Attainment vs. Attunement

Tim Ferriss discusses the concepts of "attainment" versus "attunement" with Chip Conley in an episode of The Tim Ferriss Show. Conley explains that in his life, there are two primary approaches: trying to attain something (attainment mode) and being in harmony with the environment or situation (attunement mode).

Conley's natural inclination is towards attainment, which often requires atonement afterward due to the aggressive and sometimes abrasive nature of pursuit. In contrast, focusing on attunement involves being in sync with the surrounding energy, leading to a state of unity or "at one". He uses practices like yoga and surfing to embody this balance; these activities focus less on achieving something and more on aligning oneself with the flow, whether it's the movement of the body or the rhythm of the waves 1.