WorkingAwarenessNetwork : monday morning minute

I dedicate this MMM to my ego who has plenty to say about the grammar mistakes in the Coaching Offer I sent to you last Friday.   Click Here For Offer

So there I am in my yoga class wondering why I never stretched before, even after 30 years of playing soccer games.  I'm not happy.  My left leg is quivering like Jello and my right leg is starting to fall asleep as I breathe and listen to my thoughts passing by. “If you’d have stretched after soccer you’d be more flexible like the blonde in front of you. 

Hmmm…….. Blonde in front of me, Stop staring!.   Be a real yoga man and focus on the stretch in your left leg.  You know the one that feels like your ligaments might be pulled right off the bone….  Okay, thanks for sharing Jason – now take another breath.”

And that’s when it happens…a few moments of total bliss.  My mind goes quiet, my body sinks into the pose, and I breathe into serenity.

And then I hear the chatter in my head start to go off again like a loud bang.

“Hey. that being totally present was awesome.  Oh, I just said ‘was’, so I’m no longer there.  Oh man, I’m so stupid I can’t figure out how to stay there.  Who am I to teach people mindfulness?……Wow, listen to myself talk I’m like some crazy homeless person rattling off some monologue.  Okay Jason, now thanks for sharing – take another breath.”………….And again I arrive into a mindful place and feel my entire soul be nourished.

Our ego has created the myth that we are worthless if we can’t stay in a mindful state all the time.  This myth says that we are a “failure” if we do not arrive at “present” like a destination and change our internal location forever. 

This is like beating yourself up with a proverbial celery stick after you’ve swallowed some forbidden food.  It serves no purpose, except that the bored ego is wanting to entertain itself with your worries and woes.

What if you no longer challenged your ego for the noise it creates?  What if you didn't reward it with worry or shame during thoughts of worthlessness?  What if you were able to identify your thoughts without judgment and even thank the voice of your ego for sharing when it says something really nasty or completely ridiculous?

Monday Mindfulness
This week notice when you’re having thoughts that aren’t serving you.  Get in touch with the dialogue that you’re really having inside your head and then thank it for whatever it shares.

Take a bold step forward and share with us the non-stop dialogue you're having about this article in the reply box below.

Are you ready to feel more meaningful success and far better results in your work and in your life?     Click Here For And Check Out the 40/80 Guarantee

A thought occurred to me this week.  Isn’t it fascinating and unfortunate how countries declare war on each other.  That is until I recalled all the times I’ve declared war on those around me.

The dictionary defines war as “Any serious struggle, argument, or conflict between people built on the idea that there is not enough.”  Not enough money, not enough land, and not enough resources.  It is out of this fear that we end up creating a world filled with, “how can I get more.”  

Once we are in a war mindset our attention is automatically drawn towards scarcity (what we don’t have vs. what we do), we create and encourage conversations that keep this core story in place and we’re left with the belief that there just isn’t enough.

So how do we unwind this thinking?

First we must take notice of all that we do have and where in our lives that we have a sufficient amount of those things we are longing for.  Second is to then pay gratitude to the abundance.  This is extremely counterintuitive especially in the business world.  The main focus in business is usually how we can add to the bottom line and how can we get more.

When we become overly concerned with scarcity regarding clients, coworkers, subcontractors, or our own families it is especially beneficial to distinguish when we are declaring war.  We can start challenging the idea that more is always better and begin choosing to consciously practice thoughts of abundance and gratitude.  Those moments of insight create an inner richness and freedom.  

From this place of fullness and gratitude we begin to find new solutions to challenges and our gratitude for what we already have begins to grow.  Wait a second you mean stopping and creating gratefulness instead of trying to work harder and get more is actually more beneficial in the long run?

So a question to ponder this week is this.  What have you declared war on? Where can you shift your thoughts into sufficiency so you can see what you already have?

Monday Mindfulness
This week notice where others as well as yourself are using language of scarcity like: one day when…, there is not enough.., I’m afraid that…,  we need more… Each time you catch yourself hearing a scarcity phrase, take a moment, and think of one thing you are grateful for.

Also I'd love for you to share a gratitude in the box below and watch as our community helps each other grow in appreciation and abundance.

Wishing You a Grateful Monday,

Jason

P.S.  Emails from professionals at the last Meditation in the Workplace Seminar were inadvertently shredded before sending the notes.  For anyone wishing to see the notes please click here 

Early on in the parenting rollercoaster, my wife came to me and said, “I need a night to myself.”  Since that conversation, Wednesday Nights have been a sacred time for my wife and a coveted time for me with my daughter.  This time together reminds me to be playful and to laugh out loud.

Every Wednesday Night we spend time together and every Wednesday night we have new adventures. 

These journeys have included: make believe walks through the neighborhood, trips for sushi, and  various other wanderings.  Most Wednesdays are pretty magical.  However, last week I was resistant.  I was tired, grumpy, and anxious about some upcoming business decisions.

I started to scheme a way to get out of Wednesday Night Duty.

Possibilities came streaming in; maybe I could find a sitter or sit her down in front of a movie.  The movie I was thinking of, Cars, complete with special features, would give me at least two hours to squeeze in some work.  But Sierra wasn’t having it, no sitter, no movies, just forced quality time.

Now some of you might think I’m crazy.  Who wouldn’t want to have fun and play instead of work?  But let me ask you this?  Have you ever resisted something that you knew would nourish your soul?

So, with my scrunched up face and the two of us bundled head to toe, I disgruntledly agreed to go find puddles to jump in. It didn’t take long for me to realize how ridiculous I can be about not having fun.  My serious side, filled to the top with anxiety and worry, was no match for Sierra. Within minutes we were both soaked from head to toe and having the time of our lives.        

Upon our return to a warm house, we decided to figure out how  to use the internal video camera in my Mac and send some video clips, saying hello to friends and family.

To my surprise, Sierra was more interested in what was up her nose than the actual messages we were sending.  I’m still laughing out loud. Thankfully this week, I’m committed to surrendering my own worries and fears long enough to remember how to play.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_XuSZCIza8]

Monday Mindfulness
We all get stuck in some sort of serious reality full of doom and gloom.  Find your laugh this week and share with us.  Sometime this week put a joke, story, or video link in the comment box below.

In 2007, we are entering into a new phase of evolution.  Those that know how to manage stress will survive and those that don’t… well, the magic 8 ball says “Outlook Not Good".  

But what if you are so crunched for time that it appears impossible to make space for exercise, yoga, or even a short walk?

Then I recommend starting small and incorporating micro-breaks into your day.  For years professionals have managed to take five-minute breaks by simply going outside and having a smoke.  They considered it essential.  Why not use their strategy and do something good for yourself.  Take it to the next level by practicing some visualization or deep breathing during those breaks.   Let that inbox (email or otherwise) just be for a few moments, and allow the voice mail to do its job and take a message.  

By taking just 5 minutes to re-center, re-ground and re-connect you will be amazed at how one simple act can re-energize, re-vitalize and re-fill your tank.  The bonus?   All that work that was so hard to walk away from for even five short minutes will be way easier and you’ll be more productive.  Go figure that!  It is in the pausing that we are able to keep going.  So this New Year raise your probability for stress survival and learn how to integrate micro-breaks into your day. 

Monday Mindfulness 

This week pay attention to when you're feeling overwhelmed at work, back away from your computer, and take a 5 minute micro-break.

Don't know where to begin?  Click this link, close your eyes, and take The Mini-Vacation

Wishing You A Mindful Monday,

Jason