Drink in each moment and savor them slowly.

Drink in each moment and savor them slowly.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Mineragua Sparkling Water

To what degree do you race through your life?

Some ways to estimate your pace is to examine your driving habits or the time it takes to eat your meals.

Sometimes — if you are like many of us — you do both at the same time.

Driving fast and eating fast food are clearly not wise things to do.

If you have ever taken the Real Age test, you already know that these behaviors can reduce your biologic age to something below your chronological age.

EXERCISE:

Schedule a candlelit meal with your significant other.

Block out twice as much time as you usually do to sip and savor your meal and the time with this special person.

Where else in your life may you be missing the full flavors of life?

How could slowing down and drinking in more moments add more life to your years?

When we investigate and anticipate the exciting and enjoyable aspects of the future, we enhance our happiness

When we investigate and anticipate the exciting and enjoyable aspects of the future, we enhance our happiness

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Rachael Gorjestani

How do you usually feel on Friday compared to Monday? If you have engaging plans for the weekend or have a career you enjoy, your answer is usually very positive for both scenarios.

What happens to many working folks on Sunday evenings if their jobs don’t exactly light them up?

The situations above are examples of positive and negative “Creative Tension,”  where the nature of the future has a significant effect on our moods and overall satisfaction with life.

EXERCISE:

In what ways can you be more intentional with your life to use the power of “creative tension” to envision and realize more of your hopes and dreams?

On a Scale from One to Ten

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.

Friday Review: BEHAVIOR

Friday Review: BEHAVIOR

What do your behaviors say about you? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

Upgrade your morning routine to get an even better start to your day. What small or significant adjustments will you make?

 

 

 

 

To be. To do. To have. Take life in this order.

 

 

 

 

“Your beliefs don’t make you a better person — your behavior does.”

 

 

 

 

 

Life is harder when you expect a lot of the world and little of yourself

“Life is harder when you expect a lot of the world and little of yourself. Life is easier when you expect a lot of yourself and little of the world. High standards, Low expectations.”

James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits

Image from Unsplash by Call Me Fred

How often do you find yourself upset when things don’t go your way?

If we wait for things outside our control to fulfill our expectations, we’re sure to be in for a very bumpy ride.

Alternatively, if we look within our own mindset and efforts, we can definitely adjust our approach to outside events.

EXERCISE:

How can you maintain high standards while monitoring and managing the expectations you have for yourself and the world around you?

“What is a learning that has changed your perspective or how you operate?”

“What is a learning that has changed your perspective or how you operate?”

Rohan Rajiv, author of A Learning a Day blog

Image from Unsplash by Ruffa Jane Reyes

One lesson I’ve learned over the years is to play with a contrarian perspective on things. This often entails doing things in new and different ways, and at times when other folks don’t or won’t.

This has come in handy when it comes to shopping.

This past weekend it wasn’t possible to beat the crowds with my usual early morning shopping adventure.

I found myself faced with a packed parking lot. Instead of circling and circling looking for those elusive open spots I used another learning of looking for people who were walking to their vehicles so I could take their spot once they’d left.

EXERCISE:

Please reply to this post with a learning that has changed your perspective or how you operate in life.

Friday Review: Sharing

Friday Review: Sharing

How open are you to sharing your life, your possessions, your wisdom, and your pain? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

“Leave a little behind.”

 

 

 

 

“If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.”

 

 

 

 

“Ideas, bread, and books are all the same. They’re better when they are shared.”

 

 

 

 

 

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

“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.

Be a model instead of a mouthpiece. The best coaching is a good example

Be a model instead of a mouthpiece. The best coaching is a good example.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by krakenimages

Who do you want to lead and influence in your life? Perhaps there are co-workers and professional colleagues, or some family members you hope to inspire in a particular direction.

Where would you like them to go and what would you like them to do?

When you speak with them, what types of reactions and responses do you usually get?

How engaged and enrolled do they seem when your actions don’t always line up with your words?

EXERCISE:

Where and how do you model the behaviors you wish others to take in your various communities?

How can you adjust your coach approach to make an even bigger impact on those you wish to influence?

Friday Review: Questions

Friday Review: Questions

How often do you question the things you hear or read? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

“What was the key takeaway from the specific situation?”

 

 

 

 

Alter your thinking about thinking. Sometimes sitting with a question can expand your mind without always needing to find an answer.

 

 

 

“If you have a pulse, you have a purpose.”