Quests, Calm and a Bowl of Cherries

Life is like . . . . (fill in the blanks). Throw in the words "around the holidays" and the analogy of choice moves a few decibels up the stress scale.

Wouldn't it be grand if we could attain a certain level of fitness and never fall below the baseline. And what if we could apply that to performance, creativity and relationships?  Someone somewhere probably said the beauty and the value is in the trying (and succeeding). 

Pshaw, I'll trade a little value and a little less learning for a little bit of inner calm.

I am so not cut out to meditate. I'm fidgety, a compulsive list-maker, and so fearful of finding myself unoccupied that I shove a book in my bag even on ATM runs.

This is me, but I didn't write it. It was written by Alexandra Postman, Editor in Chief, Whole Living in her Openings column this month. I say "this month" like this is a magazine I read every month but I picked it up for the first time when this month's cover story, "Find Instant Calm," caught my attention.

So much of my day, I face more competition for my attention than I have time to give. There are things that are going well, there are things that are not and then there are just things. There is not a lot of calm.

I am on a quest for calm.

I am not the first person to be facing too much of this and too little of that - especially around the holidays - and this isn't the first time I've been here myself. I've exited funks, nipped and tucked my social media efforts and then I nipped some more. My life's been out of control and I've brought in back under control. 

I am sharing company with some of the finest. Just over the past few days, Chris Brogan shared what works for him on how to say no  and a guest writer on MichaelHyatt.com offered advice on how to clear your desk, clear your mind. Leanne Chase is "on a quest for flexibility in a rigid world" at Connecting Career and Life and I wouldn't have to look far to find more of the same.

We are one bunch of silly (rockin') people, aren't we?

So, what is life like? Some days it's a bowl of cherries, some days it's the pits and always, it's about the relationships between the cherries. And, I've been letting my relationships with the most important cherries in my life slide.

Some things are going to stay on my priority list moving into the holidays and the new year - and some things are not. Here's what's staying: my husband, my daughter, my family and friends, my health, my fitness, and my writing.

Everything else is up for grabs.

Will this be my answer to instant calm? I don't know (hence, the quest) but I am going to give it a try. If it is, I'll market it, sell it, make a million and retire to a villa in Southern Italy . . . ah, now there's the instant calm!

So, tell me, what are you doing to minimize the noise and find your focus?

Comments

[Krista Francis]

I'm with you Lisa. On a quest for calm.

[Lisa Rosendahl]

And being less busy Krista - right? Lucky me, I have a sneak peek into your thoughts :)

[Trish McFarlane]

You're reading my mind (as usual). For the last month I've felt overwhelmed with family and friend commitments, work projects, self-imposed writing deadlines, HR related deadlines from the online community, and more. Here's what I'm going to do and I hope that by putting it in black and white here, I'll hold myself accountable to stick to it:
- Continue focus on family and friends
- Continue focus in new direction at work
- Intense focus on HRevolution
- Maintain regular writing schedule
- Cut down on conferences in 2011. Only attend ones I truly believe in and where I'm going as a paid contributor. After all...it IS work.
- Ramp up Women of HR focus
- Delegate on new St. Louis SHRM chapter (GIL-SHRM)
- Eat better
- Learn to really play the guitar in 2011

[Lisa Rosendahl]

And for me, following your lead . . .

Continue focus on family and friends
Maintain regular writing schedule
Maintain regular exercise and injury-free running program
Develop social media track for 2011 MNSHRM conference that connects - focus locally
Ramp up on Women of HR - we've got a vibrant community, things to do & differences to make
Listen to Trish jam

It's all good.

[Alan Hill]

A manager I knew at Best Buy was berated by her direct report for being late to appointments with the direct report.

I knew she was adept at leading people and when you're involved with people sometimes they operate on their schedule, not a clock. It just takes time to invest in others. Unfortunately, that usually meant she was late to meetings - even though her operation ran very smoothly overall - her operation was in good, capable hands.

I told her next time the direct report complains to say 'I manage things more important than time'
So do you Lisa. You manage relationships that are more important than time.
I would guess you get 'out of calm' when you get involved more in things than involved in people.

[Steve]

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[Staffing Software Guy]

One thing that seems to help is to drink more water instead of coffee. Seriously, it makes a huge difference. Sometimes it's nice to dim the lights.

Do something good for someone else, you'll feel good about yourself. And best of all, schedule a vacation. having something to look forward to will give your mind solace at times.