|
 |
Pharmacy |
|
|
Over
10,000 products currently online...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Journaling In The Now
Catherine Franz
Generally, people either live in the past or in the future
the majority of their day. This leaves the opportunity of
being in the present moment fleeting. It is only in our
present moment where we can experience blissfulness,
happiness, confidence, and being our authentic selves.
Journaling after the day is over or even several days later,
we both know is not being in the present moment. When we
journal in past tense, we need to close our eyes and
remember what it was like then. Usually forgetting many of
the details of that previous moment.
If you want to journal in the present moment, which in turn
will also help you live life more fully, you will need to
stop during the day and journal in those moments. Okay,
I'm hearing, "But...who has time for this? I sure don't."
I hear ya. I was exactly where you are in thought when I
first began experimenting with all this. After getting
into the swing of it though, I found the benefits exceeded
the time deprivation thinking. Benefits include walking
taller, in more self-control, stronger, and with power
because you're letting go of the burden of trying to
remember everything. This includes people to contact and
things to do. The little things people did that previously
annoyed me were easy to let go.
Journaling is a well-known way to relieve stress and
increase our personal health. Then why do we want to do it
when there is only available time? Before you leave right
now saying that I'm out of my mind, I don't have the time.
I ask for your patience. This really is not about having a
time shortage it’s about priorities. The real question is:
Do you live your life trying to catch up? On the other
hand, "Do you want to be a star in your own life?"
Let me share with just one of the ways I use this
"Journaling in the Now" technique. As a self-employed life
and business coach, I work with clients all over the world
usually by phone. Before their call comes through, I need
to be in the present moment for them, and not my own
present moment, in order to honor our relationship. This
exercise is one of the tools I use to make that transition.
Here is how I usually complete this...
Before each call, I write down what is going on in my mind
in what I call my "dump and let go" journal. In order to
not loose track of time, I use a timer and set it for 10
minutes. By dumping whatever is on my mind, I release
everything my present moment mind swirls and begin to
transfer over to my client. Sometimes I do this after
reading their notes from the previous session, sometimes
before. By the time the client called, I was already in
"their" zone.
Well, you say...you're not a coach, nor self-employed. If
you are either one of these, then you can truly relate.
Yet, it doesn't really matter, let me give you a few
additional ways you can use this same technique whether you
are a business owner, employee, unemployed, or a household
engineer. This is even a great technique for teenagers to
copy with their rolling emotional transitions.
Choose a time when you want to be in the present moment
with what you are doing or what you are about to do. For a
mother or father, this could before cooking dinner, or
before a bedtime story with your children. For an employee,
it could be before or after (I use both times) to set a
timer for 10 minutes and dump what is going in your mind.
For someone unemployed, you could use it before and after
an interview. You will find that when you are finished you
are fully in the present moment and ready for whatever
comes next.
For speakers or if you are giving a presentation, do this
same exercise 30 to 60 minutes before the time you go on.
You might think it’s not the best way to prepare, at least
I didn't think so at first, but it turned out to be
extremely beneficial for both my audience and myself. Being
in the present moment is very attractive to others.
As a member of Toastmasters, I use this same technique,
usually in my car, before going into the meetings. You can
also do this exercise right before reading. This allows
you to be full present the minute you begin reading.
Honestly, I love this exercise. It influences my day, my
experience with others, and removes stress in big ways.
For Americans, stress is 50% of the reasons why we die
before the age of 65, according to the Center for Disease
and Prevention. Changing my habit of using journaling in
the present moment has added blissfulness to my life. I am
sure it will do the same for yours. Try this exercise for
a week; I know you will be as solid as I've been.
(C) Copyright 2005, Catherine Franz.
Catherine Franz, a Business Coach, specializes in writing,
marketing and product development. Newsletters and
additional articles: http://www.abundancecenter.com
blog: http://abundance.blogs.com
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
