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.
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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?
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?”
“If you have a pulse, you have a purpose.”
I trust that tomorrow’s brain is going to turn up and have something meaningful to contribute.
“I trust that tomorrow’s brain is going to turn up and have something meaningful to contribute.”
—Dan Cullum, Chiropractic Physician at NaturalHealthCenterok.com
Image from Unsplash by Etienne Girardet
How often do you find yourself stuck or stopped by a particularly thorny problem or issue?
Many times, when we persist and double down on our efforts the only thing that doubles is our frustration.
It’s at these times we keep using the same neural pathways over and over with nothing to show for the effort.
Taking periodic breaks and even sleeping on things almost always breaks this cycle and clears the mental cobwebs that have us trapped.
EXERCISE:
How often do you take breaks in your days to clear your mind?
On what issues would a clean slate of a new day and a new brain offer you something more meaningful to contribute?
“Individual willpower is a shallow container from which to draw energy.”
“Individual willpower is a shallow container from which to draw energy.”
—Omar Brownson, co-host of the Gratitude Blooming Podcast
Image from Unsplash by Dose Juice
Most of you know that I am a morning person. It’s the time of day when I have the greatest energy and discipline. On most days I meditate, exercise, and eat my oatmeal on the run before I dash into my schedule.
As the day progresses, I use snacks and a few doses of caffeine to keep up the pace. Lunchtime is often a quick affair, with only modestly healthy choices if I neglect to have something prepared.
By three in the afternoon, I’m pretty pooped and most of my disciplined efforts are nowhere to be found. Happily, an occasional power nap sets things right and I’m good until 10:00 p.m., when I head to bed to fully recharge for the next day.
EXERCISE:
When do you have the greatest energy and discipline in your days? How can and do you apply this awareness to accomplish your highest priorities and commitments?
“Halloween is an opportunity to be really creative.”
“Halloween is an opportunity to be really creative.”
—Judy Gold, American stand-up comedian, actress, author, and producer
Image from Unsplash by Clint Patterson
Over the past few weeks, we watched several movies on the big screen at our local theater.
We usually enjoy the previews but in this case, the 20 — 30 minutes of previews included mostly scary, fear-inducing films, which are definitely not my cup of tea.
My upbringing and experiences with Halloween were very different. It was a time of self-expression in which we made instead of bought our costumes.
These creative efforts with our parents, siblings, and friends — along with all the candy — made this holiday extra sweet.
EXERCISE:
How can you enhance and expand your creativity on Halloween and through the coming holiday season?
How could more creating and less consuming contribute to an even more satisfying life?
We honor life by being present for it
We honor life by being present for it. Kiss the joy as it flies.
—Calm App Reflection
Image from Unsplash by Jo Heubeck & Demi Pfenninger
We all know that time flies when you’re having fun. What would be the value of slowing things down to kiss and hug these moments longer and more fully?
To only kiss the joy as it flies is not possible without also honoring the sad and difficult times. If we always wish to sidestep the bad times, we unfortunately miss the good ones.
EXERCISE:
Consider exploring Susan Cain’s book, Bittersweet to expand your capacity to honor and be more fully present to your life.