The Gift of Full Attention

In today's world of technology we often slide into the slippery slope of too much multitasking,  not enough granting of our full attention. Paying attention means consciously making good choices to focus solely on the task at hand.

Being a single-tasker can bring lots of pleasure to your day as well as prevent accidents, misunderstandings and mistakes.

Here is a list of things to consider not doing:

• Driving and talking on the cell phone
• Reading email and eating
• Playing with your children and talking on the phone
• Working with a client or on an assignment and checking email or text messages
• Reading emails while we are on the phone (other than while being "on hold" or collaborating on the e-mail)
• Walking the dog and talking on the cell phone

Being fully present in many of your daily actions is a gift. Give your gift of full attention to the things that count.


This is an earlier post from my other blog - Terrys Thinking. You might also enjoy my last post - Enjoy the Present!

Enjoy the Present

The present is today. Every day, find a way to enjoy something in each day. By focusing on the now, not the past or the future, you will be truly living.

Look at what is working.
Explore what makes you comfortable.
Examine and reflect on what is working in your life.
Remember what makes you smile.
Don't forget to laugh.

Enjoy your present. It's the best!

Change takes Courage

Change is hard, change is never easy. The only thing constant of course is CHANGE.

Charles Kettering who was an American electrical engineer and manufacturer in the late 1900's said "The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress".

Goethe, the German poet and dramatist said "Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for change".

Given the insight of the ages, it is helpful to understand the steps involved in change. First step is problem recognition. Sometimes problems just arrive and hit us on the head. Other times, a nagging feeling gives us a sense of things to come.

The second thing to do when examining change is to identify the causes. What exactly caused this? Sometimes the cause is simple, other times a complex series of events created the change. The third step is going through the change. Change, when possible, is most often most comfortable when we implement it ourselves. Often case this is not what happens. Change happens then we change. Finally we need to evaluate the changes we have undertaken.

Change is a laboratory for self and organizational growth. Although we may fear it, it is best to embrace it and learn from it. Change is hard, change takes work but in the end we grow.

This is a best of post from 2007

Muddled and Stuck?

Sometimes we are just stuck. Like stuck in the mire of things. We don't know which way to go. Just like in nature, it can happen within ourselves.

Being "muddled in the middle" is uncomfortable and irritating. It makes us cranky and confused. After all, being muddled, is not a nice place to be.

Getting unstuck takes time. Sometimes it takes getting a new attitude or perspective.

Here are some strategies:

Strategy 1 - Realize it takes time to get unstuck, time has to pass.

Strategy 2 - Forgive yourself for being in the middle. Stop fussing and just be.

Strategy 3 - Watch out for procrastination distractions. Know what your usual procrastination activities are and limit them. Too much time spent procrastinating will prolong your muddled time.

Strategy 4 - Make time for fun. Muddled time requires "funouts" - a "funout" is like a timeout but instead of being a time of punishment it is time spent having fun.

Strategy 5 - Don't go it alone. Talk to a trusted friend or your coach about being in the middle. Just the act of talking about it may help you pass well though this stage of life.

If you are in the middle of the muddle, what advice do you have to share?

This is a best of post from 2009