A close friend, an exceptional executive coach, recently expressed her desire to lead a more intentional and dynamic life. Intrigued, I asked her to elaborate on what this meant for her. She shared that it involved doing more of the activities she loves. For her, that’s attending live music events, immersing herself in nature, caring for animals, and creating culinary masterpieces.
A week later, on a Friday evening, I unexpectedly found myself at Home Depot, a huge home improvement supply store. Surprisingly content and even excited, I strolled through the nearly empty aisles, surrounded by towering merchandise, with upbeat pop music providing a backdrop throughout the store.
Recalling my friend’s quest for a dynamic life, I playfully pondered, “Is this Home Depot escapade on a Friday night considered dynamic living?” The answer, at that moment, was a resounding “Yes, and it’s this very moment that matters. This very moment is the only one I have.” Immersed in the experience of acquiring shelves to enhance the order and aesthetics of my home, I found appreciation in that moment – I was happy, content.
Shopping for shelves is not extraordinary, nor is it generally considered fun. However, by allowing myself to pay more attention to the moment at hand, to appreciate elements of the experience, I transformed the ordinary into extraordinary. I appreciated the music, the options in the store, the employees and other shoppers. Gratitude of the simple elements made it extraordinary.
What does “living a dynamic life” mean to you?
Harvard research suggests that our happiness is less dependent on the activity itself and more on where our mind is during the activity. The study emphasizes that a focused mind tends to be a happier one and reveals that, on average, we are not fully present about 47% of the time. Bringing our attention to even the simplest, routine activities can amplify happiness and infuse life with dynamism.
“Appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder and even ecstasy, however stale these experiences may have become to others.” Abraham Maslow
Give it a Try!
Consciously direct your awareness to the moment at hand. While brushing your teeth, savor the taste of the toothpaste, feel the water in your mouth, and hear the brush against your teeth. When engaged in conversation with a colleague or loved one, listen wholeheartedly, being mindful of when your thoughts wander – a natural occurrence – and gently guide them back to the conversation. Even in mundane tasks like washing dishes, immerse yourself in the warmth of the water, appreciate the scent of the soap, and listen to the sounds around you. And if you happen to find yourself wandering the aisles of a department store on a Friday night, why not sing along with the Muzak?
May you infuse dynamism into your life through the simple awareness of everyday living!
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To learn more:
- Workshops for you and your Organization
- Schedule a free 20-minute Chat with Terre Passero, founder of Mindful Stress Management
- YouTube for guided mindfulness practices and talks about stress, the brain, and the body
[…] Mindfully engaging in daily mundane activities is vital to your spiritual well being. Instead of living on autopilot, put all your senses and attention into every little thing you do. That’s being in the present moment. […]