How are you? I mean, really, how are you?
A question we could ask ourselves regularly and then spend a while answering it, honestly. Especially now that we’re approaching summer vacations and are in a hurry to get everything done.
In Finland, mid-summer is when the whole country goes on vacation. Which means, of course, that the whole world needs to be ready within the next three weeks. Which again means, that our calendars are pretty swamped for the upcoming weeks.
Whenever we’re busy being busy, it’s easy to loose track with what you’re really doing and how you’re really feeling. Yet, being conscious of both is the starting point for practicing happiness.
If we’re not aware of this, we can’t change anything and keep repeating the same old. Which is not bad, if the same old keeps you both serene and excited about your life. But if it doesn’t, there’s something to be done.
Being aware of my feelings didn’t really come naturally to me in the past. When I realized, that it’s actually the starting point for the inner shift, to become aware of what you’re doing and how you’re feeling, I needed help in practicing it consciously. What did I do?
I used reminders on my phone! On top of every hour, the alarm on my phone would go on asking: What’s up?
I do admit, that pretty soon I decreased the number of the reminders, as it was somewhat irritating to be interrupted so frequently. And, at the same time, I admit, that it was very much needed. It’s just mind-blowing how unconscious we can be of what’s really going on in our lives.
Being conscious and observant of my feelings has really changed my life. And that’s why I encourage you to test it for yourself.
Set a gentle reminder on your phone for three times a day to remind you of noticing what you’re doing and how you’re feeling.
I also urge you to use a ringtone of your liking on these reminders, cause it’s not supposed to irritate you! Rather, be a gentle nudge of becoming conscious of what’s happening.
For a long time, I had an alarm reminding me to notice how I’m feeling three times a day. So long, actually, that it now is an automatic habit. I now automatically scan how I feel many times a day and notice what I’m doing simultaneously. It’s surprisingly often, that these two don’t really have anything to do with each other. In those cases, the doing is often a trigger for an old conditioning, that’s then running the show – unnoticed.
Are those sometimes painful to notice? Yes!
Do they have any real impact in our lives? Oh, yes, yes, yes!!!
They are the moments that have the potential to change our whole life.
Consciously changing your feelings in the hurdles of everyday life is a process and embarking on such a journey is both decreasing the symptoms of burnout as well as increasing the levels of happiness. As research shows, the benefits of practicing happiness are literally manifold for all: the individual, the organization and the society!
If you’re interested in making happiness the competitive advantage in your organization and team, reach out and let’s have a chat!
Much love,
Paula
xx