How busy is it inside your head?
There is a lot of “noise” coming at us from news and ads and other people’s needs, but a lot of what my patients tell me – and I experience myself – is that the competing needs and stress often comes from inside our own minds. There is a lot of advice about how to quiet the noise, and that is not a bad thing. If you have the patience (and I know some of you do from your New Years Continuations you told me about this week) to practice meditation or yoga or other brain-quieting practices, that’s wonderful for you!
I’m terrible at that.
I’ve not found a lot of success trying to “get quiet” no matter how many people have encouraged me to in the past 52 years. It’s busy and loud in here and I don’t have the patience or affinity for stillness.
Here’s what does work for me to feel calm and focused and excited: a spark.
That spark is an idea, or a goal or a focus that lights me up with possibility. That spark focuses me towards what I want, what I’m working towards, it’s an innovation or a true north amidst decisions and stressors.
I’m always working to be more resilient – to navigate change (all the stressors and noise) with intention and purpose towards a goal. That spark – whatever it may be for this day or month or year – is what I aim for in that process.
Currently, the spark in my business is The Resilience Think Tank. I hope you’ll check it out because it launches January 31st and it’s going to be a spark for all the leaders who join.
Currently, the spark in my home life is focusing on coziness – a soft place to land at the end of a busy day or busy semester or busy tour of duty for me and each of my boys.
Currently, the spark in my doctoring is prevention – taking a part of each visit to see what we can do to make the future safer and healthier.
These sparks give me focus and warmth and often they light enough of a fire to burn away the underbrush that gets onto my path.
What is a spark for you? Comment and tell me!
All my best,
Dr. G
