Bring yourself to this moment and experience it fully. Where attention goes, energy flows

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Bring yourself to this moment and experience it fully. Where attention goes, energy flows.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Shantung Kulkarni

During a recent holiday gathering I went out of my way to be a more focused observer of everyone in attendance.

Of particular note were the four children ages 2, 5, 7 and 10. Throughout our time together, it was interesting to see how present the kids were versus many of the adults.

With football games in the background and many cell phones in hand, it was obvious that many of the grown-ups could have benefited from some kid coaching.

EXERCISE:

Where are you most focused and attentive in your life?

How energetic do these experiences feel compared to when you are pulled away by competing distractions?

Friday Review: Blame

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Friday Review: Blame

Where do you notice the blame game being played in your world? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

 

“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.”

 

 

 

“Finding fault replaces peace of mind.”

 

 

 

 

“If you blame it on someone else, don’t expect it to get better.”

 

 

 

On a Scale from One to Ten

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On a Scale from One to Ten… This post is a fill in the blank exercise.

Image from Unsplash by Mike Tinnion

Consider the following statements and choose the number (1-10) that represents where you are today.

My level of happiness is_______
The quality of my relationships is_______
My mental and physical health score______ and _____
My career satisfaction is_______
The level of balance and personal freedom I experience is_______

EXERCISE:

Create a list of one to ten items for 2023 and rate yourself.

Consider partnering with a friend, colleague, family member or coach to clarify, pursue and achieve far more tens in the year ahead.

A useful book that can help with this exercise is Your Best Year Yet by Ginny Ditzler.

I try to be available for life to happen to me

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“I try to be available for life to happen to me.”

—Bill Murray, American actor and comedian

Image from Unsplash by Alexander Grey

What does it mean to be available to life?

What qualities would you possess if life entered and soaked you, body and soul?

Consider all the experiences we have with our five senses. How fully do we use them?

What if we had super senses like certain animals or plants, and how they magically take in water, minerals, and mix it with sunshine to make food.

How alive might we feel?

EXERCISE:

Where are you even more active as you happen to life?

Where do your intentionality and efforts infuse the world with your special gifts?

What are you bringing to the party?

Don’t let finish line anxiety keep you from ever crossing the starting line.

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“Don’t let finish line anxiety keep you from ever crossing the starting line.”

—Stephen St. Amant, author of the Savenwood Blog

Image from Unsplash by Joshua Hoehne

Many of life’s races have no specific timeline. Although we often have preconceptions that they exist, we can come to realize that many of them are just made up.

What will be accomplished and by when is often of our own choosing.

Even with this awareness we frequently fail to start because of some false milestone and game plan set by outside forces.

EXERCISE:

How can your most important commitments supersede your comfort to remain in the starting blocks of life?

How will you summon the courage to begin and run your own race?

Embrace all of your wins no matter their size

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Embrace all of your wins no matter their size.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by National Cancer Institute

As we begin a new year it is a common practice to reflect on the year gone by to see how it compared to our expectations.

Far too many of us experience regret and even shame for coming up short of our grandiose plans. With the wind knocked out of our sails, it’s increasingly difficult to shoot for the stars again in the year ahead.

Instead of looking through these lenses, consider the phrase What I got done today is what I got done today.

Acknowledge all your wins, in which you met the many challenges that landed in your lap the past 365 days.

EXERCISE:

Display the phrase What I got done today is what I got done today on your bathroom mirror.

Reflect on its simple wisdom each morning and night as you brush your teeth for at least two minutes.

Better dental checkups will be an added bonus!

Friday Review: Charity

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Friday Review: Charity

How charitable are you to others and yourself? Here are a few charity-related posts you may have missed.

 

“Time is one of the most loving and compassionate gifts you can give someone, including yourself!”

 

 

 

 

“It doesn’t make any sense to make a key and then run around looking for a lock to open.”

 

 

 

“The charity that is a trifle to us can be precious to others.”

 

 

 

 

We find stories and patterns even in sparse data

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“We find stories and patterns even in sparse data.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Shubham Dhage

How do you navigate the complexities of your world?

How bombarded do your feel with so much information constantly coming your way from all directions?

To insulate and protect ourselves, most of us have set up systems that filter and separate the relevant from the irrelevant. One way we do this is to look for patterns and make up stories that fit with past experiences that are stored within.

When our minds fill in the gaps — regardless of whether they are accurate or not — we can more easily take our next step, and the next.

EXERCISE:

Where in your world do you invent stories and find patterns to deal with information overload? How does this strategy serve you and where does it trip you up?

Sometimes we need to be cautious about getting into action too quickly and take our time to discover the learning

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“Sometimes we need to be cautious about getting into action too quickly and take our time to discover the learning.”

— Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Leonard Reese

Have you ever played checkers? How about chess or Go? How long does it usually take before you make a move?

Where do you skip aiming before you shoot in the direction of your targets? How often does being too quick on the draw get you in trouble?

Life is an iterative game in which we are constantly receiving feedback from the world around us. Without taking enough time to examine what we have learned from previous moves, we can find ourselves on the losing end of the many games we play.

EXERCISE:

In what areas of your life are you too quick to act on limited information?

Where would slowing down to embrace more teachable moments help you better navigate your world?

 

Be a gardener and plant seeds of kindness and service. 

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“Be a gardener and plant seeds of kindness and service. Take an ECO versus EGO approach to life and watch things bloom.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Mei-Ling Mirow

Over the years, I’ve been a big fan of the National Geographic show Life Below Zero. The show has become so popular that in recent years it has evolved in a few new spin offs.

With the harsh weather and limited growing season, profiled residents have invested considerable time building greenhouses to grow their own food. Doing this protects the seeds and delicate young plants, and extends the growing season by about a month — resulting in a far more abundant harvest.

EXERCISE:

Where do you plant seeds of kindness and service in your world?

How have these ECO efforts enriched your life and contributed to your communities?