I’m driven by performance, while she is all about process. I thrive under the pressure of a looming deadline; she likes to plan things out in advance. I focus on the big picture; she’s laser-focused on the details. Over the years, I’ve learned that neither of these approaches is right or wrong—just different.
You may have heard it as a kid, “Pay attention, stop daydreaming!” Now that you are a full-grown adult, I highly encourage you to ignore this advice. Mind wandering is healthy for us because our brains need to take a break!
We are living in complicated times and more than ever, leaders are expected to make countless, critical decisions on any given day. Without the proper resources to manage these expectations, leaders can leave the organization in a state of chaos and confusion.
Put the coffee on, wrap yourself in a blanket, and park yourself down for a few moments before the world wakes up. Close your eyes. Take it all in. Listen to the natural world around you. Offer gratitude to those you love. Feel the cool air on your face. Consider how wonderful it is to be alive.
This past summer, one of my big goals was to build a stone path from our front door to the staircase that leads down to the lake. It started in May with breaking up the surface of the ground to build a channel. This meant cutting tree roots with an axe, digging out rocks, and carrying them away a wheelbarrow.
“Stop daydreaming,” we’ve been told. But as we near the end of the year, it’s the perfect time to let your mind to wander. Lie back and watch the clouds float by. Erase all timelines and agendas. Allow one thought to drift into the next. What’s possible now? What is your biggest, boldest dream? Let your limits dissolve and see where you end up.
As I’ve put in kilometers of training, I’ve become aware that this is unlike any other goal I’ve set. The distances melt away, and the aches and pains dissolve. Any time I get distracted by my own small discomfort, I think about the love for my family, how hard they are all working, and how much I want to contribute to their well-being.
Connect with your childlike spirit that craved the challenge of a climb. No matter how big or small, when you climb a rock, your heart rate accelerates, and danger becomes real. Bring your attention to your limbs and focus on what’s right in front of you, breathing into each moment and thinking through every move. You’ve got this.
Don’t doubt for a moment that you are an artist. Slip on your shoes, grab some shears and step outside. Open your eyes to the beauty that surrounds you. Collect colourful blooms, large green leaves, crooked branches and stems. Arrange them in a bouquet, noticing each little petal and leaf. This is one of nature’s greatest gifts.
As I’ve put in kilometers of training, I’ve become aware that this is unlike any other goal I’ve set. The distances melt away, and the aches and pains dissolve. Any time I get distracted by my own small discomfort, I think about the love for my family, how hard they are all working, and how much I want to contribute to their well-being.