This is the last activity that I review this week in our series of 3 things to add to our day that will make a significant difference. Even if these are not on your to-do list and you are struggling to get everything else done, I believe, reading, stillness and setting an intention for the day are 3 small changes that will help us be more successful with everything else we are doing.An intention sets the course for the day. It provides direction of where you want to go during the day. Instead of falling into the day haphazardly, and letting yourself be directed here and there by your events, you, subconsciously, have decided what matters most. And by doing so, you will find that you are staying more in line of your purpose, and waste less energy on the things that don’t matter as much.
This week I am focusing on 3 small daily routines that will have a significant impact on our lives if we include them. We already covered Reading as a practice to grow our minds. Stillness allows our minds to rest and relax. In this overly wired world, we need to give our brain breaks so it has time to digest all the outside stimulation. Stillness can bring surprising new insights as all the information settles and organizes itself. Its in the quietness that we discover who we are and where we need to go.
I have tackled big goals this year and I have made lots of progress. But I have neglected some of those smaller yet highly critical things that I want as a part of my life. This week – we will cover all 3. Not because they matter to me, but because I believe the matter to everyone. If we want to reach higher in life, become a better version of ourselves and perform at our best, we need to read more, make time for stillness, and start every day with intention.Lets talk about reading today and please join me in this challenge to make reading a daily practice.
I am always fascinated by the topic of detachment. But I only notice and think about it when I find myself attaching – when I notice those gripping feelings of fear, anxiety and jealousy that leave me feeling powerless and drained. And that is exactly when we need to learn to let go. Letting go is not an easy process because we hold on for a reason – it gives us a sense of safety. Letting go is like jumping off a cliff. I learned that the simple fact of becoming aware of our attachment is the most part of letting go. When we notice we are attaching, quite often, the attachment has nothing to control us with anymore and dissolves us. Its when we are not conscious that our thoughts reign free and cause those negative feelings.
I recently attended a workshop at my office on authentic leadership. It came timely as I had just recorded an episode on why we cannot be our authentic selves. We learned that authentic leadership is just what I had argued its not – a process of becoming your best self. Authentic means that we write our own authentic story as we go. Its not fixed; its not who we are and who we will always be. Rather, its the sum of our experiences that we use to create our own story.
Everyone tells us that we need to say No more often if we want to become more focused and get stuff done. I think we know how how to say no. But I doubt we know WHEN we should say no. Lets dig in to find out WHEN saying no is best.
I spent Easter Sunday alone in a beautiful house with a blooming garden. And this made me feel grateful for all the wonderful people I have in my life and everything they teach me. This episode is a list of appreciations. Maybe you find them applicable to the people in your life. Sometimes its just a good idea to bring to our mind what each and everyone contributes to our lives.
Being productive feels good. Getting things checked off can almost be addicting. Constant hits of dopamine provide us with motivation to get more done. But with all the checking-off frenzy – are we still focused on our big goals? I found that even those get broken down into small tasks and I get caught up getting those done day in and day out – without thinking bigger. Being productive feels best when I go after the things that matter – not just the daily grind. The things that matter may up some of the grind, but as long as I stay focused on the big objective, I don’t have to get caught up in menial little things, such as posting every milestone on social media.
Celebrating others can be challenging. We often feel we deserve the praise more. Or, we just don’t see what they have done that deserves celebrating. Yet, this is a wonderful way to connect with another person. Not only does it make them feel great, but you also feel good padding others on the back. People remember how we make them feel and I have seen over and over again that they will cheer us on when its our turn.
Flying spurs my creativity and changes my perspective. Every time I am on a plane, my dreams seem so much more achievable than when I am with both feet on the ground. I wrote this poem on a recent trip, with my nose pressed against the cabin window, looking at snow-covered mountain ranges and dreaming of climbing them all. Allow yourself to be inspired by something that gives you a similar joy – music can do it, spending time in nature, reading. It feels great to “fly high” from time to time and then to take a piece of that dream with us into our “grounded life” and implement it.
Does it seem challenging to find an inner connection with ourselves? Our world can be noisy, overwhelming and distracting.
Yet, the direction for our life comes from within us.
The Quest For You Podcast is my mission to help you discover who you are. I will help you challenge yourself through daily guidance, motivation and inspiration. I want to help you find your direction.
