Once in a while I try to add a bit of consciousness into the universe of the musician.  Today’s musing may seem slightly off-topic, but I can assure you that it is very relevant to the world around you.  It starts with a simple question: Are you constantly running on a treadmill?

The idea of treadmilling is not new; the hamster wheel is an age old variation, as is the cog in the machine, etc.  However, lately the “treadmill” meme seems to be in the collective consciousness.  It was most recently brought back into view for me by the book ‘Anti-Fragile’ by author Nassim Nicholas Taleb.  While the author argues (successfully, and to his “anti-fragile” point of view) that treadmilling is inherently bad for you as it exacerbates “fragilism”, the idea of one’s earthly existence being reduced to running on a treadmill is pretty nihilistic.

Thus, the idea of “progress” should be meditated on frequently during one’s lifetime.  Not the idea of blindly progressing for the sake of progress and going nowhere; instead it is the idea of actually “doing” something with your life–the esoteric gem of “to be” vs. “not to be”.  The energy that one has is limited–too much time spent on the treadmill will wear you out and limit your ability to truly “move” in the desired direction.  As someone who has recently freed themselves from “society’s mills”, I’m not going to give you all the answers.  Instead, I’m going to give you the right questions to ask yourself:

1) What am I really doing?

Do you have a goal, end point or other pursuit?  What are you doing to get there?  Life is a journey no doubt, so one shouldn’t get lost in the idea of simply “achieving goals”.  However, a ship without a rudder and engine will float perilously about the sea until it sinks.  Have a goal, create a plan and outline the steps necessary to get there.  Set this all to a specific timeline and monitor the progress.  Remember that progress only for the sake of progress puts you back on the wheel.

2) Who else benefits from my input?

Energy vampires are everywhere–many of them are embedded in the functioning of our society.  If these entities are not removed from your life, they will live to continually suck your output dry.  Try to isolate the direction of your inputs so as to attract and/or supply limited energy (or perhaps none at all) to any free-riders.  Again, with limited fuel over a lifetime, it is important to make your machine as energy efficient and effective as possible.  A classic business example would be moving from employee to entrepreneur.

3) Am I a free thinker?

Without going into painstaking detail, there is a world of knowledge in the words “Temet Nosce” (know thyself).  The general gist is this–your subconscious is running the show, until you learn how it works and how to control it.  Society’s engineers know this and seek to actively exploit this idea via governmental policy, aggressive marketing/advertising, creating faux social norms,  sensationalizing skewed/flawed data, and promoting the “ends justify the means” concept.  There is a reason the media calls it “programming”; this is exactly what is happening to your subconscious.  Stop being a parrot (automaton) and work to change this paradigm–you and only you have the power to stop roaming the earth unconsciously.  For those more interested in the esoteric value (embedded in the Latin phrase above), I would recommend the book “In Search of the Miraculous” by P.D. Ouspensky.

4) Where does money fit into my goals?

Money is double-edged sword.  While it is a necessary evil in today’s society, it is one of the easiest ways to find yourself back on the treadmill.  Money should always be respected, but from the proper point of view as it is really an illusion.  Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t run the “real world”; it is material and will only ever be material.  Take a minute to think about money–where does it come from?  What does it represent?  The answer is labor or input–yours specifically, or mama earth’s.  The rest is a facade that is generally counterfeit.  The only amount of money you truly need is the amount necessary to feed your family, keep them sheltered and of course, pay your taxes.  All else is superfluous.  While having some disposable funds lying around is better than a stick in the eye, the point is to put money in its proper place.  Don’t live/work to worship the accumulation of money–it only feeds the greater system that keeps the illusion going.  Be the master of money, not the other way around.  Take a minute to read the parable of the Golden Calf.

5) What do you love?

The idea of doing what you love is really a key concept in life.  If you love what you do, you’ll never work another day in your life.  It’s not always easy to accomplish, but take a minute to ask yourself “What do I love to do?” and try to make your life fit around this idea.  Sometimes this means sacrificing money for love, but can you think of a better sacrifice?  For a lucky few, this just happens.  For the rest of us, we need to work at it.  Again, create a plan, remove any inefficiencies, unplug your subconscious (become conscious), master the concept of money and you will inevitably not only become happier, but you will end up loving whatever you’re are doing, because you are in-line with the universe.

Talk is cheap.  Don’t take my word for it–get off the treadmill and start living your life already!  I guarantee you will find the way if you truly seek it.  Remember that the journey of a thousand miles starts with only a few footsteps.