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April 29, 2025 22 mins

"Send me a Text Message!"

When was the last time you felt truly energized, keenly focused, and fired up about your life and purpose? In today's noisy world of endless notifications and social media scrolling, finding clarity can feel like searching for a whisper in a hurricane.

Drawing insights from Jeff Karp's book "Lit," this episode explores how we can use nature's wisdom to break free from what's called "low energy brain mode" – that autopilot state where creativity and purpose get smothered by routine. I share four powerful strategies to help you "flip the lit switch" and reignite your focus: recognizing your low-energy patterns, addressing rather than avoiding pain points, incorporating movement into your daily life, and finding inspiration through nature.

What makes this approach different is its foundation in both neuroscience and natural wisdom. Your brain literally changes when you practice new habits, embrace rather than fear failure, and step outside your comfort zone. The episode offers practical steps like starting your day with moments of quiet awareness instead of media consumption, taking meaningful breaks in nature, and learning to say "no" to commitments that don't align with your deeper values.

Whether you're feeling stuck in routines or simply craving more purpose and creativity, these strategies provide a pathway to what truly matters. Ready to tune out the noise and tune into your heartfelt intentions? Listen now, and discover how nature's playbook can transform your energy, ideas, and actions. Then share your experience – what have you recently said "no" to, and how did it impact your focus?

Check out my 24/7 interactive expert on my website!  There are some great questions being asked and insightful conversations happening there…  Go to https://liberation through education.com/ask-me-anything

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Welcome to another episode of K-12 Education
Untangled.
My name is Dr Kim J Fields,former corporate manager turned
education researcher andadvocate, and I'm the host of
this podcast.
I got into this space afterdealing with some frustrating
interactions with schooleducators and administrators, as

(00:32):
well as experiencing themicroaggressions that I faced as
an African American mom raisingmy two kids, who were in the
public school system.
I really wanted to understandhow teachers were trained and
what the research provided aboutthe challenges of the public
education system.
Once I gained the informationand the insights that I needed,

(00:56):
I was then equipped to be ableto successfully support my
children in their education andprogress.
This battle-tested experienceis what I provide as action
steps for you to take.
It's like enjoying a bowl ofeducational research with a
sprinkling of mother wisdom ontop.

(01:16):
If you're looking to find outmore about current information
and issues in public educationthat could affect you and your
children, and the action stepsthat you can take to give your
children the advantages theyneed, then you're in the right
place.
Thanks for tuning in today.

(01:36):
I know that staying informedabout K-12 public education
trends and topics is importantto you, so keep listening.
Give me 30 minutes and I'lluntangle the latest trends,
issues and topics pertaining tothis constantly evolving K-12

(01:57):
public education environment.
In this episode, I'll be sharingmy thoughts on using the beauty
of nature to tune out the noiseof our modern world and to
focus on what matters.
In today's world, we'rebombarded by a constant stream
of notifications, news alertsand the endless scroll of social

(02:19):
media feeds and the endlessscroll of social media feeds.
But amidst this discord, how dowe cut through the noise to
focus on what truly matters?
Join me in this episode as Iexplore the transformative power

(02:42):
of clarity and intention.
I share ways to discoverinsights and practical
strategies to reclaim your focus, align with your passions and
make a meaningful impact in yourlife.
Get ready to tune out the chaosand tune into your heartfelt
intentions.
Let's untangle this.

(03:04):
Do you set intentions?
What are your daily intentions,weekly intentions, monthly
intentions or even lifeintentions?
I made an intention a couple ofmonths ago to be more diligent
in keeping up my reading habit.
Since I'm on that journey, Ithought I'd share some ideas

(03:27):
from a book I recently read byJeff Karp, called Lit.
It's about using nature'splaybook to spark energy, ideas
and action.
Here are my key findings fromthis book and how they can be
useful for you.
The book is basically aboutlearning how to break freeition

(04:05):
Tools, which are a collection ofpractices that help you stay
sharp, creative and focused onwhat's important.
There are four main ideas.
One flipping the lit switch.
It's basically when you feelignited, keenly focused and

(04:27):
fired up.
Feeling energized in this wayis a very real physiological
condition that fuels creativityand productivity.
Every reaction we have, whetherto our environment or our
thoughts, affect our energylevels.
Two things that can help turnthe light on our lit state of

(04:50):
mind One, to be aware of lowenergy and two, to recognize
that the brain has an incredibleability to change.
When your brain is slow to makenew connections that lead to
better habits, you're probablydealing with low energy brain or
LEB mode.

(05:11):
This is the state that we fallinto when we are on autopilot or
just performing routinepatterns without thinking about
it.
When you're stuck in low energybrain, you lose the capacity
for creative and purposefulaction.
You can flip the switch byrecognizing the impact that

(05:35):
habits have on our lives and thedecisions that we make on a
daily basis.
There are four steps involvedin creating new and better
habits.
Those are to minimizeresistance, maximize rewards
leverage momentum and paceyourself.

(05:56):
Rewards leverage momentum andpace yourself.
What are the obstacles thatstand in the way of you feeling
energized and engaged?
What kind of rewards make youfeel motivated to push away the
comforts of low energy mode?
A small change that you canmake in your morning habit is to

(06:21):
start the day with 10 minutesof quiet awareness through
prayer, meditation, spiritualtexts, etc.
Instead of constant mediaconsumption.
The goal is to just make smallsteps toward a more energized,
engaged and purposeful life andletting those actions build
momentum.
Two addressing pain points withpurpose.

(06:43):
A pain point is basicallyanything that causes friction in
the process.
Switching to lit mode requiresthat you identify your pain
points rather than avoiding themand digging into them to get to
the bottom of what wouldmotivate you and prevent you
from being at your best.
This involves self-awareness,which is a critical step in

(07:07):
becoming more lit.
A lit brain is one that'strained to seek diverse
experiences and seizeopportunities.
To seek diverse experiences andseize opportunities.
Engaging with people fromdifferent backgrounds can lead
to more creative and effectivesolutions.
It's important to stay curiousand open to surprises, because

(07:28):
new ideas can spark that senseof joy.
The key here is not to livelife on autopilot whenever you
can, but to step back, pause andthink before acting.
This pause allows you to decideif your actions really align

(07:50):
with your goals and values.
Doing things like getting outin nature, going for a walk or
switching tasks can refresh andrefocus you and generate new
energy.
These things can help to remindyou of your goals and why
they're important, whichconnects you with the emotional

(08:11):
energy that drives you.
Three, appreciating movement andfailure.
One of the most meaningfulthings that you can do to boost
your energy is to move.
Let's face it, we don'tincorporate enough movement in
our lives on a daily basis.
Modern life is made up way tooeasy for us to stay seated in a

(08:32):
chair, lounging on the sofa,staring at a screen all day long
, and this is a huge problembecause it simultaneously and
seriously drains your physicaland mental energy and keeps you
locked in low energy brain mode.
Movement can include walking,running, dancing or yoga.

(08:56):
Include walking, running,dancing or yoga.
The fact is that most of usspend about 90% of our time
indoors and just don't getenough physical activity.
This lack of movementcontributes to serious health
issues and high health carecosts.
Think about your pain pointsand your habits to overcome

(09:17):
inertia and just get moving.
Start small, remove obstaclesand reward yourself.
Small, consistent efforts buildsatisfaction and confidence,
which in turn spill over andimprove other areas of your life
.
Even if you're just adding morereps to a workout or setting

(09:38):
aside time to practice the piano, these routines strengthen both
your body and your mind.
Repetition actually changesyour brain's chemistry.
Over time.
It allows you to accomplishtasks with more ease and
efficiency.
The thing with practice, though, is that you got to switch it

(10:00):
up sometimes in order to keepyour brain stimulated and keep
you engaged.
Have you ever tried brushingyour teeth with your
non-dominant hand?
What about adding new songs toyour playlist on a regular basis
?
Simple changes like these canmake a difference, because they

(10:20):
can spark new ideas andunexpected opportunities for
growth.
They also go hand in hand withthinking differently about
failure.
The truth of the matter is thatfailure is an intrinsic part of
growth and innovation.
So, instead of fearing failure,see it as a valuable tool for

(10:41):
learning and improvement.
Embrace failure as part ofsuccess and a part of the
process.
And although failure hurts, itcan be a powerful teacher.
In order to succeed, you mustfirst learn to fail.
And number four, nature's energyand inspiration.

(11:05):
I mentioned earlier about theimportance of movement and new
experiences, but it's worthnoting that silence and solitude
can be equally valuable.
Mindfulness practices canproduce unexpected results and
benefits.
Simple practices like focusingon your breath can shift your

(11:27):
nervous system from reactive torestful.
Taking breaks is essential fortruly restorative breaks.
Resist the urge to fill it withbusy work tasks.
Instead, fully engage in thepresent moment.
Getting out in nature canprovide restorative and

(11:48):
energizing benefits.
Nature can provide solutions toa problem that you may be
trying to solve.
All you have to do is lookaround you.
There's a good chance thatnature has already designed an
elegant solution that couldinspire your breakthrough.
Get connected with nature inwhatever way you can.

(12:09):
For example, if you live in anapartment in the city, create a
window box garden.
If you live near a park,explore different areas of the
park that may not be obviouswhen you first enter the park.
When you recognize your park inthe greater ecosystem of the
world, you begin to see thepower we all have in keeping it

(12:32):
functioning and in good health.
A lit mind is a compassionatemind compassionate toward the
planet and other human beings.
The best way to grow thatcompassion is to embrace your
vulnerabilities and share yourstruggles with others, like
close friends or family.

(12:53):
You can create space whereothers feel comfortable by doing
the same.
What often happens is that wetend to cocoon ourselves to cope
with life's noise, but to trulythrive, we need to embrace
interconnections and diverseperspectives.
While solitude is sometimesnecessary, it's also important

(13:15):
to be aware of what you blockout, because this can help you
stay open to chance encountersand connections that lead to a
more enriching life.
Grounding ourselves in nature,embracing our role in the
ecosystem and connecting withothers through compassion and
mindful actions in light of ourown lives and the world around

(13:39):
us is important.
There are a number of ways inwhich you can break free from
the monotony of modern life inorder to invigorate your mind,
body and creative spirit.
Experiment to find out whatworks best for you and make that
happen.
The lit mind starts withrecognizing the obstacles that

(13:59):
are currently holding you backand then reaffirming your
commitment to your true passions.
Reflect on what energizes yourday, from work and family to
time outdoors and relaxation.
Seek different kinds of diverseinput that lead to making new
connections, and remember theimportance of movement, practice

(14:22):
and doing new and differentthings.
Don't let the fear of failurehold you back.
Instead, respond with humilityand compassion.
This type of work oftenrequires reflections on your
intentions and guides youractions, which can lead to a
life of more inspiration.

(14:45):
The insights and practicalstrategies I mentioned align
with various teachings on focusand passion that are evident in
various educational resources.
This book Lit highlights someoverarching principles that
align with those found in manyinspiring and motivational books

(15:09):
.
Some of those highlightsinclude mindfulness and practice
.
Mindfulness helps you centeryourself in the present moment,
which is critical to reducingdistractions and enhancing
clarity.
Setting goals and prioritizingvalues is another aspect of what

(15:31):
the book highlights.
Defining clear, actionablegoals and ensuring they align
with your personal values helpsmaintain focus and ensures
actions are purpose-driven.
This is a cornerstone of manyself-help and success strategies
.
Another principle is structuredroutines to enhance focus.

(15:57):
Creating routines that fosterdaily progress towards your
goals ensures that the key tasksare prioritized.
A fourth principle includeslimiting distractions and
harnessing tools tools.

(16:21):
The use of digital applicationsto minimize distractions and
time wasters helps to maintain afocused work environment.
Yet another principle ispurposeful reflection and
alignment.
The importance of reflection,whether through journaling or
other means, is to ensure thatdaily efforts align with
long-term aspirations.
And the final principle thatI'll mention is the power of

(16:44):
saying no.
Setting boundaries and not overcommitting to things you really
aren't interested in doingsupports the empowerment that
comes from refusing tasks orcommitments that don't align
with your goals, allowing morefocus on valuable endeavors.

(17:04):
This is an area that I recentlyhad to deal with in joining an
online book club.
As you know, I love reading, sodiscussing books with other
book lovers is a naturalattraction for me.
However, the time spent readingthe book, making my notes about
each chapter and spending thathour and a half to two hours for

(17:32):
the meeting takes me away frommore focused and valuable tasks,
like enhancing my brand andbuilding my business, so I had
to decline the invitation torejoin the group.
Is this something that youstruggle with?
Also, what have you recentlysaid no to and how did you feel
about your decision afterwards?

(17:52):
As is the usual case with thesepersonal, thought-provoking
episodes, I end with relevantquotes or a clean joke.
I share this joke for youramusement.
Little Johnny comes down tobreakfast.
Since they live on a farm, hismother asks if he has done his

(18:16):
chores.
Not yet, said little Johnny.
His mother tells him he can'thave any breakfast until he does
his chores.
Well, he's mad.
So he goes to feed the chickensand he kicks a chicken.
He goes to feed the cows and hekicks a cow.
He goes to slop the pigs and hekicks a cow.

(18:42):
He goes to slop the pigs and hekicks a pig.
He goes back in for breakfastand his mother gives him a bowl
of dry cereal.
How come I don't get any eggsand bacon?
Why don't I have any milk in mycereal, he asks.
Well, his mother says I saw youkick a chicken, so you don't
get any eggs for a week.
I saw you kick the pig, so youdon't get any bacon for a week

(19:04):
either.
I also saw you kick the cows,so for a week you aren't getting
any milk.
Just then his father comes downfor breakfast and trips over
then kicks the cat as he'swalking into the kitchen.
Little Johnny looks up at hismother with a smirk and says are
you going to tell him, orshould I?

(19:36):
Did you enjoy this episode?
Then recommend my podcast to afriend directly on social media
and tag my show in the post.
Also, I invite you to discoverother episodes in my library.
There are many topics in whichI discuss a number of things.

(19:57):
So check out another episodeand remember new episodes come
out every Tuesday.
Thanks for listening today.
I hope you'll come back formore K-12 educational
discussions with even moreexciting topics to untangle.
Until next time, aim to learnsomething new every day.
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