I have wondered what are the different ways that I can use to transmit the benefits of this system. The main purpose for which I published this blog was to motivate people to walk and practice the WALK-RWD System and in this way they can experience its benefits that I have had over many years.
It’s a real challenge because I hear how difficult it is for people I know to decide to do any type of exercise. Personally, sometimes I find it somewhat difficult; However, I overcome that apathy, listlessness and laziness, just by repeating to myself several times that I always feel extraordinarily well, during and after having walked, allowing my body, mind and spirit to carry out this activity that pleases me and gives me levels of satisfaction in a short time, I emphasize: short time. Surely the mechanisms and forms of motivation are different for those people who live in places with high degrees of urban concentration compared to those who live in less complex places, in addition to other circumstances that also generate divergences in their stimulation and reluctance. Discouragement is always fought in the same ways, but with different intensity, depending on the circumstances, personal cases and our own way of being.
A very important element that we must always keep in mind, as part of the functional structure of the WALK-RWD System, is that we are not competing in any of the 4 fundamental activities that make up the whole, nor against any person, not even against Lord Time (Post THE WALK AND THE LACK OF TIME)
386. THE INCORRUPTIBLE “LORD TIME”
The title contains the words “feeling” and “enjoying”. There is no doubt for most of what it means to enjoy some activity, although sometimes we do not realize it; however, the feeling is that sometimes we do not truly understand it.
Suffice it to say that to enjoy something, you need to feel it, either consciously or unconsciously.
Let us observe how we should feel some experience, exercise, action, activity, etc.
Let’s begin to understand it by looking at its opposites.
Aversion, repulsion, negativity, hostility, animosity, contempt, disgust, etc., is the opposite; if we are not in these various positions, then very probably we can feel sympathy, attraction, affection, appreciation.
It has been shown that a very high percentage of the population suffers listlessness, apathy, laziness, sometimes depression (at different levels), when they know they are going to compete. Our system seeks to free us from that straitjacket, emotional-paralyzing chains. One of their mottos is “do not compete”; The only one we have to compete with is ourselves, which should be understood exclusively as developing abilities, tastes, desires, expertise, skills, faculties, but as we already explained in another post, the different “healthy” ways that we can use for it, ( Post PLAY AND WALK-PART I. NO TO COMPETITION, YES TO FUN), suffice it to know for now, that only a connection with our feelings will have to be achieved, through the following aspects:
1) Loving ourselves, taking care of our body and our mind;
2) Seek health;
3) Desire to be emotionally stable;
4) Experiment and take advantage of “here and now”;
5) Be empathetic with others and achieve patience with ourselves;
6) Be aware of the time we have;
7) Really know the attraction we feel towards walking, reading, writing and drawing;
8) The attraction or rejection that we feel about the activities and commitments that we are obliged to develop;
9) Be aware of our ability to concentrate and meditate.
The impulse that should move us is to be better in all aspects, with each passing day. We should not undertake any challenge to improve, if it implies some punishment for not completing it, therefore it should not imply high costs, only rewards for effort, for having “defeated” ourselves in silence -without anyone knowing- to advance our purposes and desires.
Several of the paragraphs that we mentioned above are closely related to the awareness that we must have when we develop an activity -any of the 4 of the System-, since we must carry it out to enjoy it in itself and not for any other, collateral, or for a satisfaction in the last future (Post THE “HERE AND NOW” WITH THE SYSTEM). These recommendations must be observed for any type of activity, in general; Its compliance is essential if we want to achieve (the) passion in what we do (Post LOOKING FOR PASSION IN THE REALIZATION OF THINGS, WHILE WE WALK).
How can we know about the attraction –or rejection- that we feel towards walking, reading, writing and drawing, or towards any other activity? In this questioning we will have to consider all the actions or activities that we carry out, whether for pleasure (own decision), by unconscious conditioning or by work, family, social, civic, religious commitments, etc.
In these aspects, our concentration, abstraction and meditation capacities play an important role (already discussed in previous posts), however, we will focus essentially on the function (act) of feeling and the art (exercise) of enjoying, in a simple and plain way, in such a condition that we can all respond in a simple and natural way.
FEELING
Being and feeling always go hand in hand. We feel good when we feel that our being is running freely: our mind feels free, our body moves calmly, our spirit flies in the air. We feel even better when we are also giving ourselves something: a moment of peace, meditation, contemplation, relaxation.
ENJOYING
In relation to enjoyment, we do not intend to unravel philosophical questions about hedonism, sensuality, eroticism or pleasure; we simply want to convey some ideas on how to truly enjoy (delight) what we do.
The fundamental thing that we must have in our feelings -not just keep it in mind- is that playing and the other 4 activities integrated into the WALK-RWD system are actions that contain an end in themselves, and that, furthermore, each one of them is co-propelled by the rest.
Each structured activity within the System is made up of several actions. Knowing and becoming aware that each action generated by our inclination to develop these activities, has its end in itself, places us in a position of balance and independence, in order to achieve enjoyment without conditioning of any kind.
This rule applies to all areas of human behavior: art, business, government, exercises, education, even within the same free time or illiteracy, etc., you have to educate yourself and perfect yourself, but leaving aside the things and forms that they are determined by the social structure (work, religion, rest, etc.) and we must select our activities for what they represent by themselves, for us. Only in this way can we enjoy them.
Human behavior should thus be directed towards these activities and actions for the value in themselves that they have for each of the human beings.
Now, if we already know that each action should be enjoyed by itself, how can we achieve it?
First of all, we can resort to the autotelic characteristic that certain activities have for a specific person.
This autotelic characteristic determines activities as absorbing and exciting, which is why an individual is excessively interested in them and thus manages to become engrossed in the value that they represent for themselves, exclusively, which allows them to become self-absorbed and enjoy them in an abstract way ( rapt).
The term “autotelic” comes from the Greek words “auto” (self) and “telos” (end or purpose). An autotelic activity is one that is performed for its own sake, is intrinsically rewarding, and is not performed with the aim of achieving an external result or goal.
In the games that we propose while we walk, read, write or draw (Post PLAY AND WALK-PART I and II. NO TO COMPETITION, YES TO FUN) that are creative, simple and fun, do not contain any link with the Obtaining or carrying out something productive, however, does have something beneficial for the person performing the action or activity by following their playful instincts.
We must also resort to the heterotelic characteristic that every human being has inside. A “heterotelic” activity is performed for the purpose of achieving a specific goal or result.
In the execution of plastic art and in other artistic genres, this characteristic drives the individual (woman or man) to act consciously or unconsciously, moving him towards the development of activities that have in themselves a specific objective or productive value, with an aesthetic character, which produces an attraction in itself.
Below I present several autotelic and heterotelic activities that we can develop while we walk.
Autotelic Activities:
Observe nature. As you walk, enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings and appreciate the landscapes, trees, flowers, and animals you encounter.
Listen to music. Take your favorite music with you and listen to it while you walk, enjoying the rhythm and melodies that make you feel good.
Practice walking meditation. Focus on each step you take, feel your breath and contact with the ground, keeping a calm and peaceful mind.
To photograph. Take a camera or use your cell phone to capture interesting moments or beautiful views, enjoying your walk.
Talk to yourself. Use the walk as a moment of reflection and self-knowledge, talking to yourself about your thoughts and emotions, or about a special topic.
Draw outdoors. If you are an art lover, take your drawing material with you and create sketches or paintings inspired by your surroundings.
Contemplate the sky. As you walk, look up and observe the clouds, the sun, the moon and the stars, letting your imagination run wild and enjoying the firmament.
Read an audiobook. If you like to read, listen to an audiobook as you walk to immerse yourself in a fascinating story. Also, as we have recommended, read any document that you are passionate about.
Practice gratitude. Give thanks for the positive things in your life as you walk, acknowledging and enjoying all the good things around you.
Dance. If you’re feeling upbeat, put on your favorite songs and enjoy an impromptu dance as you walk.
Feel free. While you walk, you can feel free to do it on a forest path or through the open field.
Contemplate and examine a painting. If you like plastic art, go to a museum and contemplate the paintings that you like by walking through all the rooms of the museum.
Relying on holographic images. Engaging in an activity supported by holographic images can be very rewarding, even if they are not easy to create.
Heterotelic Activities:
Walking to reach a specific destination. Define a specific place that you want to walk to, enjoy a park or a friend’s conversation at home.
Do exercise. Set a goal for your walk, such as burning a certain number of calories or covering a specific distance.
Visit a tourist place. Plan a route that includes 2 or 3 nearby tourist points and take advantage of the walk to get to know your city or a place of interest.
Make purchases. Walk to the market or mall to buy groceries, clothes, or other items you need.
Go to your workplace. Walk to your office, whenever it’s close. Or, use a vehicle to a certain point and walk from there.
Go to your school. Walk to your school if it is close.
Do a sporting activity. If in addition to walking, you like a sport, such as skating, walk to a suitable place to practice it.
Walking to meet someone. Set up a meet up with a friend or family member and walk to the meeting place.
Participate in a charity walk. Join charitable events that involve walking for a charitable cause.
Walk your pet. If you have a pet, take advantage of the walk to take it for a walk and both of you will enjoy it together.
Walk to take pictures. Pre-define a photographic theme and walk around looking for related scenes to capture with your camera.
Conduct field research. Define a research topic and walk around your environment to collect data and observations related to the topic.
We must keep in mind that these activities, both autotelic and heterotelic, have their own advantages and can complement each other to provide you with a more enriching and satisfying walking experience. Let’s see what are the fundamental differences in these two human sensations.
Regarding the last autotelic activity “Contemplate and examine a painting”, we can imagine certain aspects, in relation to FEEL and ENJOY:
Enjoy: When contemplating a painting by Van Gogh, it is very likely that a feeling of enjoyment will be experienced. The vibrant brush strokes and play of colors can create a sense of wonder. The way Van Gogh captures light and movement on canvas can provide a fascinating and emotional viewing experience. Enjoyment arises from the appreciation of the artist’s creativity, the expression of the beauty and uniqueness of the work. This positive feeling can fill us with calm, inspiration and pleasure when contemplating a work of art.
Feel: When looking at a Van Gogh painting, one also experiences a wide range of sensations and emotions. For example, a person might be amazed by the intensity of the colors and the chaotic composition that reflects their emotional state. At the same time, he could capture the melancholy and loneliness often associated with his artistic style. Also, you might feel an emotional connection to the work if you have read about Van Gogh’s life and personal struggles. Thus, this experience can encompass both positive emotions and artistic appreciation, as well as more complex sensations, such as empathy for the artist’s internal struggle.
Viewing a painting by Van Gogh can provide both the “enjoyment” of visual beauty and the opportunity to “feel” a wide range of emotions and sensations by appreciating his art and the depth of his emotional expressions.
More specifically, one can imagine that one is observing any of the houses painted by Van Gogh and thus be able to describe how our “FEEL” and our “ENJOY” would be when contemplating it.
Regarding FEELING, it is certain that a mixture of feelings and emotions will be experienced. On the one hand, one could feel a connection to the loneliness and nostalgia that often characterize his works. The way Van Gogh uses colors and shapes can evoke a feeling of melancholy and reflection. The intensity of the colors and brush strokes could convey a sense of passion and emotional energy. Likewise, one could “feel” empathy towards the artist and his personal vision of the world, which often reflects his own internal struggle.
Regarding ENJOYMENT, one could imagine that despite the complex emotions that one would experience when observing the house painted by Van Gogh, it is also possible that one would find elements to enjoy in the work. The way Van Gogh plays with colors and textures could bring aesthetic pleasure. Perhaps you would appreciate the uniqueness and creativity with which he interprets reality through his expressionist style. The intensity and contrast of colors could create a powerful and enriching visual experience. Thus, “enjoyment” could derive from an appreciation of the artist’s technical skill and originality in rendering the house.
Taken together, looking at a house painted by Van Gogh can evoke complex and diverse emotions and sentiments to “feel”, while also allowing one to “enjoy” the unique beauty and artistic expression that characterize his work.
Additionally, we could imagine walking inside that house painted by Van Gogh that was built in some way, and thus describe our Feelings and our Enjoyment ((Future Post WALKING INSIDE A RECREATED HOUSE. REMEMBERING VAN GOGH).
FEEL: Walking into a house built following the inspiration of a Van Gogh painting, you may experience a unique and emotional sensation. The influence of the artwork on architecture could convey a deep connection to the artist’s vision and style. As in his work, it is likely that while walking in the interior spaces of the house, the colors and shapes evoke intense emotions and sensations. We could feel immersed in an atmosphere rich in emotional nuances, from euphoria to introspection. The house could become a space that, when we walk, invites us to reflect and contemplate, similar to the experience that his paintings usually provide.
ENJOY: Living in a house inspired by Van Gogh’s painting could give us constant enjoyment of creativity and artistic expression in everyday life. That is to say, observing ourselves walking inside the house, surely, the way in which colors and shapes are integrated into the architecture could generate continuous aesthetic pleasure for us. The vivacity of colors and the unique interpretation of reality could create a stimulating and enriching environment every day. The house could become a visually striking and stimulating space, where every corner and detail contribute to a unique aesthetic experience, while we walk around. In addition, being surrounded by elements that evoke the style of Van Gogh could inspire a feeling of connection with the history of art and human creativity.
Altogether, living in and walking into a house inspired by a Van Gogh painting could be an emotionally rich and aesthetically pleasing experience, allowing both the “FEEL” of a connection to the artwork and the “ENJOY” of the beauty and originality in daily life.
Now, regarding the autotelic activity of feeling and enjoying Van Gogh’s house, we do not need to build an interpretation or recreation -by means of Artificial Intelligence- of one of his paintings, but we could also walk inside it by means of a virtual form relying on Holography (last activity: “Relying on holographic images”). (1)
(1) Loya Pinera, Rodrigo & Loya Lopategui, Carlos, Visitando el interior de las obras de los grandes pintores, EMULISA, México, 2023. Distribuido por Amazon, disponible en Kindle Edition.
Let’s feel and enjoy the walks while doing them through any selected process.