As I left you last, I was taking time to reflect on things in order to make solid decisions about my next projects. Here is where I landed: Always make time for reflection.
What a liberating, peaceful opportunity to flow through life smoothly. Many days can feel like you’re constantly riding the Forbidden Journey at Universal Studios from the moment the sun comes up until you flop into bed at night. I do love a good rollercoaster every now and again (especially a Harry Potter one), but as a general rule I prefer my time to be spent exploring Diagon Alley with the occasional adventure ride mixed in. Always moving, but taking it all in as I go and hopping into Honeyduke’s for a sweet treat every now and again.
I found that “being still” can be one of the most difficult tasks of the day. It requires you to carve out time. It defies the societal norm of always being busy in order to be productive…a norm that really needs revamping, in my humble opinion. And it requires you to “feel,” and to manage those feelings as well. Not everyone is willing to do that. It’s quite logical, really. If you’re busy all the time, you can push past all that emotion and just “do.”
I can understand the allure of that; however, I have been pleasantly reminded of one of the greatest places to visit on Earth. The quiet corners of my mind. It was a little dusty in there, and a couple of things were in need of repair. Making the time to get that put in order proved to be invaluable. It turns out that those quiet corners are where the greatest ideas are hiding. Not just fleeting thoughts of ideas, but full, organized maps containing the steps toward fulfilling goals set long ago.
And although those goals were set in a different time, a different mindset, the process of reflection has breathed new life into them, given them structure and purpose, new twists, and (in some cases) entire makeovers.
Being intentional, being present, being mindful…being reflective…you always hear that this is important. I used to only take it to the extent that I would “think” about things on a slightly deeper level when I had a moment or two. I have a suspicion that this is the case for many others as well. What else is there to do, really? Reflection = Thinking about things.
I have come to find that there is so much more to it.
Perhaps these ideas for what to reflect on will give it a bit more purpose. They certainly did for me.
- recognize how much is “too much” and stop taking on more than you can handle
- connect with nature
- surround yourself with people who make you happy
- focus on what you have rather than on what you don’t have
- limit the number of “other people’s problems” you take on
- be careful to not overanalyze situations that haven’t even happened yet
- be present in the moment (this takes work, but it is both important and worth it)
- let go of grudges and anger
- recognize when you are passing judgment on someone based on something from your own past and give that person the ability to shine as their own unique self
- focus on your own strengths and build off them
- recognize when you are complaining and change the rhetoric
- practice genuine gratitude
I am looking forward to creating the things I found waiting patiently within the quiet corners of my mind. Thank you for always letting me share them with you <3.
Hillary Danaher 