I am a “busy business owner”, always on the move and always doing more than I need to. An “energizer bunny”. It seems to be a trait of many fellow business owners that we don’t want to slow down. What I have noticed however is I get so busy “doing” that I don’t take enough time “being”. And by doing all the time, I miss out on a lot of what is great about my work. In an effort to correct that, I (sadly) have to schedule time on my calendar for relaxation and reflection – which is apparently what we have to do today to get any free time for ourselves. As crazy as that seems, it actually works and is a great tool if you are looking for a way to build time into your day for YOU! So pull out your calendars and create some space for you every day where you can REFLECT on all that is great about your life and what lies ahead. Here are a few steps to follow.
R – Realize what is happening in the present moment
If you are either caught-up rehashing something in the past or projecting into the future, you have totally missed what is happening in the present moment. And that is all we have! Take a breath, and pay attention to the “right now” time and what is in your mind. Is it what you want to be thinking about? Is it serving you well or making you stressed? Is it negative or positive? Right here – right now, think about something pleasant and stay with that thought, and your body and mind will thank you.
E – Escape from your current focus and take time out to think
Now that you have adjusted your thoughts toward positivity, stay there for awhile and think of all the things you are grateful for. As you continue these thoughts, you might notice a smile creeping in on your face as you ponder what is great about you and your life. How good does that feel?
F – Free yourself from distractions
If you are being challenged by this process in your present location, find a quiet and calm space. Carve out a place that is free from distractions where you will not be disturbed. Create your own getaway spot where you devote time for personal reflection and you feel good while you are there. Just going into a room, closing the door and asking not to be disturbed is the easiest way to accomplish this.
L – Let go of scattered thoughts
It may not be easy at first to “tame those obsessive negative thoughts” that keep popping into our heads all the time and distract us from our intention to focus on “good feeling” thoughts. That is often because our minds are “over busy” – we have too much on our minds – which is a reflection of how busy our lives are. So while you are in your quiet place with the intention of “quieting your mind”, know that when those thoughts creep in, just let them pass thru without spending time on them and return to your “happy thoughts” once again.
E – Enlist your imagination
Remember how fun it was to daydream and think of great things you could do and be? We probably got in trouble at school because we weren’t paying attention – but as a Stress Management Professional I now call it “visualization” and it’s a great relaxation tool we all need to cultivate. When you set your imagination free to explore wonderful things, wonderful things can start materializing in your life.
C – Create a vision of your perfect life
Once you rekindle your ability to use your imagination, you can start creating a vision of what your perfect life might be. Those thoughts are exciting to explore as long as you allow them and don’t stop them. One of my tendencies is to sabotage the process by coming up with all the reasons I can’t have or do something. But in your imaginary world, you don’t have to add roadblocks to your perfect life. All you need to do is put yourself in that life and enjoy it to the fullest.
T – Tend to your vision on a daily basis
Now this is the best part. You get to become one with your perfect life every day. Just take the time to go there and enjoy it thoroughly. And look at all these wonderful benefits – time out for yourself, relaxation, enhanced positive attitude, less scattered thinking, feel better, enjoyment of setting intentions for a better life, surprising manifestations that are yet to be revealed. Watch for them and be surprised when they happen!
So now it is your turn. Try to follow this process for a month and see what happens. You might be surprised with the results and become a healthier business leader as well. If you need support with this, feel free to contact me.
Have fun with this – and be well on your wellness journey.