| I was travelling on the Metro in Washington DC | | | | enough to make some sense of all the stimuli that |
| when a young woman soldier sat down next to | | | | bombard us on a regular basis. Stopping the |
| me. She attracted my attention because she | | | | busyness can be a catalyst for connecting |
| seemed to be close in age to my daughters. | | | | seemingly random and unrelated thoughts, |
| Settling into her seat, she pulled a package of | | | | creating insights and ideas. Inspirations can spring |
| origami paper from her army backpack and | | | | from these off-line moments that elevate our |
| carefully chose a square. From amongst the | | | | imagination and let us create possibilities. |
| many vibrant colours she selected white, in spite | | | | What simple steps could you take to refresh and |
| of my telepathic requests for lime green or | | | | renew yourself in the midst of a busy day? |
| eggplant purple. White would have to do. The first | | | | IDEAS YOU CAN USE |
| fold turned the square into a triangle, and was | | | | Create a habit that helps you easily step out of |
| followed by many more precise movements, all | | | | your busyness. Figure out what works best for |
| thoughtfully executed. I watched in fascination as | | | | you, whether it's a walk, a strenuous session at |
| she serenely folded, creased and unfolded her | | | | the gym or daydreaming at your desk. Make it a |
| square of paper. In fact I was so intent I almost | | | | priority to have a regular method of disconnecting |
| missed my stop. At the last moment, as I | | | | that allows your mind to wander. The trick is to |
| scrambled to exit the train, I asked her what it | | | | make it a habit, something you simply can't do |
| was going to become. With a shy smile she told | | | | without. And that may mean you have to start |
| me "A frog." | | | | by scheduling it into your calendar and making a |
| As I continued my day she remained in my | | | | pact with yourself to keep your commitment no |
| thoughts. My practical side wanted to know how | | | | matter what. |
| one learns to see a frog in a 4 by 4 inch square | | | | Find the value to create the motivation One of |
| of paper while my reflective side was captivated | | | | the best motivators for a new behaviour is a real |
| by the meditative nature of her actions. Carefully, | | | | belief in the value of the change you are making. |
| rhythmically and intently she folded and turned the | | | | If we believe that the behaviour will lead to |
| paper over and over, oblivious to the crowded | | | | outcomes we value we can make significant |
| train. And as I became immersed in her actions, I | | | | changes. What price would you place on |
| too, became lost to my surroundings. But what | | | | decreasing the stress in your life? Would you be |
| stayed with me, was the calming effect of | | | | willing to learn a new technique such as meditation |
| watching her do something as simple as fold a | | | | if you could be convinced of the benefits? |
| piece of white paper. I was surprisingly refreshed | | | | There is solid evidence to show that meditation |
| and renewed - the equivalent of a mental spa on | | | | shifts brain activity to different areas of the |
| a crowded Metro train. | | | | cortex - brain waves in the stress-prone right |
| We all talk about how busy, frantic and crowded | | | | frontal cortex move to the calmer left frontal |
| with urgency our lives have become and I am | | | | cortex. This mental shift decreases the negative |
| sure we'd all leap at the chance to find a few | | | | effects of stress, mild depression and anxiety. |
| moments of peace and quiet each day. So what | | | | Creating a map of cause and effect, coupled with |
| stops us? Why do so many of us feel | | | | a valued outcome, can be a powerful motivator. |
| impoverished when it comes to contentment and | | | | What would it be worth if you could create a new |
| tranquility? Following my experience on the Metro | | | | habit that allows you to achieve contentment and |
| I have given a lot of thought to why we crave | | | | tranquility each day? |
| more balance and quiet moments and yet our | | | | Challenge your assumptions about your work |
| actions are just the opposite. | | | | Michael Bungay Stanier has a wonderful way of |
| If you think I've found the answer, I'm about to | | | | looking at work - it's either bad work, good work |
| disappoint. I haven't. I'm beginning to think that the | | | | or great work. Bad work is a waste of time, |
| reason might have more to do with each of us | | | | energy and life; good work is the familiar, useful |
| as individuals than it does with anything that's out | | | | and productive work you do and do well and |
| there - our boss, the company culture, or family | | | | great work is the work that matters. It inspires, |
| obligations. Just as we find the time to pick up the | | | | stretches and provokes you. What's your great |
| kids from daycare, go to meetings, read our email | | | | work and how could you get more of it in your |
| or brush our teeth, it's possible to take a break | | | | life? What are you doing that's good work which |
| from the action and simply let go of our thoughts | | | | someone else could do? Which aspects of your |
| and drift along, even for a few minutes. And like | | | | good work could you turn into great work by |
| those activities, we need to make it a habit for it | | | | using your imagination and creativity? Would doing |
| to take root. We need to create a sense of | | | | more great work and less good work help you |
| urgency around disconnecting and letting our | | | | find more fulfillment and that elusive nirvana - |
| thoughts take us where they may. Call it | | | | balance? |
| meditation, reverie or daydreaming or whatever | | | | Do something unexpected and challenge your |
| works for you. | | | | team to daydream every day; encourage them |
| If you need 'permission', you will be reassured to | | | | to close their eyes and see where their amazing |
| know that daydreaming is one of the best | | | | imaginations might take them. Make slowing down |
| sources of creativity and innovation. When a | | | | to see the connections and really hear our |
| group of researchers investigated where and | | | | thoughts a priority. What ideas are we missing |
| when people got their best ideas many of the | | | | because we are too busy to notice them? |
| answers were activities that help us slow down | | | | |