When we are lost or hitting the wall in our lives and businesses, we often busy ourselves in a lame attempt to feel like we are accomplishing something. Have you ever noticed that? When things get slow – we busy ourselves. We push paper, we organize our files, we clean out drawers and closets, we shuffle and muffle – anything to avoid slowing down.
Perhaps this busy-ness is a way of cleaning out and ‘feng shui-ing’ our offices and lives. Perhaps it may also be a way of protecting ourselves from listening and heeding the little voices inside which may be offering other thoughts and perspectives on where we find ourselves, our work, and our businesses.
What would happen if we pressed the pause button and actually listened? What clarity could be revealed? What new revelation would present itself? New opportunities? New resources to support our lives and business? Stopping and being still – really still – if only for 15-20 minutes a day may turn on the light bulb which we have been too busy to see. Try it tomorrow morning when you first get up, and again day after tomorrow you may be amazed at what you see and hear.
I noted some very deep and telling insights from an always beautiful individual moving through life with grace and wisdom.
I sometimes find myself tossing a pebble in still water and watching as the ripples expand across the still water. Reflecting on my life, I wonder whether they are positive ripples. Will I be remembered for adding value in this long life or just lived as you say busing myselve in a lame attempt to feel like I am accomplishing something.” In this quite moment self-reflection will I find clarity and a new sense of purpose? Will the light bulb go on?
After many years in business, I spent four to five years traveling the world teaching, mentoring, and trying to help build effective project organizations that can deliver on the corporate vision. Having lived and worked in Asia for two years prior to this, I learned a very different set of perspectives on life and business in general.
Adaptive personal and organization learning and change can only occur when we actually do press the pause button and listen to ourselves. Are we personally, and our organizations, creating positive ripples. Will what we say and do each day add value to our individual lives, the lives of people around us at work, our business, and our community?
As you so wisely note Kristin – If the ripples do not feel right press the pause button again “tomorrow morning when you first get up, and again day after tomorrow, and you may be amazed at what you see and hear.” Unfortunately, I suspect many of us “feel” the inspiration of your words yet default to the comfort of the dark shadows of our busy-ness in life because sometimes the little voices inside tell a truth we may not like.
I believe the reality is that the mind can be in only one place at a time – the present, past, or future. I guess our reality is that the present moment is the only one of the three states of the mind we actually can control. In that moment of pause, what clarity could be revealed? What new revelation would present itself? By controling the moment in the present we may actually change the future and alter what will become the past.
Thank you for aharing your wisdom. You have made me a better person from knowing you.