Do you give yourself adequate time for reflection each day? Here are a few reflection-related posts you may have missed. Click on the links to read the full message.
“It’s on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way.”
“I have always tried to make room for anything that wanted to come to me from within.”
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Take a moment to reflect on your day so far.
How much quietness, peace, serenity, and tranquility have you experienced? On the other hand, how much stress, chaos, multi-tasking, and general noise have you experienced?
If you have plenty of quiet time, you are one of the lucky ones who have time to think and reflect on the important questions life may be asking.
If your life fits more with the second category, you may be unable to hear yourself think.
Find a special location in both your personal and professional worlds to spend just ten minutes per day in quiet reflection, to discover the important answers to the questions life is asking.
Do you give yourself adequate time for reflection? Here are a few reflection-related posts you may have missed. Click on the links to read the full messages:
“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”
“Life always offers you a second chance. It’s called ‘tomorrow.’”
Image from mipg.com.au
Many people ignore, suppress, or try to run away from the negatives in life. If you, too, utilize this strategy, try being a bit more like a photographer.
Consider how the best at this craft capture the extraordinary pictures, the ones that “WOW” us. Examine their observatory and reflective skills, their understanding of light and shadow, and other aspects of photography that bring out the brilliance of each shot.
How can you more fully examine and reflect on the negatives in your world to develop and have an even more wonderful life?
Some of the most frequent coaching assignments I engage in are focused on leadership development. The volume of resources on this subject is staggering, which points to the universal desire and need for this very important skill.
Much has been written in recent years about servant leadership, in which a high priority is placed on serving key stakeholders such as customers and of course, employees. Sometimes so much attention is placed on others that the leader can overlook or completely miss their own needs. Yet, they must attend to themselves if they are to serve others at the highest level.
In what way do you need to satisfy your own needs so that you can serve others in your personal and professionals lives?
A number of years ago I read a book by Dr. Wayne Baker from the University of Michigan titled Achieving Success Through Social Capital. A key take-away from this well-researched book was that, without question, relationships are valuable.
We have all heard phrases such as, It’s not what you know, but who you know, that counts, pointing to the power of being connected to these centers of influence and super-connectors. One challenge with the advent of social media and the huge demands it puts on our time is that getting to know the “right people” can be difficult.
Today’s quote suggest that instead of the old push or pursuit strategy to meet these individuals, we instead work on ourselves to attract and pull people to us and the value they perceive we provide.
What one or two qualities or abilities could you more fully develop in yourself to make yourself an even more desirable person worth knowing?
image from xoombi.com
I’d like you to consider reading today’s quote twice.
Consider for the moment that today is one of the most important days of your life. Everyone important to you watches intently as you give it your all. If you are also a spiritual or faith-based person, know that your “higher power” is paying close attention as well.
Fast forward to the end of the day. Review the quote again and reflect on how you lived your day and the difference you made. Answer the question in today’s exercise before you head off to sleep.
What second-chance efforts will I make tomorrow, based on what I discovered and learned today?
Image from Flickr by Oleg Sidorenko
Today’s quote is a pretty good barometer for progressing in life. Mr. Tew calls on us to fully open our eyes and hearts to determine what is and is not working at this point in time.
Take the opportunity to dig deeply into the ideas of service, growth, and happiness to not take the simple way out of your evolving self. Then, and only, then, make a beeline for the door!
Where in your personal or professional life is it time to walk away from certain people, events, or circumstances, in order to gain greater self-respect?
Image from huffingtonpost.com
Most of us are familiar with the phrase “Silence is Golden.” Perhaps it is the value expressed in today’s quote that makes it so. It is virtually impossible to explore new ideas and inquire into new levels of thinking when our minds are going a million miles per hour.
Try blocking out five to ten minutes today for quiet reflection and personal inquiry. Consider choosing a topic or question worth pondering closely, and see what you discover.
Also consider making this a daily habit and explore the added value of capturing any insight you will likely have in a journal or notebook.
Photo from Flickr by Tomas Penalver
A student named Julio, asked to interpret Browning’s quote, said, “The sun sets to lay to rest what is done, and rises to give way to what is to come.”
That this quote begins with the word “my” causes me to focus within, to examine and reflect on the experience of my day, as well as the level of initiative I bring to it as I bound out of bed in the morning.
I find Julio’s interpretation beautiful and poetic. I also feel that Browning was challenging each of us to play a more active role in manifesting each day to the best of our abilities. He asks us to bask in the satisfaction of being an integral part of the rhythmic flow of our lives and the world.
Spend a few morning and evening minutes in thought, to capture your intention for the day to come, and reflections on the day that is done.