I often get teased by my friends for my “gretchenisms,” as they fondly call them; short phrases that capture what I’m thinking about in a way that I can share them with others. I thought it was fitting that I begin 2012, and my blog, with one of them that I use all of the time (plus my friend and awesome brand manager, Chelsea, turned it into an image that’s super fun to look at).
First introduced as a “ground rule” with some of my larger organizational groups, this phrase quickly became the only ground rule that I use in corporate settings because it’s all that really matters when it comes to adult learning (because we forgot it along the way). Then, it evolved into a life rule that I use for myself as well as with my private coaching clients.
This concept of being fully present, or being fully absent, has had the single greatest impact on individual and organizational well-being of any of the tools and techniques that I’ve got in my toolbox. Without it, we are listening to so many radio stations at the same time that all we hear is bits and pieces and a lot of static. Have you done a conference call lately where you’re listening, working on your laptop and texting all at the same time? How’s that working for you?
Imagine, if for 2012, you could make the promise to yourself that when you choose to show up you will do so and be fully present, and if you cannot commit to being fully present then you will choose to be fully absent? What might happen then? What might fall off your list altogether? What might benefit greatly from your full attention? Consider beginning now by making a list of things you are not going to do. Create the “Not Going to Do List,” and see what it feels like to free yourself up from the things that you were only going to pay partial attention to anyway.
As you practice being fully attuned to what you are doing you will experience an immediate boost. Practice a bit and notice what happens to how much of yourself you’ve got to invest – this is personal currency and we are going to be talking about it a lot. Why settle for a mediocre rate of return as it relates to your life?
Recent Comments