Enjoy the Process of Life

Today is the first day of a new season and is often a good time for that spring clean, re-adjustment of a new year’s resolutions or even start to make plans for the next season, summer. Is today the day to make a change or to start something new?

Life is always calling. There are bills to pay, family needs, work deadlines and friends to support. Oh! Almost forgot the Facebook and Instagram that always seems to summon.

Spring to me is a potential for many things to cultivate and change. It is also one of my favorite times to take photos and capture the incredible colours developing, post them on social media, and share with the world the beauty that is about to blossom that I get to see, that I choose to see.

FascinatingLives concentrates on the wishes and wants, stories and lives, challenges and personalities of clients and reminds me that all too often we want something to happen so badly that we forget to enjoy or learn along the way from the process, the process of life.

Like anything in life, some work and commit are vital to the process and the practice and commitment to get to where we want. So today I may pass on that impulse to take another photo and post it. Instead, I might choose to just let that moment be mine and be with me.

Running late, cancelling coffees, don’t have enough time? Not getting what you want done? Overworked and stressed?

There is enough time.

Tips to Enjoy the Process of Life and to Just Make Time:

1. Enjoy that First Sip

My mother always had tea in the morning, coffee at lunch or sherry at dinner and she repeatedly said after the first sip, “ahhhhhhhh, that’s a good cup of tea”. It drove me crazy! Every single day! Why and how could you possibly say that when it is the same everyday? But of course… now I get it. Its not about the taste at all. It’s about being present and thoroughly enjoying and observing the characteristics of that moment.

2. Take A Deep Breath

When stressed, rushed, frustrated or experiencing unpleasant thoughts……. Just STOP!  Take a deep breath and enjoy every second of it. It is a type of mini meditation which focuses on the breath and changes the overwhelming thought to one that is about something so beautiful and basic; breathing. Like a leaf in a river or a cloud in the sky, those thoughts may return. Next time however, they can be managed.

3. Put Your Phone away

Not much needs to be said here but the obvious; DO this more and your visit or your time will be much better enjoyed and without distraction.

4. Do a Daily Walking Meditation

My mindful course introduced me to this other type of mini meditation. When purposefully walking with intention, thoughts are again controlled by the observation of what is seen, felt, smelled or heard, sometimes ever how the air tastes. Soak it up. Stress is reduced, blood circulation increased and overall health can be improved.

5. Be Clear on Your Passion

Find the WHY in life. What is the passion that makes the heart pitter patter? What gives great gratification and pleasure in day to day activities? I find that when ideas and thoughts come from deep inside, there is less tendency to be stressed or hurried as the awareness of time may not even come into play because I am enjoying it so much!

6. Let Go of Internal Conflict

Struggling with priorities and scheduling can cause mental anguish. How long should a meeting be, are things good enough, what is the reasoning behind something, can it be accomplished, that shouldn’t have happened and so on. Guess what? I will say it again……STOP! No more inner struggles and conflict! These self affirmations are a daily habit for me to create positive thoughts with my life process: I am doing the best that I can and that is amazing, I am going to have a great day, I can do this really well, this is going to work, it will be OK. The results are self dependence, self confidence and self esteem.

7. Create Discipline and Control

Lack of control of thoughts, judgments and time, feeling at the mercy of outside demands and energies can be frustrating. Practice and decide in the morning that sometimes it is OK to just say no, alter your routine, and take one thing off your to do list.

8. Forgive

If you are holding bitterness towards another because of something in the past, elect to forgive and move on. It was their fault and allowing it to affect you today is yours.

Jot these points down on sticky notes and put them on your bathroom mirror as a reminder of some of the little steps you can take.

Now is the time to be in the moment and embrace acceptance of whatever is happening around you.