Break the Twitch

Love Your Attention, Build Better Habits

Creativity

Sixty Minutes In A Sensory Deprivation Tank

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Sensory Deprivation Float Tank

I often write about the harmful effects of overstimulation due to the insane amount of information we receive daily. Putting away our digital devices for a weekend is one thing, but what would happen if this was taken to an extreme? What if we removed not just digital inputs, but sight, sound and touch all together?

I had heard of sensory deprivation tanks years ago, but due to a deal in a local coupon book I decided to finally try one. A health and wellness center about 10 minutes away from our house had one available. Some will know them as ‘float tanks’, because inside this human-sized chest freezer is about 8-10 inches of water, 35% saturated with over 800 pounds of epsom salt. As a friend of mine mentioned, “It’s like the Dead Sea in a box”. The epsom salt increases the density of the water allowing a person to float effortlessly inside the tank. From The Wellness Center website:

The tank is an enclosed shallow pool of warm water (93.5° skin temperature). Free from gravity’s pull, the body can release tension, easing pains and stress – often relieving long-held pain.

When I arrived to the facility I signed in and was given some specific instructions about the process. Using the float tank requires extensive showering before and after to prevent any oils from getting into the water. Total water replacement is not necessary, as the salt is a natural disinfectant, and the tank water is both filtered and passed through a UV light to complete the cleaning cycle between patrons.

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Entering a Creative Flow State Using Minimalism

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Charlevoix, Michigan

Often we discuss minimalism as a philosophy relating to the physical world, but that’s just one of the areas the concepts of minimalism can be applied.

In a broad sense, eliminating as much clutter as possible makes our lives better in many ways. With less clutter, we have less to organize and less to clean. Ideally we find ourselves spending time only with the things that we truly value. By eliminating the rest, we have more time to appreciate and fully utilize those things as well.

When applied to relationships, minimalism refers to toxic ones as clutter that must be removed as well. Relationships with people who are chronically negative, unsupportive or abusive distract us and from reaching our potential. It is often said that we become the average of the five closest people around us, and I find it to be true.

As a general philosophy, these concepts can be applied to almost every area of life. From preventing the over-scheduling of our time, to embracing a simple life without needless physical things cluttering our homes.

Where I’ve found minimalism to be particularly relevant and helpful is during the creative flow process.

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Supporting The Hope Effect for My 30th Birthday

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Well, after a short hiatus we’re back (and hopefully better than ever). For the week that I wasn’t writing on Break the Twitch, I was busy turning 30! Amy and I celebrated my birthday last Saturday in our backyard with a great group of friends. It really has seemed like time is flying faster than ever. I do want to sit back and take some time to reflect on everything that has happened even in the last few months, and I will soon. Right now, I want to tell you a bit more about how we’re celebrating my 30th birthday.

Break the Twitch evolved out of the frustration I felt when I wasn’t able have experiences along with people I care about. All those times that family members wanted to go somewhere for a vacation together and I wasn’t really quite able to pull it off. It always seemed like I just didn’t have enough money to make those big purchases like plane tickets or hotel stays. It turned out, that I was trading lots of small impulse purchases for those meaningful travel experiences I so desperately wanted. Brown boxes would arrive at my office almost every day. Maybe fifteen dollars spent on a cable, or a gadget, forty dollars on something else. It didn’t seem like much because they were all low-priced items. Unfortunately, it was the collective total that was preventing me from doing the things that truly mattered to me. Those experiences I desperately wanted to have were always just slightly out of reach.

In December of 2014, everything changed. Amy and I started the great purge. We started selling off everything we could and donating the rest. We played minsgame at first, and then just continued on our own. Most importantly, I stopped wasting money on things I didn’t truly need. Through embracing minimalism I quickly realized that I already have everything I need to live a happy life. Nothing that comes in a box from an online shopping website was going to make me any happier than I already chose to be. Do you know what would make me happier? Finding a way to give back.

All of this excitement came to a thrilling peak when I was presented with an incredible opportunity. In late 2014 I had learned about the beginnings of a new nonprofit called The Hope Effect, started by a friend of mine, with a mission to change the way the world cares for orphans. I said that I wanted to help, and in May that opportunity literally took flight. Due to our lifestyle changes, I was able to buy a flight to Honduras to volunteer my time taking photos, videos and learn about La Providencia – an orphanage in Siguatepeque, Honduras that is on the leading edge of orphan care. I spent three days meeting teachers, staff, house parents and the amazing children that lived there. I was absolutely blown away by the quality of education the children were given, the love that I saw in their parents eyes, and the quality of facilities there.

For my 30th birthday, I’m holding a fundraiser to help The Hope Effect build another home at La Providencia. That means more house parents and more orphans moving into this wonderful place. I made the below video to help explain why this is so important to me – it’s short, please give it a watch.

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We’re already almost halfway to my goal of $3,000 now – so we don’t have far to go. The best part of this, is that every single dollar contributed will go directly towards orphan care. If you feel inspired to join me in this endeavor, I encourage you to do so. Whether it’s five dollars or five hundred, it makes a huge difference when we all come together towards a cause as important as this one. Whether it’s a donation, a share on social media, or telling a friend – it all helps.

If you’re interested, you can support my fundraiser here. As always, I appreciate your time, attention, and care.

-Anthony

Without Failure, There Is No Success

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minimalism effect

Failure.

It’s is a peculiar thing, isn’t it? It doesn’t even feel great to say out loud.

Webster defines it as “a lack of success,” and while that definition is perfectly clear, we don’t give failure the good credit it deserves. Failure offers us much more once we allow ourselves to look beyond its direct definition.

That’s why failure needs a new marketing consultant.

It’s time for a rebrand, and I’m willing to step up to the plate.

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