Perspective

The body

The body is always in real time. This means that the body registers what we are experiencing before the mind has made sense of it. If you’ve ever felt your stomach tighten in a situation, the reality is that bodily sensation happened before your mind registered it.

What if we could use the feedback from our body to help us change a habit or make sense of what we are experiencing? This is a question that was presented to me several years ago, as I was on a quest to move from surviving in life to thriving.

If there is a gap between the person you know you are and the one who show’s up in the world, if others overlook your talents, or if your true intentions don’t align with your experiences, listening to your body may be the feedback system you need.

Learn more about the body as a real time feedback system here.

Perspective

That’s it?

Growing up the ninth of ten children was an interesting experience. It created an environment where I had very little formal training. This meant that most things, like tying my shoes or combing my hair, were learned through observation – and my determination to keep pace with older siblings also meant that this usually happened at an accelerated rate.

There were times when I would stall and internally refuse to learn something that seemed a bit more complicated than I thought I could handle. In these moments, I would create stories about why I couldn’t do it, until I was convinced that it would be avoided at all cost. Then, there would inevitably be a situation where I had to tackle my imaginary mountain, and afterwards I would usually think, that’s it?

As an adult, there are times when I create stories about that imaginary mountain. When I recognize the pattern, I do my best to summon enough courage to take action. And similar to my childhood experience, after I learn that new thing or take the difficult action, I often look back and think, that’s it?

Perspective

Friday

Friday is the one weekday that people generally feel most at ease. With the promise of the weekend and the ability to wear jeans at the office, things generally seem lighter.

Before I went into business for myself I fantasized that entrepreneurs, with the power to make their own schedule, did not maintain the weekday stress. Which is why I felt cheated when I started my business several years ago, only to discover that the weekday malaise had followed me.

Out of curiosity, and for my sanity, I started to play with the perception of the different weekdays to see if I could “trick” myself into making each weekday feel like a Friday. This was an important focus for a long time, because I concluded that the reduction in unnecessary stress would be beneficial for my life and my business.

It was extremely difficult at first, but eventually, each weekday started to maintain the lightness of a Friday. Here are a few tips:

Be kind – The process of shifting perceptions is not easy, even ones that you know you want to change. Be kind to yourself.

Be honest – The reality is, many of us have been trained to be on a high stress, perception of productivity regimen from M-F and 9a – 5p. Once you can come to grips with this, it makes the process easier.

Tuesday – This was the hardest day for me to loosen my grip on. You may be surprised to find out how different days effect you. Once I discovered my pattern for each day, it made it easier to eliminate the things that were not serving me.

Productivity & Creativity – With less stress, I feel more productive and creative throughout the week.

Patience – It took me a couple years to really approach each day with the lightness of a Friday.

Saturday – There is still more room to grow. I am looking forward to the day when I can approach a Tuesday with the calmness of a Saturday.

Have a great day, it’s Friday.

Perspective

Double vision

When our perception of a certain reality shifts, there is a stage of double vision that we can experience. It’s a point where older thoughts and perceptions collide with newer thoughts and perceptions, creating two simultaneous perceptions of the same picture.

Double vision can be a confusion experience because of the perceived separation it causes within ourselves. When old patterns meet new ones, there is a conflict that erupts as opposing sides fight for their individual existence.

Double vision is a necessary stage that accommodates the emergence of a new thought, perception or idea. So when our thoughts and perceptions seem out of focus, maybe we should embrace the double vision? The result can be us experiencing life more clearly.

Perspective

Dreaming of anything

Last light, during one of those pivotal, action oriented dream state moments, I became completely aware that I could control my dream. In my moment of awareness, everything paused, waiting for my direction. Instead of directing, I was frozen in a state of awe by the realization that I could do anything. After a brief delay, my dream characters literally stopped performing and walked off the stage as if the director of the play shouted “CUT!”

I was amazed that with the freedom to do anything, I did nothing. The saying “You can do anything you put your mind to”, and the question “What would you do if you could do anything?” are quite frankly, things I’ve mostly interpreted as motivational rather than practical.

Is it really possible to do and be anything we want? Or, will our invisible limits be exposed when placed in a situation to choose anything? It just might be that if we pause too long when the moment to do anything arrives, we may miss out on making our dreams come true.

Perspective

Bad day

This morning I woke up feeling unmotivated, but could not identify the source of it. Then a thought passed through my mind, is this going to be a bad day? First, I started to indulge in the self-pity of these feelings; then I got curious.

I started to ask myself, what are the perceptions that lead to these feelings? Not in a quest to ban their existence, but in an effort to embrace what they are trying to teach me. Because, what I have interpreted as a bad day scenario, could be a new idea trying to get my attention, knowing that I may not recognize it in my good day comfort zone.

As soon as I embraced what was living in me, rather than trying to “fix” it, I began to see more possibilities. Realizing that waking up feeling unmotivated gives me an opportunity to approach my life from a different vantage point today.

It’s not about good and bad, it’s about embracing the best way that life knows how to get our attention. The reality is, sometimes a gift may come wrapped-up in our perception of a bad day.

Perspective

The first time

The first time we experience something there is a heightened sense of excitement and enthusiasm that happens without much effort. It’a a moment full of endless possibilities and a time when we are most vulnerable, which is why for many people, it is the most memorable.

What if we approached each moment like it was our first time? It would change our interaction with others, the way we greeted our pets, our relationship to nature, the creative process, and could even transform the way we listen to our favorite songs.

If you feel stuck, uninspired, or have a difficult time generating enthusiasm for the things you once enjoyed, try to experience them like it’s your first time….Because in reality, it is.

Perspective

laughter

During a meeting the other day I laughed so hard that slobber dripped from my mouth, onto my face, in what is admittedly not my proudest moment. A classic “snort-laugh” combination erupted from someone else, and a brief moment later, we officially started our meeting.

The meeting was engaging, creative, and surprisingly focused. Our willingness to come as we were, express ourselves honestly…..and laugh a lot in-between, built a foundation that supported our success.

While there is a time and place for everything, if there is not enough time for laughter, that occasionally leads to unwilled slobber or a snort-laugh combo, what’s the point?

Perspective

Good and bad

Our experiences shape our perceptions of good and bad. And the structures of culture, family, and belief systems dictate the boundaries of that shape.

As children, good and bad teachings are meant to keep us in order. Beyond childhood, we add to these teachings by judging everything in terms of good and bad, which constricts us even more and narrows the boundaries of our experience.

When good and bad judgements make their reach into every part of our lives, we can find ourselves operating within rigid guidelines. If you are creatively challenged, unable to express yourself fully, or want more from life, try dropping your perception of good and bad. It is possibly a bad idea that is good for you.