How do you take a break to re-focus your mindset on the value of the present moment before you?
The work week was a little hectic these past few days, and I was feeling overwhelmed by the to-do list pressing down. One of the days this week was sunny and in the high mid-60’s. I decided to take a break that afternoon between meetings and go for a brief walk around the office campus.
The walkway meanders through a section of trees and blooming flowers while a rock-bed creek cuts through the area and feeds into a small pond. This short section of campus feels like a peace garden of calm. I took pictures of the flowers along the path while breathing in the spring air. The moment was the break I needed to help me re-focus my energy and re-align my tasks back to a realistic perspective.
The Value of the Pause
The value of the pause helps you reset your focus in the present moment. Taking a break helps re-settle the experience in front of you into a just-right perspective rather than leaning toward either extreme of exaggeration or minimization.
The time-out does not have to be an extended period. Just taking several minutes to pause, breathe deeply, meditate, or go for a short walk outside of your routine does wonders for refreshing the mindset. Leverage the pause to help you stay rooted in the present.
In what ways do you take a break to help you be fully engaged in the present?
The Value of the Present
We can refresh, reset, re-focus, remember, and recharge throughout the day. But there is no do-over of the present moment. There is no reboot or restart. We have one shot at life here and now. The present moment happens and then leaves, gone forever. Our response is to embrace and dance with the holy now as it happens.
The challenge is to be fully engaged right here, right now even if it is not the experience or place we want to be. We can change, grow, move, or shift our mindset and attitude, all within the here and now. What is important is that we receive the present moment and keep going into the next. No returns allowed.
How are you living right now? How do you want to live in the next moment? Who or what will help you get there?
I welcome your comments.
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