The rule of 1

Find in silence what is timeless - The White Lotus

As I am writing these lines, it’s Saturday and I feel a huge burden has lifted. The Total Lunar Eclipse reached its peak yesterday and many of you have reported back to me with changes, various states of mind and a tangible, not always comfortable shift in the energetic body.

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Now we’re buckling up for the sister Eclipse, the Partial Solar one on March 29th. And it’s a lot. March is a lot.

With full Venus and Mercury retrogrades between the end (Pisces) and the beginning (Aries), Neptune shifting its incredible energy in Aries at the end of the month, while Pluto has still a lot to teach us about the light and dark of Aquarius, it seems we’re navigating between a lot of anxiety on the future and unanswered questions about the past. And Eclipses are just the sudden changes candy in the mix, the wild cards taking out things, people, situations from our lives, with us having almost no saying.

It might be overwhelming, so I thought this week’s edition should be more oriented towards simplifying the quest. For me, whenever it becomes too much, I stop. No, I never accelerate. And yes, even though I can’t really see now the path ahead in various areas of my life, I decided to stop. To minimise.

We live in an era that worships busyness. Productivity tools blink from our screens, multitasking is (still) seen as a superpower, and social media constantly reminds us that others are always doing more.

In this noisy landscape, we have forgotten a profound truth: doing one meaningful thing each day is often more powerful than chasing many.

This is the essence of what we might call The rule of 1 — a simple, yet radical method for reclaiming focus, easing anxiety, and creating a day that matters.

I invite you to concentrate each day on a single significant thing. A task, a life event, a caring technique, an endeavour. Try this for 1 week. 1 week alone and see how it goes.

Whether that task is writing, designing, strategising, or simply taking time for self-reflection, chose 1 priority and devote your full mental energy to it.

Nothing actually meaningful and durable comes from overextending in multiple directions just because we can.

It’s never about what we can, but about what we need.

A meaning that is so deep and profound comes actually from allowing the space to go deeper into what matter most. Are you able to identify that in a day? If not, how can you identify it in a life?

I use the rule of 1 mostly when days get too busy. And since a couple of years ago, I’ve been using this technique popularised by Cal Newport - a nonfiction author and full time professor of computer science at Georgetown University: deep work.

Cognitive scientist Cal Newport argues that our brains thrive when given the opportunity to engage in what he calls "deep work." This state occurs when we focus intensely on one cognitively demanding task without distraction. Deep work creates conditions for flow, that optimal mental state where time melts away, and we operate at the peak of our creativity and insight. Shallow work such as checking emails, responding to messages, or multitasking consumes significant mental energy without producing meaningful results. While shallow tasks create the illusion of productivity, they rarely contribute to deep satisfaction or growth. Conversely, deep work requires sustained focus, often for 60-90 minutes or longer, during which the mind enters a more powerful state of concentration.

Modern life is saturated with "attention residue."

Each time we switch from one task to another, part of our mental focus lingers on the previous task. This creates a cognitive drag, reducing our ability to fully engage in whatever we're trying to accomplish next. By choosing one primary goal for the day, we dramatically reduce this mental clutter. Our thoughts align, our emotional energy stabilises, and we engage in work that feels both intentional and fulfilling.

But deep work requires deliberate effort to protect focus from distractions.

For me, the rule of 1 has deep roots in the teachings of yoga, a practice that encourages unity and oneness, not only of the body, mind, and breath but also of intention and focus. The very word "yoga" originates from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning "to unite" or "to join."

In yoga philosophy, Dharana, one of the 8 limbs of Yoga, refers to focused concentration. Practicing Dharana requires cultivating an unwavering focus on a single point of attention. Just as a yogi may fix their gaze on a candle flame during meditation, we can bring this same mindset to our work and daily lives by giving one thing our complete presence.

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It might be a lot coming these past months from Jupiter transiting in Gemini. In astrology, Jupiter is the principle of the Great Expander, the planet of growth, wisdom, and abundance. But Jupiter expands whatever he finds, be it good or unbalanced. Wherever Jupiter moves, it magnifies energy, amplifying both opportunities and excess. Jupiter’s presence often encourages exploration, optimism, and the pursuit of meaning, but it can also create overindulgence, overwhelm, or scattered energy if not consciously directed.

With Jupiter transiting through Gemini, its expansive nature collides with the fast-moving, restless qualities of the air sign ruled by Mercury. Gemini thrives on variety, curiosity, and intellectual stimulation. It is the sign of dualities, ideas, and communication. While this combination can ignite brilliant conversations, sharp thinking, and innovative insights, it can also lead to an overload of information and a fragmented state of mind.

During a Jupiter-in-Gemini transit, we are prone to overcommitting, juggling too many projects, or pursuing knowledge without focus. It's a time when our mental energy is pulled in multiple directions, scrolling endlessly, jumping between ideas, or starting new ventures before finishing the old ones. Gemini’s natural adaptability makes it easy to pivot, but Jupiter’s amplifying influence can leave us feeling mentally drained, overwhelmed, and unsure of where to place our energy.

The challenge with Jupiter in Gemini is learning to distinguish what truly matters from endless distractions. The antidote lies in practicing discernment, recognising that not every idea, opportunity, or conversation deserves your full attention. We still jungle with this energy until June this year, so it might be the time to really distill what’s been essential to your life over the past year and move forward to making it more durable from now on.

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Yes, I will keep this weekly healing letter short and sweet and simple. I must stand for what I preach, right?

But I’m not leaving without some introspective questions to guide your week or practice if you want to try the rule of 1.

As always, start small, start where you are and be gentle. Begin by asking yourself:

• What thing, if completed today, would feel truly meaningful?

• Which activity brings you closest to my purpose, values, or creative flow?

• What is one project you’ve avoided that deserves your full focus?

• What distractions tend to sabotage your ability to stay present?

• How can you create space to honour your "one thing" without interruption?

• What mental or emotional clutter is keeping you from focusing deeply?

• What inspires you to feel most grounded in your work and creativity?

• What is your job and what’s not your to take on? (especially for “saviours” out there like I am

And again, as always, continue with putting in practice whatever your findings are.

Make your rule of 1 active for 1 week at least to see some results.

Begin each day by choosing your "1 thing". Resist the urge to add more. Before you reach for your phone or dive into your inbox, take a quiet moment and ask yourself: What is your one thing today?

Create a space and ritual to enter deep focus or deep work.

Build a "shutdown ritual", a practice of consciously closing work for the day to allow the brain to recover and prepare for the next session of deep focus. In this way you build a "cognitive fortress", protecting your mental energy and ensuring you can consistently perform at a high level.

Observe what feelings come up when you feel like scattering into multiple directions. For some it might be the FOMO anxiety, for others a profound belief they are not enough or the deep identification with doing instead of being.

By consciously choosing one main focus topic each day, you bypass the endless shuffle of shallow tasks and give yourself permission to pursue something extraordinary.

Today, this week, how is your rule of 1 doing?

Until next week, I LOVE YOU! 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

Photography: Private collection Bruxelles, OM Ham Resort Bali.