What I learned may help you focus, too
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It amazes me that we are already 11 days into January and the new year.
For many of us, time seems to be speeding along, as we move through days filled with tasks and obligations, adventures and challenges.
What if you could slow down time, to feel more focused and less frantic?
I just had that experience. I am eager to share what it was like, as well as how I intend to continue pacing my days.
Following time away for the holidays with my family, I decided to extend the trip when an invitation arrived to attend a small retreat focused on starting this new year with clarity and intention. It was offered by my long-time coach and mentor, Peleg Top, and it was an easy, “Yes!”
What a gift it was to be led through a deep, thoughtful process of reflection and intention-setting in the awesome setting of the high desert of New Mexico.
Here are three gifts I am bringing back and happy to share with you.
1. Choose to slow down.
If you read my post last week about optimizing 2022 you will recall I spoke about getting clarity about the year you want to create, setting specific intentions, and scheduling specific actions to make those intentions your reality.
Whether you have started the process yet or not, my invitation to you is to consider the pace at which you plan to incorporate your intentions — and the pace of the days you have scheduled for yourself.
I have already started to make the shift to days with more “white space” on my calendar. And I have blocked off every Friday this year to provide flexibility for myself (no client sessions, no meetings), as I did in the last half of 2021. The feeling of release I got when I blocked off my Fridays for the year was palpable!
Maybe you will carve out time for a morning practice each day. Maybe you will block time mid-day for a long walk. Any approach you choose will benefit you.
When you slow down, create space for rest and thoughtfulness, and live with true intention, you can create in each moment rather than react. This is a game-changer!
You may be thinking, “Wait, this is what you teach!” But it is in the actual practice of living this way (establishing habits that stick takes ongoing practice!) that I find delight in the benefits.
I predict that when you make it your practice, you, like me, will get more of what matters done. And you will feel more satisfied.
2. Dive deeper into your heart.
Now that you have more space in your schedule, choose a block of time, perhaps an hour, to sit in a cozy spot with a journal, your favorite pen in hand, and a cup of hot tea. Ask yourself some questions about your desires for this big shiny new year.
Choose from as many of these as you feel called to explore.
This year I will be most energized by/when…
This year I will say “yes” when…
This year I will say “no”/set boundaries when…
This year I will explore…
This year I will express myself when I…
This year will be special because…
Write lots of things for each that you choose to complete. Feel free to add to this list of prompts, too, as new thoughts for shaping your year come to mind.
And you may want to close out this special time by expressing your deepest desire for 2022.
3. Create your environment with intention.
My trip was a great reminder that the environment around us has a great impact on our daily experiences.
And you do not need to travel to faraway places to create an environment that makes you feel relaxed, special and inspired.
I started my work day this morning by lighting a candle and adding some essential oils to a defuser, to make sitting at my desk feel lovely.
Look for ways to add beauty, like bringing in a splash of color you love, or fresh flowers, or found objects you picked up on a recent walk. Think about all sorts of ways to wake up your senses, for instance choose music to soothe you or to add tempo to a particular task.
And if there’s some clutter you can clear for a few minutes each day until it is resolved, you will find that your energy will flow with more ease.
We can each make 2022 a special year.
No matter what is going on around us, we can each create clear intentions for ourselves, create the best environment to support our wellbeing, and cultivate our mindset to shape the year ahead.
And stay tuned for a series of emails about my upcoming Dream Big Vision-Board Workshop, on January 30, to help you create a clear vision — and live it — for a stellar 2022!
You can check out the workshop here. Registration is open now!
Stay safe and well, and create with joy.
