MAKING IT MEANINGFUL
personal mastery
Making it Meaningful
As I reflect upon the year gone by, and think of a universal wish for all – here is what I came up with …… some thoughts are those that appealed to me from what I googled and some have my own flavor.
My wish to each one of you is to pick at least one of them each month and share back your experiences – together we can create magic!!!
01.
10 Day Digital Detox
You don’t need to go anywhere or do anything – just silence your fingers drop your phone, your iPad, your smartphone everything for just 10 days – connect with yourself, with nature with people you work with and live with connecting from your heart to theirs, not on WhatsApp or SMS or even the phone – connect deeper and connect with undivided attention.
02.
Carve out Quality Time for Yourself
Take time for yourself. Make sure when you are feeling exhausted, over-stretched or over-committed, that you actually say, “enough” and take some quality time just for YOU. Even if you take 10 minutes to pray, meditate or take a walk, you will find you can make conscious choices about how you can make better use of your time for more energy and focus.
03.
Prayer & Reflection
Spend some daily time in prayer. It’s truly the time for me when I am talking to my Higher Energy – sharing about what is happening in my life and what direction I would like my life to take – seeking His guidance and grace and knowing for a certainty that whatever happens will be for my higher good.
04.
Exchange Goodness
Throw an exchange party with your friends. We tend to hoard so much in our cupboards and at our homes. Go through all your old jewellery, shoes, accessories and clothes. Pick out things that you’ve outgrown because it no longer feels like you. Invite your friends to do the same, come together and have an exchange party. Everyone can leave with a gift or two and no one has to spend a rupee. If you find that you don’t need it – have a charity box at the entrance for people to drop things that can then be shared with those who may find it useful – don’t take back something you don’t need – only to hoard it for next years exchange party – My party is a brunch on February 12, 2017 …. Let me know if you would like to be invited.
05.
Create an Inspiration Tree
You can use an outdoor tree if you live in a community that has a garden, a strong indoor plant (I use my Frangipani), or create one of the bamboo branches, wood or anything that touches your imagination. Make ornaments that have inspirational messages such as peace, health, love, and joy, or you can paste pictures on them — for example, paste a cutout picture of a well-toned flexible healthy body, or a photo of a vacation trip you desire. The images you put up should bring a smile to every passerby.
06.
Express Gratitude
Make a gratitude jar & tree and then share it with someone. Think of the people in your life for whom you are grateful. For each person place a coin in a jar. Name what you are grateful for. For example, I place a coin in the jar for my friend Monica who always encourages me to take risks. Put the coin in the jar and the note on the tree When you are finished, take the money and give it to charity, a friend in need or someone who will appreciate it. Know that you are spreading love and appreciation out in the world.
07.
Renew an Old Connection
Ever so often, we find that we have let our busy lives and our to-do lists take over and we do not even find the time to connect with old friends and family – we feel deeply for them but do nothing about it – and sometimes its too late. Pick up the phone, drop an email or better still go out and meet an old friend – the joy you feel will nourish both you and the other. I am determined to take the time and spend quality time with one friend every month.
08.
Establish Cut Off Times
We are always available. This isn’t as appealing as you may think – Learn to set boundaries – just like your computer takes time to reboot – so does your mind. You don’t have to respond to the email as soon as it hits your mailbox or answer the phone every time it rings or worst still send a smiley for every comment on the many WhatsApp groups you are on. At the end of the workday, we rush home. It is only a matter of time before work at home begins, be it household chores, an urgent rush to go to the gym, taking up children’s homework, planning a social evening, or worst still getting back to work at home (on a call or an urgent presentation or clearing the emails yet again) But this kind of attitude, that the day is too short, and that we need to rush to get everything done, is not helping us feel happier, or be more productive. I am not saying forgo chores, I am suggesting that we establish cut off times for work at work and work at home, create some spaciousness allow yourself to breathe and inculcate a sense of gratefulness for a day well spent.
09.
Stop Talking
If you want to do something with the core of your being, stop talking about it (or writing it down on a to-do list). Period. Talking incessantly about the things we want to do — whether simple tasks on our agenda or loftier resolutions — just deviates us from our goals. By contrast, the more you are in the moment, the further you will be able to reach. Talk less and do more. Do it for yourself because your opinion (and really your life) is the one that truly matters.
10.
Random Act of Kindness
It is great to be kind to friends and family, but how about doing something for a complete stranger? Help someone cross the street or buy the person next to you in line a coffee, take a glass of cold water for your security guard, there are so many things one can do – pick a random act of kindness daily and Practice looking at each person you meet as though you were God in disguise, and see the divinity in each one of them.
11.
Take an Annual Vacation
See new places, take the time to connect with yourself and with nature, spend undivided time with your family and friends and most importantly when on vacation leave all gadget at home. Give them a break too. I am off to Bali in May with my family.
12.
Slow Down
In today’s age of constant communication, the decision to do more all the time can sometimes do us more harm than good. Consider putting your ambition on hold. Sometimes what we really need to do good work, to make the changes we want and need to make in our lives, is to give ourselves the space for our creativity, to breathe and for growth to actually happen. Make a conscious decision to slow down your life by having shorter to-do lists and greater discipline to do the things that add purpose to your life.
Here’s wishing you and your family a meaningful year ahead!!!
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