Babs’ short and sweet thinking about thinking less.
Welcome to a new segment of the Courageous Leaders Project Newsletter where I will regularly explore a short and sweet practice for inviting into our lives and leadership journeys more ease, confidence, and joy.
The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness. – Abraham Maslow
Thinking Too Much
I think too much. I think about the past (too often with regret), I think about the future (sometimes with a heavy heart, but to be honest more often about dinner or where to put the Christmas tree), and I think about what else I should* be doing instead of being fully present for what I am doing.
It isn’t all the time, but it is enough for me to recognize that my life and leadership journey would be better if I worked on thinking less.
In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you. – Leo Tolstoy
For Example
The other day I’m walking the dogs along the beautiful Wascana Creek just a few blocks from our home. The hoar frost had decorated every limb, twig, and dry leaf. The rose hips were a quiet old red. The rustle of bullrushes whispered a soothing song as a beaver made its way to the other bank. The hares were barely visible in the snow until they caught scent of the dogs and leapt away. We were surrounded by bird song. The blue sky was so large I could have fallen up and into it – if only I had been present for it all.
Instead, I was designing a project for a client.
Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present. Albert Camus
Thinking Less
I need to think less.
Admonishments, such as “be present”, “focus”, or even “gently bring yourself back to the present moment”, are alright but haven’t gotten to the heart of my thinking-too-much habit.
So, here’s a practice, one that’s as old as the ancient wise folks, that I have been playing with.
At regular intervals, such as when I change activities or as set by the clock, I use a very simple phrase structure to remind myself that I am in this moment, doing this thing.
- Writing email
- Listening to client
- Walking dogs
- Sending invoices
- Hearing birds
- Seeing trees
- Planning a project
- Designing a process
- Eating
- Washing dishes
- Writing newsletter
- Reading
- Doing nothing
After just a week or so of doing this, I have noticed and appreciated:
- My personal discipline having room for growth.
- My agency over how I approach my time and activities.
- That even the smallest habits, the ones that we often do without being present (e.g. brushing teeth), can shape the day.
- The quietening of the time management inner-critic (see last week’s Cranky Pants).
- Even more ease and joy.
Cheers,
Babs
p.s. In the show Fleishman Is in Trouble, there is a montage where the character Libby Epstein looks back on her life and with each memory you hear her say “and now”. That is pretty much it – our lives are made up of now moments.
p.p.s. You can find out more about me and my work as a leadership coach at the Courageous Leaders Project.
Extras
Reflections on the Here and Now, Courageous Leaders Project Newsletter
Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
* That’s right, I purposefully used the word “should”.
Why No Good Comes From the Word “Should”, Psychology Today, Susanna Newsonen.
Photo by Thomas Lipke on Unsplash