3 Steps to Change Your Day
We have so much thrown at us every day and expect so much of ourselves; it can be a total joy suck. There is no way one human can attend to, process and respond thoughtfully to three email accounts, texts, WhatsApp, MarcoPolo, Clubhouse, Messenger, LinkedIn, Slack....and that's all before you get to what you need to do today.
Stop. Take one deep breath. Feel your feet on the floor. And try this instead.
These simple yet profound operating instructions were delivered this Monday via three readings in three different daily readers with which I often start my day.
It’s amazing what wisdom we can receive when we’re open and willing.
(That’s a topic for another newsletter)
For me, these three steps help prioritize and put things in perspective.
Where am I right now? Acceptance doesn’t mean that everything is just peachy, it’s acknowledging what is - your reality in present time. A lot of pain and drama can be avoided by standing firmly in reality. Taking stock of how much energy/time/money/receptivity we have in this moment is a great way to start the day. There are days I have a long list of should do’s and what I really need is a nap, or to call a friend or to sit outside for 10 minutes and meditate.
It recently came to light that I am super good at distracting myself. You too? Identifying the primary purpose for your work, your day, your relationship, can be a focus game-changer when there are so many demands on our time and attention (see intro paragraph). Sure, it’s okay to have various interests and goings on; when your work/day/relationship gets watered down by distractions, though, what you get is watery work/day/relationship.
Put your oxygen mask on first. My “first thing” is a good night’s sleep. If I don’t get that, forget the rest. So I make sure to go to bed at a time that allows me to get 8 - 9 hours of sleep, and get up early enough to meditate and exercise (my next “first things”). Be really honest with what your first things are each day, especially in moments of overwhelm. It is not selfish to attend to your needs, ever. And if someone else is waving all the flags to get your attention, just remember, their urgency is not (necessarily) your emergency.
In all three steps, tune in to your body. It will send you all the information you need to choose wisely. If you’re not sure where/how to get started, below are some prompts. Take 10 minutes each day to get quiet and to listen to the voice inside.