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Posts Tagged Awareness Exercise
Many of us grew up with an ideal that we labeled “The American Dream.” It signified a whole group of Shoulds that promised to bring us great rewards.
In essence, it said we all should:
- Find a good job and work hard.
- Get married, buy a house and have 2.4 children.
- Play by the rules.
- Don’t take risks.
- Save and invest for the future.
- Be serious, be responsible, and stay focused on getting ahead.
The promised reward, after many years of diligent work, was a secure, carefree, and fun retirement. Travel, fishing, freedom, grandchildren, and lots of time to enjoy all the things we missed while being responsible.
Most of us now realize that, for the most part, this dream is only experienced by a lucky few. We’ve learned that waiting until we retire to enjoy the “good life” is no longer satisfying. And we are beginning to incorporate the things we enjoy into our daily lives - including our work - instead of waiting and hoping we will get to enjoy those things later.
The American Dream is an example of beliefs that we, as a culture, have been taught to accept as truth, even though they really don’t apply to - or work for - most people. Yet, we continue to believe in them, and follow the rules mandated by them.
What about you? Are there Shoulds you are working toward and using as a basis for making decisions that may not be true - or right - for you? Have your Shoulds become long-standing habits that are hindering you rather than helping you?
With this in mind, let’s go back to the list of Shoulds you made on Monday (click here if you missed that one).
For each of these Shoulds, ask yourself, “Is that really true for me?” or “Is that still true for me?”
If not, is this a belief that you want to hold on to? Does it help you move forward, or does it limit your choices? Are the pros of holding on to it greater than the cons?
Whittle your list down to include only those beliefs that are probably hindering you more than helping you.
Now, is there some way you can modify these beliefs so that they will serve you better right now?
We’ll go a little further with this tomorrow…
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Awareness Exercise, Perspective
In our last Grease for the Gears, we introduced you to the Shoulds - the beliefs we have about what we should or should not do. Today we are going to look at a great way to evaluate our Shoulds to see if they serve us or not.
First, let’s talk a little more about Shoulds and where they come from. Shoulds are not inherently good or bad. Actually they can make our lives much more manageable by sorting information and making certain decisions for us without taking up our conscious thinking time that we need for other activities.
Yet, Shoulds can also sneak up on us. Because they are beliefs we have “adopted” and they are primarily unconscious, they often function as an internal autopilot that determines our direction and actions without us being aware of it.
Hmmm…. this makes me wonder. How much of what we do on a daily basis is determined by our Shoulds? And how do we know when we are operating on our Should autopilot?
Actually, it is easier than you think! Even though our Shoulds are mostly unconscious, they are also very literal! To become aware when you are under the influence of a Should, listen to what you say and what you are thinking. If we listen, Shoulds clearly identify themselves by actually using the word should or shouldn’t in their instructions to us.
Now, here’s how you can use the literal nature of the Shoulds to help you evaluate them and determine if any particular Should serves you and matches up with who you are here and now.
When you hear yourself saying (or thinking) I should or I shouldn’t… STOP and ask yourself this question…
“Whose voice is that anyway?”
Why is this a good question? Somewhere, sometime, someone taught you this Should. They probably said this Should over and over to you– essentially downloading their beliefs from their autopilot to yours.
But, what worked for them may be holding you back from living your definition of success.
Once you identify a Should, you can decide if it reflects your voice – or somebody else’s.
When you evaluate what’s in your autopilot and consciously choose your beliefs, you will be amazed at how what you prefer to create and your results line up much more quickly and easily.
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness Exercise
We’ve been talking about Noise this week - external and internal noise.
We talked about the challenges of being heard by your prospective clients above the noise.
Today, let’s talk about the challenges of hearing yourself above the noise.
In this noisy and busy world, we have become almost constant communicators. We spend much of our time either speaking, writing, listening and reading. We are surrounded by words from many sources.
Let me say here that I LOVE words! I love finding just the right ones to express exactly what I feel. I love word games…well, you get the point.
Words are wonderful!
However.
Sometimes they get in the way.
Since they are really symbols of things, they require translation. The word “happy” is not happiness, but just a symbol of that state of mind. When you hear someone say “I’m happy,” you must translate that into your understanding of the feeling they are expressing. Of course this happens automatically, and very quickly, and you don’t really notice the effort it takes.
It does take mental effort, however.
If, on the other hand, someone looks at you with a huge smile, you get the same information - and probably more - in a much more direct way. You immediately understand, and even feel, their emotion without translation.
When we take words out of the communication, we recieve it more directly - and with less effort.
You may know this, and can probably think of examples very easily.
What you may not know, is what we have discovered in our Imagination Lab. Many of our exercises are done in silence. And the result is a truly amazing increase in the creativity and clarity that partipants experience.
Even in group activities which require the participants to communicate with each other, such as preparing a meal together, become totally new experiences when words are not allowed.
Creativity increases dramatically - and, almost as a bonus, it’s also more fun!
The next time you are playing with your imagination, or looking to inspire creativity (especially with someone else or a group), try it without words. You might be surprised at the results!
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Awareness Exercise, Imagination
Here in the US we are getting ready to celebrate the Fourth of July - Independence Day - the noisiest of all of our holidays. July Fourth is all about celebrating with loud marching music, firecrackers and fireworks as from coast to coast people gather together and honor the “founding” of the United State of America.
July Fourth is a great example of what can happen when a group of people is committed to an innovative idea. Back in 1776, the founding fathers were willing to be different. They were willing to take an idea and turn it into something real. And, most important, they were willing to take a stand for something they believed in.
And, because of this, they stood out from the crowd. They are remembered for their courage, determination and dedication. And they began a movement that changed the world as they knew it at the time.
So, how does this apply to you and rising above the Noise Factor? Well, I believe one of the keys to the founding fathers’ success is that they not only took actions, they took those actions based on a strong foundation made of bottom-line beliefs, like freedom, independence and basic human rights.
And when you have a solid foundation to stand on, choices about directions, priorities, and actions are easier to make.
So, what do you take a stand for? What is the foundation on which you have built your business? As you think about how your business offer is unique and how you can express that uniqueness, is there a basic ideal or vision that guides you?
Today, let’s take a look at your business foundation. Instead of thinking of actions you can take to stand out from the Noise Factor, let’s look at what you are actually taking a stand for.
First, read the following sentence and fill in the blank with the first thing that pops into your head.
Through my business, I _________________________________________.
Is what you put in the blank something that you believe in strongly? Is this really the foundation for your business? Or is it something you have adopted in response to today’s business climate and/or because of what others are doing?
Now, think about what you really want to take a stand for. What is it that you want your clients and customers to “get” about you and your business?
Sit with this for a moment. Then fill in the blank in the following sentence.
Through my business, I take a stand for ___________________________.
Every once in a while during the next several days, read this second sentence. Does it communicate what you want to give your clients and customers? Does it feel “good” to you? Can you easily relate this statement to what you are doing in your business?
If so, then this foundation is serving you right now for where you are in your business. And, as with all things, it may change as you and your business grow and evolve.
One more really cool thing…
When you consistently focus on the foundation on which your business stands, you naturally express those values in your dealings with other people, decisions are easier to make, and you get better results.
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Awareness Exercise, Priority
Welcome to Tuesday!
Calling all Creative Men and Imagination Women!
This week is all about making you and your business stand out from the Noise Makers. (See yesterday’s Grease for the Gears if you are wondering what we are talking about!) We are going to coach you on ways to use your creativity to find your unique offer and voice that will attract your customer and clients to you.
Cool, huh?
Now, before we get down to tools and techniques that will help you to stand out and be heard, we are going to spend a moment with you! That’s right, you! Today is all about YOU!
Why?
Because you and your innate, unique creativity are your greatest resources for building a successful business and a satisfying life. And, in order to be able to listen to yourself and to be aware of your creative thoughts and insights, you have to be able to hear them when they pop into your head!
So, today, we are going to show you a very easy technique to clear some room in your head to make way for creativity!
Here’s a little review of some concepts from yesterday plus a little more information to ponder before we give you a great exercise!
You are inundated all day, every day, with millions of messages and communications and external stimuli. You filter out most of these messages at an unconscious level.
Yet there are many messages that get caught in your conscious mind. They swirl around as a constant inner dialog that is talking at you from inside your head. To be able to get in touch with your creative thoughts and ideas, we need to make some room in that wonderful brain of yours and get it to stop talking for a few minutes.
The best way we know to do this is the Mind Dump (fondly and creatively named because it is a way to dump all those things out of your mind that are swirling around and talking at you!)
The easiest way to understand the Mind Dump is to just do it (all due respect to Nike)! So, grab some paper and something to write with and let’s give it a whirl.
When I say, “GO,” start to write whatever is in your head on the piece of paper in front of you. Write as quickly as you can. Write for a minimum of 10 minutes. Don’t edit. Don’t worry about making sense. No one will ever read this. This is just for you and you can do whatever you want with what you write when you are done. (Shredding is a great idea!)
Keep writing until you feel ready to stop. Then write for one more minute. Then stop.
Are you ready? Set…GO!
Don’t read this now – go ahead – write!
OK !!! Well done!
You have just experienced your first Mind Dump!
Now, is your internal noise a little bit quieter? Do you feel like you have some extra room in your grey matter? Do you think you will hear a creative thought when it pops up?
Good, then the Mind Dump has served its purpose.
One thing we have discovered…creative thoughts love it when you clear a path for them. They have just been waiting for the right moment when they knew they could get your attention.
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness Exercise
Have you been paying attention to your daydreams in the past two days? (If not, see our posts from Monday and Tuesday.)
 Have you noticed recurring themes?
If you tend to go down the same path often when you daydream, that’s probably a sign that you’re either trying to work out something complex, or that perhaps you’re just trying to escape the doldrums of daily life on a regular basis. Either way, it may be worth examining those themes to see if they have some tips for you that can help you resolve something.
Now, there are all sorts of daydreams. Some of them are about things on your to-do list, your daily schedule, etc. These daydreams may be helping you to stay oriented in your daily life.
And then there are those daydreams that leave you wondering… where have you just been? What was that all about? These are the daydreams that may have some creative clues in them that you might be able to consciously use.
Does it feel funny to think about using your daydreams? It sometimes does for me, too. Yet, if we spend up to 1/3 of our waking time daydreaming, can you imagine how productive we might be if we mine those daydreams for information and then put what we find to work?
The first step to putting the insights in your daydreams to work is to notice your daydreams. If you have been doing this the last couple of days, you probably have a pretty good idea of the times and places when your mind likes to set itself free and drifts off. The next time you enter a daydream-prone period, set the intention that you will notice that your mind is starting to wander.
Then, as you begin to drift, try guiding your thoughts as little. Think of an issue, a challenge, or just something that you’d like more clarity on. Focus on it briefly – just a few seconds…then let your mind go wherever it wants. Resist the temptation to “think” the issue or topic through logically - you’ve probably already done that a number of times, anyway. Just plant the seed, and see what comes up.
Imagine that you are an outside observer to your thoughts. I know, that sounds strange…and sometimes it’s not that easy to watch your thoughts without trying to influence them. It does get easier with practice, though.
So, give it a try, see what pops up, and let us know if you have positive results. We love hearing about the amazing results people find when they just let go!
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Awareness Exercise, Imagination
We all daydream, most of us quite often during any given day. The question is, how do you react to your daydreams? Do you see them as distractions to your focused and productive brain time – as a waste of time? When you notice yourself daydreaming, do you immediately “bring yourself back to reality?”
There’s some very interesting scientific research that shows that daydreaming is much more prevalent (perhaps as much as 1/3 of our waking time), and much more productive than we’ve ever imagined.
This research suggests that daydreaming, or mind-wandering, is actually our mind’s “default state.” When we are not focused on outside stimulus, like when we’re doing tasks that require little attention, out mind naturally wanders.
That’s not too surprising, is it?
What is very interesting, though, is that the same research shows our brain is actually working harder in the areas of complex thought (like problem solving) when it’s daydreaming than when our thoughts are focused on tasks and outside stimuli.
Sounds like maybe we have access to some (internal) resources that we may be overlooking.
Just for today, let’s do an experiment:
Keep a pad near you, and pay attention to what’s going on in your mind. Without trying to influence it, just notice all the times you “disconnect” from what you’re doing and where you are.
When you’re showering, getting dressed, driving, doing laundry – any of the mundane tasks that you do without a lot of conscious thought – pay attention to what your mind is doing.
Each time your mind wanders from what’s in front of you, jot down a word or two about where it goes, unless you’re driving, of course.
We’re going to be talking about ways to harness this natural resource on our blog this week.
So, let’s start with just noticing any patterns in your daydreams – themes and recurring thoughts. You might be surprised at what you’re really doing all day.
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Awareness Exercise
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