Learning To Be Mindful
July 23, 2012
Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess
During recent months I have been dealing with some health issues which have given me the wake-up call of, "You're not in control of your life!" As an individual who schedules almost every part of my day and who even has events and to-dos planned as far out as a year, this was a rude awakening.
What do you mean, "I'm not in control?!" I still wake up in the middle of the night bathed in a cold sweat realizing that no longer can I make specific plans. No longer can I smugly live secure in the knowledge that things will always be the way they always were -- pretty gosh darn good.
I have worked for several years to build up my clientele for my own business, have networked until my throat hurts, attend online and in person seminars, follow up, and follow up again with potential clients. I was the Mistress of my Destiny, right? I thought so.
I recently downloaded a book entitled, "Whereever you go, there you are," a book recommended by a physician I visited with. It's all about being mindful. When she mentioned the title my first thought was, "Holy crap... I am NEVER in the moment. I am always wondering what the next moment is going to be." While I certainly can't speak for every entrepreneur -- male or female -- I can speak for myself in knowing that I need to live to live (and work) in the moment.
I'm trying to believe and understand that multi-tasking isn't truly the best way to be my most productive. I'm learning that while I want to schedule my days to the hilt I have that niggling thought in the back of my mind that my well-laid plans may not come to fruition. Truly I could have used a more subtle wake up call to scale back and learn to relax, but there you have it.
What do you do to be "in the moment?"
Give some time to yourself do daily chanting and have belief in superpower that someone is there for us and everything will be on there way without any hurdles
Posted by: Shane knight | August 17, 2012 at 08:34 AM
Jessica... It has been an eye opening experience to learn that I am more productive when I do one project at a time as I'd always been the queen of multi-tasking.
Donna, I hope you can learn to live in the moment (I hope I can, too!)
Mary, I love the way your friend signs his emails. I just now wrote on a sticky note "Live in the Now" and stuck it to my computer!
Carol... I started a rule of no phones at the dinner table. I was one of the worst with having to check emails and texts during dinner. Jeez.. what a waste of precious time with the kids. I've learned to turn them off and asked them to not check messages while we're eating.
Posted by: Robbi | July 27, 2012 at 09:40 AM
This is a wrong assumption that multi-tasking lead you to be more productive rather you need to take out some time for yourself as well as for your family (if you are not single yet) to be more productive. It will keep you healthy as you will be enjoying other colors of life too.
Posted by: Jessica | July 25, 2012 at 05:44 AM
A friend of mine with cancer goes in 8 week stints between the body scans. He signs all emails with "Living in the Now."
Posted by: Mary Hunt | July 24, 2012 at 11:38 AM
The only times I'm really 'in the moment' are when I'm with my 7 year old nephew, which isn't often enough, and when I'm giving my cat 'quality time,' which fortunately is several times a day. I meditate and practice shamanism, but so rarely these days - it's been months. I need to get back on the horse. If "God dwells within me as me," I must be making him dizzy!
Posted by: Kristindewey | July 23, 2012 at 02:47 PM
THIS is such a timely post. Through my own share of crises, loss, and then ultimately rebuilding, I have learned to schedule down time and fun time. Life cannot and should not be 24/7 work.
Having lost ones I love, I have also learned how tenuous and fleeting life is. I followed a career path I was much to afraid to follow for so long. Failure would have been not following it. I look forward to being away from the computer and turning the e-devices off to be with family.
It's tricky but can be done with focus.
Thinking of you and your positive can-do attitude, Robbi.
Posted by: Carol Bryant | July 23, 2012 at 09:56 AM
Hi, Robbie!
I've always been somewhere in between. I'd have a schedule, but a loose one. Raising four kids tought me to be flexible in my plans. lol Things never went or go as scheduled.
I think living for the moment is a great thought and something I shall try to do more often.
Posted by: Donna Michaels | July 23, 2012 at 09:40 AM