What Do You Want?
I can hardly believe it ... today is the last day of November. There's only one more month left in 2022. It always baffles me that sitting in a "waiting room" somewhere can feel like time is passing so slowly while at the same time almost a whole year has just flown by! I guess I'd better dive into this issue of The Care.
So, what DO you want? (What do YOU want?) Either way I ask it, I've often found that most people hesitate and stutter over their answers. As the Mindful Maven, I find that the best way to approach this is to fully settle into the "now". It's actually fairly simple. Notice where you are in your life. Tap into your self-awareness and identify your current situation or circumstances.
For example:
How is your health? Are you struggling with metabolic issues, like pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic indigestion, or lots of aches and pains, especially in your joints?
What are your finances like? Do you have a budget or do you have a way of keeping track of your money?
What's your social circle like? Do you have some supportive friends on whom you can rely and who depend on you?
What are your family relationships like?
Are you feeling spiritually nourished or in a spiritual desert?
Does your environment or surroundings uplift you or bring you down?
How is work going?
I wouldn't recommend taking all of these parts of your life into consideration at the same time! Pick one area and try this:
Set aside some special time to do it. I recommend at least 30 minutes.
Start by sitting quietly with pen/notebook and pen at hand.
Allow yourself to be totally in the present. You can do this by feeling your body as it makes contact with wherever you are sitting. Noticing your breathing and watching the air go in and out will ground you, too.
Once you feel like you are here, start describing (writing down) whichever area is getting your attention. See if there are certain details that make you feel either uplifted or discouraged.
Create a plan to take steps to hang on to what makes you feel good and to "deal" with what doesn't.
By getting honest with yourself and staying present with what is, you can start to easily identify what you want. Once you realize the areas that aren't quite the way you like them to be, you can begin to envision your picture of a more desirable outcome. This leads you to creating the steps to achieve that. You might start eating more vegetables or create a budget. Maybe it's time to get in touch with an old friend with whom you've been out of touch or have a heart-to-heart with a family member. You might need to do a little de-cluttering around your home or reassess your attitude around work or even if it's what you want to continue doing. Remember, it all starts with being in the "now", and, as always, be care-full.
Do you know when it's a good time to think about having a coach to help you sort things out? If you're wondering at all, then the answer is now. Any other response just doesn't make sense and you're in luck. I'm expanding my coaching and taking on a few more clients. If you feel like you need some support, after the last few years especially, or you're just curious, contact me for a complementary session. You'll be glad you did.
Happy Healthy Habit Hump Day,
