It’s easy to feel present when life is quiet. The real challenge is staying present when life is loud.
I am finding that being in the moment is truly one of the hardest things to maintain when you mix it with normal life, and the throes of daily living.
I am only now experiencing many of these sensations, because I have removed myself from my normal life.
Which we all know, love, and call vacation.
Which, don't get me wrong, has been beautiful and truly inspiring.
However, what I have been studying while I've been journeying through South Africa is how complex it is to replicate these feelings when you are not on vacation, but in the middle of changing your child's third diaper for the morning, while the dog tries to steal it and drag it across the house, or while struggling to find cheaper gas, or making sure that the children get to ballet or jiu-jitsu lessons, and so forth.
All while navigating the requirements of being a working adult, a parent, a spouse, a creative, a soldier, a musician, a business owner, etc.
And while this is obviously, much easier on vacation because none of those normal pressures are constantly pulling our strings like a marionette, it doesn’t change the reality of how to navigate these pressures in the average day.
However, my goal as of lately has been figuring out how to bring those feelings of clarity, creativity, and stream-of-consciousness thought back to “reality”, if you will.
And I'm finding that it all starts with how you begin your morning.
Which actually starts the night before with how you wrap up your evening.
Setting the tone for the next day can only be as strong as the plan you devise from the night before.
But once these plans are set, the motivation to complete them is not only greater, but also truly engaging in a way that heightens flow, creativity, and the ability to see outside the box.
It fills our cup to set goals that are not only attainable, but also able to be accomplished in a way that starts our day feeling successful.
For many, this may include having to wake up earlier, which may mean you must go to bed earlier, or shift responsibilities in such a way that you have that small but focused window of time for just you.
No one else.
Because the difference is astronomical.
And it usually only takes about 5-15 minutes in the morning, and about the same at night.
It makes me so proud of my wife, who is tirelessly and selflessly caring for our children, day in and day out, rarely taking a moment for herself.
It makes me grateful for my parents who are always thinking about us and how they can assist us to be happy, cared for, and supported.
It makes me thankful for my friends who are always willing to assist us or spend time with us and our children to share the delicate moments in life that are all too fleeting.
And most importantly it makes me thankful for the unconditional love of my children and our dog, which fills my cup tremendously to a level that nothing will ever compare to it.
But, it also makes me try and connect the dots and see what the true connections and synchronicities are that allow the most positive and focused mindset to be applied regularly to daily life.
And in my opinion, it all starts with Gratitude.
Daily Gratitude.
Afternoon Gratitude.
Nightly Gratitude.
This is the key to beginning any mindfulness practice, not only to be successful, but also to allow it to blossom in its own right. The more thankful we are, the more our brain lights up to realize how much we have, and how little we actually need. Which makes us happy!
This focus will lead us on our way to daily mindfulness, where we can regularly “stop and smell the flowers” in all tasks of life, even if we are stuck in traffic, or struggling to find parking, or pissed about grocery prices.
It still allows us the time and space to find those small but imperfect moments that make us exactly who we are. And it gives us the smallest amount of space before we react to the synapses that throw our day out of whack, to try to choose how we respond.
And in many instances, it is as simple as one deep breath, and one item to be grateful for.
Combined with some regular exercise for 20-45 minutes a day (or more if possible), and then setting another small but focused plan for the next day. Usually about 4-8 small items that are important, but not too challenging to complete.
This cycle not only encourages positivity, but truly reshapes the brain to be more positive, more happy, more successful, and more genuinely excited about life.
Finally, before setting up for a good night's rest to start all over again, find one more thing to appreciate.
For me, it is usually as simple as having a roof over my head.
But the daily routine rules all.
Find yours.
And I'll see you on the next one.
Let us know if you need help with it.
What’s one small part of your daily routine that helps keep you grounded? Hit reply and let me know, I’d love to include it in the next one.
- Chris