Speed / Pace / Time & Breath
I work fast. So fast, so well, so effortlessly. But only SOMETIMES. Those times I am in what I (and others) call: THE ZONE.
One trick about FAST TIME is you have to balance it with SLOW TIME. You just can't move fast all of the time. And so many people ask me how I get done all that I get done. The trick is the balance with SLOW TIME. Productive fast time is only as good as your slow time...
I work fast. So fast, so well, so effortlessly. But only SOMETIMES. Those times I am in what I (and others) call: THE ZONE.
One trick about FAST TIME is you have to balance it with SLOW TIME. You just can't move fast all of the time. And so many people ask me how I get done all that I get done. The trick is the balance with SLOW TIME. Productive fast time is only as good as your slow time.
Want to learn to practice some slow time? Here are a two simple starting steps:
STEP ONE: Notice what you are doing. While you are eating are you eating only? Or are you multitasking? If you are multitasking, that's fine, we are not judging, just noticing. When you are in the shower, are you cleaning your body or are you also reviewing some conversation you had earlier?
STEP TWO: Begin to practice some single tasking. Do ONE thing at a time and allow your body and mind to change rhythms. Today when I wrote this post, I closed all other computer windows, turned off my phone, and just. simply. wrote.
What will you do to single task today? Even for a moment, it counts. Practice slow time and feel the change of pace.
Some good thoughts on productivity HERE.
On Powerlessnes
My two year old daughter took a header, forehead first, into metal bleachers at full speed. We were on Block Island, where there is no hospital and the mainland is an hour boat ride or a fifteen minute plane flight away. Time stood still as I carried her across the field to the EMT who had run to get his go bag.
I barely noticed my surroundings. My daughter, hours later, is fine. She's her normal chipper self, with a smaller-than-expected lump over her left eye.
My two year old daughter took a header, forehead first, into metal bleachers at full speed. We were on Block Island, where there is no hospital and the mainland is an hour boat ride or a fifteen minute plane flight away. Time stood still as I carried her across the field to the EMT who had run to get his go bag.
I barely noticed my surroundings. My daughter, hours later, is fine. She's her normal chipper self, with a smaller-than-expected lump over her left eye.
I am awash with powerlessness. The whole episode, a reminder for me that powerlessness is the truth at the bottom of it all. That we never have control, that we are always powerless. It's humbling. I pretty much suck at it (it being the acceptance of powerless ness), but I am getting better. These somewhat, could-be, tragic moments are slap-in-the-face teachers. But it doesn't always have to be so harsh a lesson.
Here is my focus for the next few days: Powerlessness in micro doses. Practical practices.
I am going to try a few practices this week. They cross back and forth between personal / business /time management strategies, so they can really be used by anyone, and adapted to different things.
1) Taking a step back as a parent. Trusting others to watch my most precious of belonging. It's makes me feel out of control, a little bit untethered. Sitting with this little feeling of powerlessness, not avoiding it, just being with it, is my first practice.
2) Not checking my email until after breakfast. Just typing this makes me feel a little anxious. I generally check my email first thing after opening my eyes. Though it feels really good in some ways, it starts my days too early. So, I am going to sit there in the morning and be a little bit powerless, let the world go on around me, without me, until after I eat breakfast. I don't so much intend for this to last, because I believe that in general, checking my email first thing DOES work for me. But since I need a bit of powerlessness practice, this is one really good place for me to go for a while.
3) Creating a letting go mindfulness meditation practice. I have been working on writing and recording a short meditation on letting go and I know this is the time I need to really press forward. It is called practice because we need to keep at it, keep doing it, keep letting go, letting go, letting go. Soon you'll be able to practice along with me. (For now if you want to start with a little practice, you can download the Awareness of Beginning, which is a three minute download that you can purchase here.)
What will you try?
So I made this bracelet - GIVEAWAY!
I have trouble wearing many metals. Since jewelry design is one of the many hats I wear, this is one of those those life irony things. I have been feeling recently like I need some positive adornment and some super-reminder of grounding. So I sat down with some of my favorite stones and some soft, soft, soft natural deerskin leather.
I have trouble wearing many metals. Since jewelry design is one of the many hats I wear, this is one of those those life irony things. I have been feeling recently like I need some positive adornment and some super-reminder of grounding. So I sat down with some of my favorite stones and some soft, soft, soft natural deerskin leather. I made a wrap bracelet that I absolutely love. I wore it for a few days, then I made some more. Each one is slightly different, and I made three sizes.
I love them so much that I want to offer them to you. You can buy them HERE, but in the meantime I want give one away! I will choose the winner on Tuesday, March 21st.
Just comment below or share this giveaway post on FB and I will pick someone to send one to!
Dig this? Check these:
I Give You Permission
Standing in the mall, in the stupid mall, hands sweating, blood rushing. "I just can't," I thought.
I am pretty sure that this sometimes happens to you too, maybe not in the mall, but somewhere, you crash.
I have a recommendation for you on those days. And I am trying to listen to it for myself as well.
Don't push so hard. Give yourself permission.
Standing in the mall, in the stupid mall, hands sweating, blood rushing. "I just can't," I thought.
I am pretty sure that this sometimes happens to you too, maybe not in the mall, but somewhere, you crash.
I have a recommendation for you on those days. And I am trying to listen to it for myself as well.
Don't push so hard. Give yourself permission.
Why is this so hard to be okay with? Why can't I just step back and breathe? Why can't I take my own advice? Well, it's because I so often equate my own sense of self worth with what I can accomplish. I know this to be a pitfall for very many self-employed and very driven people. And the solution is two-fold: 1) PRIDE and 2) PRACTICE.
We are raised and rewarded in a society that gives feedback for effort. Most of us have never heard "great job taking care of yourself today." Rather we get gold stars and A's in school and praise from bosses or co-workers for a job well done. So what happens when you are the boss? Who gives you that feedback you were so acclimatized to? Who decides how much homework is too much? Who decides when you are pushing too hard?
There are so many benefits to being self-employed. But one of the biggest drawbacks is the LACK of feedback and the sense of unending RESPONSIBILITY to be driven.
I practice my own two-fold solution:
- PRIDE- I will take a deep breath and have pride in what I do, overall. I will take another deep breath and pat myself on the back and realize, every moment doesn't have to be 100% for me to be doing a good job. I will walk out of the mall.
- PRACTICE- I will practice not pushing so hard. I will breath and practice being and breath again and practice again. One foot in front of the other.