Have you ever lost or misplaced your car keys? Bought groceries, then arrived home and realized you left the groceries in the store? How much money and/or time did this cost you? After these type of things happened to me a few times I started to incorporate a meditation practice of taking a few extra seconds to pay attention to my daily activities. I find that when I do things more deliberately,with attention, that I am actually more productive and creative and get things done faster. It sounds like a crazy paradox, and well, in a way, it is. But it works!
I remember one cool, fall day at a San Francisco parking garage. I stopped my car at the entrance, as directed, but failed to leave my keys in the ignition. The attendant could not, of course, move the car, so it sat there blocking the entryway until my return. Two hours later when I came back to the garage, for a split second I wondered why my car was still sitting there. Then the truth dawned on me: in spite of a huge sign, and a reminder from the attendant, I had taken my keys with me. My mind had been elsewhere; I had not been paying attention. As I paid the fine I noticed my anger arising for being so “out of it”, so disconnected from the present moment. Allowing the anger to pass and remembering to be compassionate and non-judgmental with myself helped me see the fine as a wake-up call. I realized with my returning sense of humor, that this would serve me in the future to remember to take a few extra seconds when parking my car to pay attention to where I put my keys. And it has worked. I have not paid any parking fines since.
You can apply this technique to every area of your life, whether it’s about paying attention to your keys, your wallet, purse, credit cards. The opportunites are there
every day to slow down for a few seconds and pay attention to what you are doing in any given moment. I guarantee you reap rich rewards. I would love to hear your comments.
Slow Down to Go Faster
Benefits:
Over time, as you make this a habit, you find yourself more relaxed, more present, producing higher quality work. All your relationships are enhanced because people know the difference when you are rushing through a conversation and when you are taking your time to make sure they feel heard and understood.
You spend a lot less time on searching for things you have lost and correcting mistakes The result is more time for relaxation, fun and romance, and a more productive, creative day.
Description:
The more slowly, deliberately and carefully we do something, the better the outcome. Why? because we are more present. It is this quality of PRESENCE that is at the very core of meditation. Don’t just believe me. Put this into practice.
Experiment in every arena of your life. Start with simple activities like doing the dishes, taking out the trash, driving your car. Put your keys in your pocket mindfully. Pick up your credit card and return it to your wallet deliberately. The activity doesn’t matter. What matters is the quality of your presence being mind-full, care-full and deliberate. Notice how it makes you feel. Pay attention to the quality of care you are giving the activity or the person to whom you are speaking.
Pragito’s new book is available now: Laughter, Tears, Silence:Expressive Meditations to Calm Your Mind and Open Your Heart
Laughter meditation 101 Teletraining starts in July,2010.
Practitioner Certification Trainings: Part1: July 30 – August 1st . Part 2:November 11-13.
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