BE INTENTIONAL TO ACCOMPLISH MORE
There was a time in this society when one’s skills at multitasking could be highlighted at the top of a resume as a highly desired skill, though in today’s busy world with instant easy access to a variety of forms and depth of information the pendulum has shifted to tout one’s ability to maintain focus and follow through on tasks. Instead of a trend of developing ourselves to see how much we could take on and add to our list of accomplishments, we are moving towards a trend of being more focused, intentional, and grounded. In essence we are moving towards a time of valuing more meaning in what we do. It’s not exactly slowing down the pace, but slowing down our minds and our emotional relationship to the experiences that we have.
BE PRESENT
What this means on a practical day-to-day basis is putting more thought into what we ARE doing. Not just going through the motions and showing up to the same event, in the same place, with the same feelings and reactions, and doing that again day in and day out. Instead, we are challenging ourselves to place meaning and value in our experiences. We are challenged to ask ourselves – Does this bring me JOY? Is this something that I (with a capital I) really WANT to do?.
A STUCK MINDSET
On the other side, what we naturally tend to do instead is ask – Why do I HAVE TO do this?, which automatically places our experiences into the glass half empty realm, out of our control, and something we must endure, just because. This mindset tells us that we have no choice and that it is what is is. This in turn leads us to continue on in being part of unsatisfying and unhelpful experiences.
VALUE WHAT BRINGS JOY
Instead be more present, paying attention to what sparks joy in your heart and know that it is ok even if these can’t seem to be listed easily on a resume. Pay attention to those actions and experiences that make you feel happy and healthy, that give you that feeling of accomplishment inside because you know you did something meaningful for you. Don’t let their size or lack of fancy complexity keep you from engaging in them. It is ok if these are only known by you. Their value is measured by the influence on your emotional state, self-worth and pride, and relationship to others and the world.
Take a moment and consider, “what brings me joy?”.
