Little Rooms
- QCMHA
- Feb 9
- 3 min read
By Ben Menezes, Partnerships Coordinator
Great things start in little rooms. Let's entertain a hypothetical scenario. Two individuals with equal motivation and no prior experience attempt to acquire a new skill over one month. Both are placed in isolated rooms. One individual is given unlimited access to learning resources, including instructional materials, tools, and internet access. The other is provided with a single instrument (a guitar) and no additional resources. Left unsupervised, which person do you think will come out more improved? Despite having fewer resources, the second test would produce a greater change in skill due to the fewer distractions in their environment. The person with unlimited resources isn’t just given tools; they are given infinite distractions. “Which tutorial?” “Which method?”, and “Am I learning the right way?” are all questions that would impede their progress. In that month, this person may consume a lot of information, but will ultimately spend more time preparing to be successful rather than actually chasing success. This is similar to the dopamine rush one might feel when watching motivational reels on Instagram, rather than putting the motivational techniques into practice. The person with one guitar has no escape, no alternative path, and most importantly, no comparison. Constraint removes negotiation with yourself, removing questions such as “Is this the best way?” and replacing them with “What can I do with this today?”
Today's post is about little rooms. Little rooms are the small spaces where nothing happens, and no one wants to be. When was the last time you gave something your undivided attention? When was the last time you did a workout without taking a break to check your messages? When was the last time you ate a meal without watching a show or video? When was the last time you went to church or a temple and prayed? Oftentimes, we don't give our full, undivided attention to our tasks, which is why we never receive 100 percent of the benefits. If you are someone who often feels stressed or unfocused, this could be a contributing factor. The constant need to catch up with the world around us leaves less time for focusing on ourselves. Little rooms are the small spaces without distractions, such as parks, cafes, churches, gyms, or even your own bedroom. These are the best places to understand yourself and learn. If there is something in life you want to learn, whether it's a new skill or a better understanding of yourself, little rooms can help us disconnect from the big world.
In the modern day, the need to connect is more powerful than ever. Connection is always “on”, given the power of texting, calling, and social media. The increased level of communication given to us has allowed our generation to be more connected than ever. Connecting with others is a vital part of growth, as human connection is what allows us to better understand the world around us. Knowing this, we can also understand that time alone is just as important. Quality time spent alone allows us to decompress and truly understand the information we take in daily. Many of us spend all day listening to lectures, videos, and engaging in conversation with peers, but we rarely give ourselves the time to process what we take in. Going forward, I implore you to take more time for yourself. Find the small spaces in life that allow you to decompress, and give them your full, undivided attention. You may find a better understanding of the world around you.
Comments