This Could Be My Toughest Challenge

So much has been written about the value of being present. (Read The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle) That seems like such a simple concept. Just focus on the moment and life will get better. I don’t know about you but for me this could be one of my toughest challenges. For me it’s certainly a work in process.

I think it starts with slowing down. For some of us that’s a little counter-intuitive. Few would argue that the world is speeding up. Business is changing at warp speed. Technology continues to explode. I’m sure from some people’s perspective things are spinning out of control. How can I slow down, I have to speed up!

One of the keys to being present is to quiet your mind; essentially you have to stop thinking. What a crazy notion – stop thinking. Even as I type that statement it sounds so illogical. I don’t know about you but I can’t remember the last time I stopped thinking. If I stop thinking won’t I miss something? This reminds me of what an ex-boss once told me… there are really only three types of people those who make things happen those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened. This may have been the mantra of the eighties however if you took this to heart seems to me you’d be too busy making things happen to spend any time in the moment.

So I am about 5 days in to my Talent Revolution 30 Day Challenge. Talent Revolution is our company and two of my partners decided it was time to create significant meaningful change in our lives (and our business). I’m always up for a challenge so I decided to jump on “The Change Train”!

One of my 30 day bucket list items is to be still for 20 minutes a day. Are you kidding me? Me be still for 20 minutes? Have you ever tried that? Not only do I have to be still but I have to be silent and oh yea I have to stop thinking. C’mon, I’m a serial extrovert. I get my energy from being around people. I haven’t missed a party in 40 years. OMG, you might as well put me in shackles and send me to Sing Sing. I’ve run marathons, I’ve participated in a mini-triahalon, I have partied for 72 hours straight with little or no sleep but 20 minutes alone, still, no thoughts? I guess that’s why they call this a CHALLENGE.

So how am I doing? This is day 5 and I have yet to spend 20 minutes doing nothing. Does this mean I’m giving up? Hell NO. Nobody ever said change was easy. I’m changing a lifestyle that has always been about go, go, go, do, do, do to a lifestyle that is intentional. For me to make this significant change I must commit to my 20 minutes.

Right now I’m on my way out to the back deck for my 20 minutes of quiet time. Anyone want to join me? Oops I almost forgot… This is my time. Old habits don’t die easy!