Go With The Flow

I'm just back from my tai chi session this week. Much of the practice is about going with the flow and not putting up resistance.

It's good to remember this in our day to day lives. When we resist or go against the flow - like walking the wrong way in a crowd of people going in the opposite direction, or swimming against the tide - things become hard, we constantly have to watch where we're going, adjust and get stressed - it's like trying to push water uphill ... a waste of time and energy.

When you encounter resistance in your life - relax and go with the flow. Much less like hard work. Ride the current - don't swim against it.

Daylight And Autumn Leaves

Apparently this Monday is one of the gloomiest in the year because here in the UK we switched to daylight saving time this weekend. We get an extra hour in the morning but the evenings are darker earlier.

However, the number of daylight hours is the same - it's just shifted. So, why would it really make a difference. I have to admit, I don't like getting up in the morning when it's dark but then you do get a chance to see the sunrise or to experience the quiet of a morning as the dawn breaks and the sky brightens, before everyone else gets going.

Even in the dark evenings, there's something cosy about glimpses of light through windows. Make the most of the daylight hours to get out during your lunch break or to enjoy a walk at the weekend.

Notice the changes all around us as we switch from one season to the next. We miss these when we're enclosed in a car or shut away in the office day after day. At this time of year the summer migrants have left and the winter visitors are starting to arrive. Enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the Autumn. It's less than two months until the winter solstice, when the days will be getting longer again.

Pay attention to your own internal seasonal cycle - there's no reason to feel gloomy - adjust to the shorter days and the change in temperature.

Do what you need to do to nurture yourself.

Put Yourself Out

Sometimes we feel too safe, comfortable and cosy in our comfort zone or go along in our usual day-to-day routine without venturing out into the 'wider world'

Often when we do something a little differently - something unexpected happens.  After all - if you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always got - as the saying goes.  So - if you do something different, you might get something different!

Also think about those times when you're not sure if you've got the energy or motivation to get out there and do something - either in your personal or business life.  Make the effort and you might be surprised at the opportunities that pop up and the chain reaction that can occur from one apparently random contact or connection.

Do something a little different, try something new, go somewhere you wouldn't normally go. Put yourself out  there and see what happens.

10 Minutes At A Time

We often say we don't have time and there's always plenty that we don't get round to.  Even when we have a task to do, we often get distracted and end up wasting time.

So how would you like to do something different?  Set an alarm or timer for just 10 minutes.  Stay focused, you know the clock is ticking, so there's no time to waste and you'll be less inclined to waste time.

In just 10 minutes a day you could:

• Create your action list.
• Plan your day.
  
• Tidy a room.
• Do the laundry.
  
• Clear things away.
• Do some filing.
  
• Tidy the garden.
• Start a report.
• Skim read a magazine.
• Enjoy a cup of coffee.
• Do some paperwork.
  
• Go for a brisk walk.
• Meditate.
• Make a phone call.
• ...
  

The first two will make your whole day more productive, so definitely worth spending time on them if you don't already.  See how much you can do in 10 minutes.  You might not finish the task in 10 minutes but you'll be 10 minutes closer.

Set a goal you'd like to achieve and allocate just 10 minutes a day to it.  See what a difference you can make. You could even have more than one goal - two or three sets of 10 minutes throughout the day.

Let me know how you get on.

Right here, right now

We all have long-term goals of where we'd like to be in 3, 5 or 10 years time. Even if they're not written down, we have an aspiration of where we'd like to be or what we'd like to be doing.

But what would make a difference to your life right now ... today?

What can you take from your long-term goals, desires, aspirations and dreams and move a few steps closer to them today?

You might be able to make a few changes to your life and be able to have what you want right now and not in several years time.

• A different job - what can you change about your existing job to make things better?
• A new house - time for a repaint, declutter or a bit of DIY. You might not be able to buy your dream home today but make the most of where you are now.
• More holidays - plan to take regular breaks, more often.

If you want more freedom and flexibility to enjoy the things you like doing - how can you give yourself more time to do them?

Why wait - a few simple changes, a little thought and planning and you can have more of what you want today.

Refresh, Review, Revitalise

One of the things that's come out of the recent Time Audits is how useful it is to take a step back every now and then. The process of just answering the questions has helped identify a few blind spots.

Having the obvious held up in front of you can be enlightening. Even if you think you know it all - take a look in the mirror every now and then - literally or proverbially. Talk to someone else about what you're doing and see if they can shed some light or give you a new perspective or as someone once said to me - "shining a light in to the dark corners".

You may think life is ticking along but why not spend a few minutes taking stock. When you're back refreshed after your summer break is a good time to sit down with a friend or partner. Think about what's good, what's working, what's not. Write it down. What would you like to change?

You may be surprised what you come up with.

You can get your free copy of the Time Audit on my website.

Walk A Mile ...

... in someone else's shoes.

We see the world through our own two eyes. How we interpret it is based on our own experience and knowledge of the world. That experience is developed as soon as we open our eyes at birth and start to understand and learn about the world around us.

Other people will have different experiences from us. They see the world differently and will interpret it based on their own knowledge, experience and values.

Someone's behaviour may seem strange or upsetting to us but not only does this tell us something about how and why we react in a certain way but it also tells us something about them.

Think before reacting - seek first to understand.