The Yo-yo Effect

[Adam M]

Hey guys, the yoyo effect is basically a period of success followed by a period of laziness that almost undoes the success...I've been struggling against this homeostasis for a while now and I feel like it's a very common phenomenon for all people who are self actualizing...does anyone else have this problem?  How do YOU deal with homeostasis?

some things that have worked for me when I'm feeling lazy are

- cold shower

- workout

- go outside

what do you think about the yoyo problem?

[ChimpBrain]

I have it too in terms of self actualization and higher levels of consciousness, but mine seems to go in peaks and valleys of 2-3 weeks so something as simple as taking a cold shower or working out doesn't change anything. I already workout and meditate outside daily anyway. The only progress I've made in this regard is that now I'm more aware of when I'm backsliding than I used to be. I haven't found a way to keep it from happening, but now I can watch it as it happens.

[S33K3R]

I believe this is a natural state of our being. We have times of learning and growth and times of depression and reflection. This to me reminds me of the spring/summer time on earth and the fall/winter time on earth. I prefer to call these peaks and valleys spiritual Spring/summer/fall/winter. Depending on the place I am in. This helps me separate myself from the event and helps me to be an independent observer. 

Edited June 27, 2017 by S33K3R

[Nahm]

@Adam M I'm at a place where I see/ feel that complacency coming. What works for me is learning something new because it changes my understanding of things I've already learned. Currently, I'm learning to sew and tailor clothes. I'm not interested in it, and that's why I get benefit. It's a practice of practicing something without being inspired to do it. It keeps the preference & emotion factor away as an obstacle. Also, when I feel it coming, I go away, alone, for a few days to spend a lot of consecutive time doing the practices and being creative.  Consciousness to me is sort of like blowing up a balloon...if I want it to pop, I have to expand it. While I'm not expanding it, it has a slow leak. A few days of blowing is necessary to push through the leak.  

[Adam M]

@ChimpBrain wow, I feel the same way.   @S33K3R is right, I think that it is the natural state of our being.  What I've learned from vipassana is that if you keep practicing mindfulness, you will eventually not be phased about your backsliding  and you won't guilt yourself like we usually tend to do.  Paradoxically, I think that being indifferent to your backsliding through mindfulness makes you backslide less...just an idea...

 

 

[Adam M]

@Nahm I really like the balloon analogy, I also think you're right about the learning new things to change your perspective...it's also important to do mindfulness practice so that eventually you will be more aware of your backsliding in the present moment and you can use these insights to backslide less

[Joseph Maynor]

On 6/27/2017 at 7:53 AM, Adam M said:

Hey guys, the yoyo effect is basically a period of success followed by a period of laziness that almost undoes the success...I've been struggling against this homeostasis for a while now and I feel like it's a very common phenomenon for all people who are self actualizing...does anyone else have this problem?  How do YOU deal with homeostasis?

some things that have worked for me when I'm feeling lazy are

- cold shower

- workout

- go outside

what do you think about the yoyo problem?

Start building some routines.  This is what started me on the path.