life is not a problem, or a to-do list

I’m sure you’ve heard this saying: that the easiest way to complete your to-do list is to let go of the to-do list. the easiest way to solve your problems is to realize that there are no problems. so, following this logic, there is only one to-do, one problem — to let go of the problem, and the list.

but how do we let go of our problems, when our conditioned, survivalist mindset is to scan the horizon for problems — in the future — and to project future danger and doom, be it emotional, financial, or mental?

and how do we delete the to-do list, when doing nothing feels like allowing the world and life to pass by and to allowing ourselves to be “left behind?” which, in essence, is to allow our forward motion on the conveyer belt of doom?

our conditioned relationship to time

is that not how we were raised in this society? to solve problems and complete to-dos against the clock? and if we fall into this trap, we’ll begin to think of our entire lives as a big problem to solve, a big to-do list to complete.

we’re born. we fulfill a long to do list. we die?

(and is happiness on the to-do list? can it be? the essence of happiness and presence are totally counter to the structure of to-do lists)

and we were raised to think that the ultimate enemy — is time. under the notion that if we don’t make use of every moment, we would be “left behind” in this world. a scarcity mindset towards time. growing up, my mother would always say — 要抓紧时间 — meaning, you need to tightly seize time.

but do you??? must we treat our lives like a race against time, and time like an animal or a leaf or the wind to be seized? the wind and the animal don’t want to be seized. they want to live.

process vs. deadlines

in my creative work, I spend most of my time discovering how to live the middle way between process and “deadlines” — and to allow myself generous windows of time in which I can be fully in the process and lose track of time and deadlines — while still mostly reaching them. I begin by questioning every deadline, and be clear about why the structuring my time in this way matters to me — relating to meaningful commitments.

so, these intentions — are simply very loose list of things that are important to me. maybe the practice is simply this:

maintain a loose collection of important things without them becoming a to-do list, or problems to be solved.

so, how?

how do we let go of the problem, and to-dos?

I’m just starting to think about this, so I’ll write more in another post. maybe we begin with asking some questions —

is this really a problem?

it is a problem to be solved right now? or can I solve it later?

does the problem only exist in my mind?

why is my mind making it a problem?

what am I afraid of?

can I live this problem as a process?

can I let it go?