Paradoxical Preservation
Self-preservation is a complex topic to write about precisely because there is so much to be said about the subject. Simultaneously, there is so little that we may find individually, applicably, valuable. In its most simple definition, to self-preserve is to find ways to survive and prolong the inevitability of entropy.
It is, of course, more complicated than merely to survive. It's how we process and make sense of the world around us; it is the maintenance associated with our physiological and psychological well-being; it is the acknowledgment that we must save ourselves prior to attempting to save another.
Others can give us guidance on how to self-preserve better; however, individually, we understand better than anyone else what that truly entails. Hidden within ourselves lies the key to unlock a better future. Gaining access to the key is perhaps the most challenging aspect of discovering said future because the methods that are working for others are not necessarily working for us.
We see self-preservation being advertised to us on bus stop benches, grocery store items, television commercials, unsolicited advice from family and friends, etc. "5 simple ways to improve your ____", or "if you want ____ then you must ____." It appears that everyone has the solution to our difficulties. While, yes, specific products, advice, thought processes, and behaviors can be conducive to our well-being, it is quite interesting that we tend to gravitate towards what we see as immediately available as the pathway forward.
If we feel stagnant, immobile, or unproductive, it can be strange, discomforting, and frustrating. That lack of "doing" can cause us to wonder what it is that we should "do" in order to feel fruitful and effective in our lives.
Many find the very idea of relaxation to be counterintuitive due to the fear that it could lead to boredom, laziness, or depression. This is not always the case. Being combative of boredom is not necessarily the best way to self-preserve. By doing "nothing" for an allotted amount of time, say anywhere between 1 day to 3 weeks, we can actually be doing wonders for our sense of self-preservation.
Living within discomfort is often when we reveal aspects of ourselves that we have long been ignoring, both the good and the bad. Not taking on new tasks, to subvert the feeling of productivity, forces us to confront our fears and better understand why we think or behave the way that we do at times.
I'm aware, this all sounds incredibly unpleasant; however, it is developmentally essential. If we cannot sit comfortably with ourselves, then that is an indication that nothing must be taken on; or adopted until we have made peace with who we are, either through making appropriate changes or through radical acceptance. Taking on what we are not yet ready for will only lead to problems further down the road. We're all familiar with the dreaded corporate buzzword "burnout."
Once this peace has been welcomed or manifested, it is at that point that we can continue movement. Unsurprisingly, after a period of immobility and reflection, the progress that we make seemingly becomes more rapid than what we may expect.
The concept of preservation also encompasses another idea, conservation. We have the ability to conserve energy for the purposes of utilizing it at a later date. Withholding action allows us to store creativity and momentum that can propel us from around the corner from where we previously were. This is the reason why we take vacations.
Rest allows us to recharge, refocus, and reintegrate. While the idea of doing little and simply reflecting can feel paradoxical, particularly surrounding eagerness and longing for forwarding movement, it is also incredibly imperative as it helps us to prepare for what is next. Stagnation, in more cases than not, is a tool for survival. It helps us to discover conservation and can allow us to gain access to the key in which we seek.