart, beautiful, ambitious, and humble - what a combo! But as love goes, our paths weren't meant for each other. Her track of life was far from where I was headed, and we called it quits. I was in the dumps. Combined with grinding work hours and grinding play hours, heart break was the emotional energy that forced me into surrender. The western school of thought is grind, push, control, collect, and take no prisoners. But I was depleted of trying to control everything and surrender was my only comforting state of existence. It had become clear, I needed to heal. So I quit my job, joined a significantly less demanding job and started reading more about yoga and its healing nature. I signed-up for my first yoga class in early 2014.

I have to admit, I was reluctant to participate in this girly workout, but after a handful of classes - I felt a shift within myself that I'm not sure I can put into words. At the conclusion of each class for about 10-15 minutes, I was high on sobriety. My static emotional state of depression and isolation would vanish even as I attempted to call it back. Through those short highs, my confidence shot through the roof where I found myself making new friends, flirting with girls’ way out of my league, and gaining substantial clarity of my life. I began journaling - thoughts and ideas poured out of my pen - as if straight from my subconscious. It was sensational. And I'm convinced my recent experience in surrender was the catalyst to these new experiences. I began to participate into a new dimension of living, where I began to see my routine from another point of view. Three months into my practice, and I was still high and hooked. It was a rabbit's hole and I had to see what else was down there. I knew I would never not practice. 

Work Hard, Rest Hard

I used to think "working hard and playing hard" was the appropriate stoic mentality I needed to get ahead and win at life. But after a dozen years into the game of adulting, some of the dust has settled about how winning is defined. And as the title of this post suggests, red-lining week after week is not what I'd suggest for those wanting to become the best version of themselves.

Here is what working hard and playing hard was for me. I would wake at 04:45am on the weekdays to either strength train or go on a 17 mile bike ride. When I arrived at work - at 8:00am - I was responsible to bill 90% of my time which really meant non-stop clicking and typing in a merit-worthy sedentary fashion. I'd get home around 7pm. Dinner and clean up took me to 9pm, where I got about an hour of stillness prior to involuntarily passing-out.  My weekends, when I wasn't working, were littered with high-energy entertainment as social norms seemed to encourage. I broke out the booze all weekend. Whether it was at the casino, at a college football tailgate, over poker or just at home - I blurred my way through my time off - often battling hang overs and eating junky food - only to return to Monday's morning. I believed this is what winning was. This lifestyle lasted roughly 5 years. 

It wasn't until began working for another employer that my routine and perspective changed. I even began to believe that my new perspective would be automatically adopted by all those around me because of how natural the shift felt.. to me. But I was wrong. 

Recently, I interviewed with a 60 year old executive of an engineering firm where he prided himself on grinding all week, schmoozing every night and getting blitz all weekend on single-malt scotch. Charming. During our conversation he actually suddenly fell out of his chair because he had fallen asleep from 35 years of working and playing hard. Just kidding but he did look like he had a few medical conditions that spawned from his lifestyle. And he was, generally, an overbearing ass.  Mr. Exec clearly made a career name for himself - but should his lifestyle be the path to personal and professional accomplishments? IMO - nah bro. If I may, I'd like to suggest the phrase be rephrased to "Work Hard, Rest Hard" or preferably "Work Smart, Play Golf". Needless to say, I declined his offer.

Each morning we wake up with a finite amount of energy before we need to recharge our bodies and minds - just like our beloved cell phones. Not convinced? Trying staying awake... forever. We all hit a point - regardless of the amount of coffee or other stimulants we suck down - where we simply have to rest and recharge. Still think resting is for chumps and the lazy? When you don't give your mind and body the rest it needs, it'll result in cognitive impairment - which would adversely impact accomplishing whatever goals you've set. Or as expressed in a metaphoric fashion - trying to eat a sandwich in one bite seems like a poor approach to satisfying hunger.

But as I continue to witness - from the sideline - how this work hard, play hard philosophy survives, it appears that its players hang out at the cusp of falling asleep while eating tacos and climbing corporate ladders. So what's the problem with tacos and getting those big promotions? Intuition and creativity are blunted.

Our intuition is arguable our greatest ally and supporter, and here's why. We all have opinions, preferences, sensations and urges - beyond our control. Simple example: I like the color orange and I like boobs. They are both preferences that are out of my control resulting in pleasurable brain stimulation when encountered. Instinctually and without opposition, I am drawn to these things. Others may find orange to be not so joyous, but that's the beauty of it. We are all inspired and drawn - beyond our control - by the plethora of variables in our lives. And when we are inspired, we don't feel resistance but rather an acceleration of positive energy. I don't know what is more exciting than being inspired by [fill in the blank].

With more than half of employees hating their jobs, it seems people are either running away from their intuition or simply are too busy working and playing in worlds that keep them blind to intuition. My suggestion is to begin tapping into that world that is above described as - beyond our control.  The aspirations that are guided from within ourselves lead us to the lives we dream of. It actually makes literal sense. And therefore, and in conclusion, giving ourselves the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual space to listen to our intuition is absolutely paramount - assuming that smiling more than groaning is the goal. 

So the next time someone is promoting their company or brand by saying they work hard and play hard - give it a second look - make sure playing hard doesn't mean going balls to the wall and red-lining your life. Do not let your intuitive sense go dull. Bask in the joy of your universal gifts. Find your balance. Let creativity spark within you. And you shall win at life.