“In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.” Deepak Chopra
I have noticed that the words chaos and chaotic are being used a lot at the moment by a variety of people. Some people tell me that their life is chaotic when I ask them how things are. They use the word to describe how busy they are in life and the volume of their workload, demands and priorities etc.
When things are uncertain and changing rapidly, it can create fear and anxiety for many people and businesses.it can lead people to feel confused and disorientated. We all have to seek to be patient and calm in the face of chaos.
Even the use of the words chaos and chaotic has the ability to fire up negative feelings, thinking and images within people. This is a lesson to us all about the need for care over the words we use. Words can have such power and influence on us.
It’s true that modern life can get so busy that it can be very challenging to stay calm and relaxed. We have been conditioned to think in terms of instant gratification and results.
Today’s fast paced society allows us access to so much information and resources and can leave us feeling overwhelmed. The advancement in phones, laptops and tablets can make us feel like we are always “switched on and connected.”
There is also a new phenomenon “FOMO” (fear of missing out) which keeps many people spending lots of time connected to social media feeds to catch up on all their connections latest news. It means that our minds struggle to get a rest and can feel busy and cluttered.
The demands of life can mean that we have limited patience to let things unfold naturally. Our Instant gratification society can also lead to people not really appreciating fully their life as they move quickly from one event and experience to the next.
It can mean that people don’t really ground their goals and allow them to take root. They can fail to appreciate all that they have and spend time thinking about what they lack and what’s missing in their life. It’s very easy to set goals and then become so focused on the destination and outcome that we fail to enjoy the process and journey of pursuing and achieving them.
Here are a few thoughts on things that can help us to stay calm and centred:
Reduce the amount of time spent on technology
Have a cut off time for when you stop checking your phone, e mails and social media feeds. Consider a technology detox and give yourself a technology free day (or weekend) every week.
Have greater acceptance
Accept things as they are and stop trying to rewrite history. This means that you can focus on being more present and consider options and solutions to resolve challenges.
Externalise thoughts
Get into the habit of doing a mind dump of things that are worrying you or causing anxiety. Regularly record your reflections, lessons, desires and insights in a journal or notebook.
Create some quiet time – no distractions
Schedule some daily time where you are alone with your thoughts. It can be just 5 or 10 minutes. This will enable you to gain valuable insights and allow your inner wisdom to rise to the surface.
Less is more
Plan to focus on fewer things. Get rid of unwanted items and clutter. Reduce the number of goals and tasks that you’re responsible for. Let goals take root rather than give them superficial attention.
Reduce the amount of news that you watch or listen to
Negative news stories can have a detrimental effect on our mood and energy levels. Reduce the time you spend catching up on news stories. Read a book or watch something uplifting instead.
This week, why not take a few moments out to reflect and consider what action steps you can take to bring greater calmness to your world.
To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk