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March, 2025
The Principle of Least Effort
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The Principle of Least Effort
I recently spent several days with some friends I had not hung out with in many years. I realized the absurdly vast amount of experiences and lessons I had gone through over this time. I have always been quite creative and witty, but my friends were quite amused with the fact that "I seem to have a saying for almost anything." Not only quotes but also songs, metaphors, and stories.
I need to start documenting all of these in writing as they come into the conversation. They are just in some corner of my mind, waiting to jump out at the slightest opportunity. One of these is what I translated from Spanish as "The Law of Minimum Effort," which I had to look up to confirm the right term in English—"The Principle of Least Effort."
It is a broad theory that so many philosophers, scientists, and authors have discussed as documented since the early 20th century. Everyone adds their two cents, and as its name implies, it deals with how nature, including humans, tends to follow paths of least resistance when making decisions.
However, my own observations and experience don't totally agree with that. So many times have I put a lot of energy against my instincts and intuition into things that turned out wrong. So many indeed, I was forced to slow down and reevaluate everything deeply to develop some strategies that would serve me better in my future decisions. And here is my version of the Principle of Least Effort: Things must be fun, easy, and affordable.
The first part is self-explanatory. Fun is the emotion attached to a happy and enjoyable experience. Joy is the north in my heart compass; it helps me navigate life moving in a direction that feels aligned with my soul. But pay attention here: our heart has a compass that aligns with our truest self, our best version from the very distant future that already has achieved all its dreams and lives in an eternal state of bliss. But we have a logical mind that is heavily polluted with all kinds of external programming that may go against our core principles. Our body and the essence of our ego- the character that we choose to play in this cosmic tale- have a more literal version of least effort. The dreaded "Level 1 Fun", comfort zone, cheap dopamine, and a weird ability to dissipate our own energy and turn us to procrastination at the slightest sign that things may change, even if for the better.
So we come to the second premise: things must be easy. This only means that we need to put the work in to gain the skills, experience, and practice so that things happen naturally, from spontaneous muscle memory. If inspiration strikes, and we decide we want to pursue a project or a new artistic or athletic skill, we should figure out the first baby steps and get on the path for the pleasure of taking the journey without attachment to the end result. How many times have you started something only to get to a crossroads in the middle that takes you somewhere completely different? This is a huge part of understanding how to flow with life instead of trying to control it.
Third and last, things must be affordable. I understand money as a form of energy - like gas in your vehicle's tank. Like other forms of energy, it is meant to flow and make things work more than being stored. Sometimes, ideas and opportunities will come our way, and we may get extremely enticed by them, and we may take a financial risk by pursuing things without a plan. Affordable doesn't mean low cost. It means "that you have the financial means." The most magical example I have from my life is when I think I need to go somewhere, and the flights are crazy overpriced to what would otherwise be "logical." If that happens, I don't take the journey, and soon enough, something happens that usually confirms why I had to stay put. On the other hand, sometimes I may not buy a flight, but if I need to be at the place, someone interested will pop up offering to pay for my costs, or I will realize that I have enough miles to pay for it... If you realize that you are being pulled towards something but you can't afford it at that moment, first - pay attention that you are following a craving of your soul and not a desire from your ego. Do nothing. Wait it out, keep walking your path, and look for alternatives or opportunities for new income. "What is meant for you will not pass you by." Remove all elements of seeking, and just trust.
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Vibes on Repeat
DJ Madden - March 2025 - "Always Something Better"
Reflecting on the themes of contentment, satisfaction, purchase of happiness, and trying to figure out if we can ever feel complete in a moment by ourselves, or we're always chasing something better. So many spiritual masters and traditions encourage us to meditate and find peace and solace in the instant, just being, but for some reason - maybe societal programming, maybe evolution, maybe because it's our deepest rooted survival instinct - even knowing what the almighty TAO represents and having had glimpses of the Universal puzzle, we fail to accept reality as it is and attach to an unattainable love that will most likely hurt us and bring such deep deception to confirm what we knew from the beginning. But then, are we better off living in painful acceptance, not taking risks and surrendering to a boring journey through a purgatory of simple things? Why do we feel like we are made to touch the stars but only equipped with wings made of wax? The answer is usually already in the question... maybe we need to figure out better wings for what our heart screams is our purpose.
Oldie goldie: Lee Burridge @ DSTRKT - Burning Man 2019
"It’s been a while since I played DISTRIKT last. After this years experience I’m somewhat kicking myself. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a crowd at Burning Man so wild and fun. The party was electric. Fire! And, it was only Tuesday. ‘Pacing it’ was obviously out of the question for the five thousand or so that joined me. The Robot Heart bus rolled up and plugged in. Hoj tore the place up before me. Our day party extended into night and most of us left with a smile on our faces and an electricity that carried us forward. Beautiful people swung above the crowd in a birdcage (is that safe I kept asking myself in my head)and hips wiggled and swung while the multi-level dance floor bumped and bounced. Basically, best day party at Burning Man ever ever. So, thank you DISTRIKT for giving me an extended set and an amazing party to play. Let’s do it again next year. It’s a date?"
Follow Lee Burridge:
Facebook - www.facebook.com/djleeburridge/
Twitter - twitter.com/leebu
Instagram - www.instagram.com/djleeburridge/
Spotify - open.spotify.com/artist/0334oJHhR…xWScaUUY1bukmM9A
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The Book Nook
The Flowering Wand: Rewilding the Sacred Masculine - Sophie Strand
[Audiobook included with Spotify Premium]
I came across Sophie Strand thanks to a short podcast snippet where she so fluently described the flexibility of mycelial networks and symbiotic relationships [full interview here]. I feel that it's helpful to zoom out of the strict narratives of our social conditioning, belief systems, and logical narratives, and do some research and observation of nature to find metaphors and parallels to our personal experience.
"Sharing the culmination of eight years of research into myth, folklore, and the history of religion, Strand leads us back into the forgotten landscapes and hidden secrets of familiar myths, revealing the beautiful range of the divine masculine, including expressions of male friendship, male intimacy, and male creative collaboration."
I enjoy how she dives deep into mythology, religion, and biology, and weaves love stories and meaningful perspectives for some archetypes whose meaning can be reinterpreted from a wider lens than the patriarchal masculine point of view.
Find more interesting books and content in Level 3 Fun's Culture Club
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Fitspiration Hub
After spending a week under the intense energy of March's full moon and eclipse, I come to you. I had been feeling great, training and staying super active, until one Monday, my body clearly asked for rest. And I listened, and I complied. During the entire week, I only managed to do very light stretches, and my body would claim rest through pain and discomfort. I reflected on it and decided to take a break and let it recover until I finally woke up on Sunday feeling energized and ready to start my routine again.
If you haven't yet found your daily ritual of exercise and activation of your body, dismiss this message and GET TO IT (start slow, do anything, but get moving... go for a walk... ANYTHING!)
But if you enjoy the benefits of physical training, working out, and an active lifestyle, this month's advice is to listen to your body. Take time to just breathe, with no distractions, no phone, and feel your joints, your muscles, and your bones. How does it feel? If you think you may need a little break, take it without any remorse, and know that actively and intentionally providing the hydration, nutrients, and recovery time to your organism is just as important (maybe more?) than pushing the limits. Work on balancing it all out so that you can perform better, get stronger, and be happier for a longer time!
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Reflection Corner
One of the biggest themes this month is FLOW. Sometimes, we feel ready for action, but the moving parts of the Universe around us must fall in place for the mechanism to work in perfect harmony. We are part of a beautiful cosmic dance. Sometimes, we are the hand of the watch that marks the hour, the one marking the minutes, or the one turning every second. The hour hand not moving for 60 minutes, doesn't mean the watch is not working. It is only doing its job by staying where it needs to be, slowly leaning towards the next big number. Practice being just breathing, throbbing with aliveness, grounding yourself in the presence of the current instant instead of being blown away like a balloon floating with dreams, doubts, and assumptions. Even when we are quiet, the river is running. Just wait, and you shall see.
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