Take off the armor of adulthood and re-discover the joy of your inner child.

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Take off the armor of adulthood and re-discover the joy of your inner child.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Luca Di Giovine

The holiday season is special. Whatever holidays you celebrate, take a trip down memory lane to reflect on some of your most precious moments from your youth.

How did you celebrate these occasions and who were the people that joined in on the fun?

Although many people and organizations put their heads down to finish the year strong, this is also often a time when we extend our days off with those we’ve saved.

With these extended blocks of time, we can more easily remove our armor of adulthood and play like we did as kids.

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways will you shed the armor of adulthood this holiday season?

What joyful activities will help you re-discover your playful side?

If some help is needed, look to the little ones in your life for some coaching.

Opportunities multiply as they are seized

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“Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”

—Sun Tzu, ancient Chinese military general, strategist, philosopher

Image from Unsplash by Showboat Chowdhury

It is said that a rolling stone gathers no moss.

What if instead of a stone we considered opportunities to be tightly packed snowballs?

With winter approaching, many a child will be wishing for snow days with hopes of building a few Frosties.

How and in what ways do you capitalize on the momentum of your efforts?  How do you keep the ball rolling and keep your hot streaks going?

EXERCISE:

What opportunities are currently within your grasp?

Once you grab them, how do you keep things going to find other opportunities often inches away to seize?

Muddy water is best cleaned by leaving it alone

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“Muddy water is best cleaned by leaving it alone.”

—Alan Watts, English writer who interpreted Buddhist, Taoist, and Hindu philosophy for a Western audience

Image from Unsplash by Josh Calabrese

Where in your life are you experiencing muddy waters and can’t see your way forward?

Where have things become turbulent with diverse issues and heated emotions where things are murky and messy?

If you were a scuba diver, heading to the surface to see the light of day and gain some perspective would be a reasonable first step.

Pausing and letting things settle before diving back in seems wise as well.

When you and others finally do dive back in, how would slower and more thoughtful efforts help you see more clearly to swim to the other side of your issues?

EXERCISE:

Where in your life would leaving things alone help clear things up to see a new way forward?

Heart in the oven head in the fridge

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“Heart in the oven, head in the fridge.”

—Sports advice

Image from Unsplash by Brandon Mowinkel

Over the past month, I’ve been watching the baseball playoffs on TV.  When I came upon today’s quote, it seemed to fit perfectly with what I was observing.

These days, sporting events are captured with a wide array of cameras that bring us into the game like never before.  Beyond the novel base cam used to watch players sliding into second, the view of the players — especially the pitchers and batters — is even better than the umpires.

In these high stake’s events, it is amazing to see these athletes passionately gear up for their performances and keep a cool head to remain focused and centered.

EXERCISE:

What personal and professional activities stir your heart and heat things up?

How do you keep your cool and remain focused in your efforts?

Step out and explore the world beyond.

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Step out and explore the world beyond.

—Calm App Reflection

 Image from Unsplash by Iswanto Ari

If you are an extrovert, today’s quote might be your motto. You probably love getting out there, meeting new people, and taking it all in.

If you fall on the introverted side of the personality spectrum, you most likely feel more comfortable closer to home with only modest levels of interaction. Getting out into the world consumes your energy, and you often want to remain plugged into your own home charging station.

What if we imagined ourselves as a cell phone, knowing that unplugging is essential to tapping into its full capabilities?

Where and how would stepping out expand your horizons and enrich your life?

You can always return home to recharge after your adventures!

EXERCISE:

When and where have you been reluctant to step out into the world beyond?

Where would the risk be worth the reward?

Friday Review: Gratitude

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Friday Review: Gratitude

How have you made gratitude an integral part of your daily life? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

 

Being grateful doesn’t have to be some grandiose thing. Examine little pleasures and let them land in your awareness.

 

 

 

“No amount of regret changes the past, no amount of anxiety changes the future, any amount of gratitude changes the present.”

 

 

 

“When you take things for granted, the things you are granted get taken.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The second time you forget something, stop and create a better plan for remembering.”

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“The second time you forget something, stop and create a better plan for remembering.”

—Stephen St. Amant, author of the Savenwood Blog

Image from Unsplash by Aaron Burden

Over the course of our lives, we develop numerous habits and engage in daily rituals that are automatic.

These behaviors are so ingrained they don’t require any special tools or support.

For other efforts, we sometimes slip and forget important activities that can undermine our confidence and self-worth.

Many of us use checklists to help us remember the promises we’ve made to ourselves and others.

What happens when we forget to add an item to the list or forget the list altogether?

In the book Influencer: The Power to Change Anything the authors recommend using a personal, social, and structural matrix to help prevent things from slipping through the cracks.

EXERCISE:
What strategies help you remember the important and urgent aspects of life?

Consider check out the book Influencer to broaden your repertoire of techniques for remembering.

“No matter how mundane some action might appear, keep at it long enough and it becomes a contemplative, even meditative act.”

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“No matter how mundane some action might appear, keep at it long enough and it becomes a contemplative, even meditative act.”

—Haruki Murakami, Japanese bestselling writer

Image from Unsplash by Pille R. Priske

Taking a daily walk and meditating each morning are habits I’ve had for many years.

These activities begin most days stress free and mindfully aware.

When the rest of my day gets going and things heat up, I can sometimes lose my balance and my cool.

To regain my centeredness, I often find the mundane chores of cooking and cleaning help restore my well-being.

The act of chopping vegetables for a stir fry and simply tidying up does wonders to restore a bit more Zen in my days.

EXERCISE:

What are some of the mundane actions you take throughout your days to restore and renew yourself?

Feel free to reply to this post if your care to share what works well for you.

“When you change direction radically, the loads can shift, and it can throw you off balance.”

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“When you change direction radically, the loads can shift, and it can throw you off balance.”

—Stephen St. Amant, author of the Savenwood Blog

Image from Unsplash by Mitchell Lou

Think of the many times you have been a passenger.

Include all forms of transportation, from the time you were a kid and went to an amusement park to the planes, trains, and automobiles we use today.

Recall some of the times when you experienced a radical change in direction in which the laws of physics jolted you and the things around you away from your previous trajectory.

How many spilled beverages and other unsecured items found a new home on your lap or the floor? Perhaps you even experienced a deployed airbag or a case of whiplash.

EXERCISE:

In what ways can you navigate the changes in the direction of your life more smoothly? How can you secure the things you value the most to not lose your balance when things begin to shift?