There are so many ways to measure and so many things to measure.
We get so wrapped up in trying to figure them out.
Ultimately, I think it may be simpler than we realize...
How happy and energized are you to get out of bed?
How easily do you fall asleep?
I pay attention to those two moments, because they are so very telling.
When getting out of bed is difficult... (unless I am just running on too little sleep), it means that my mind is not right.
I am allowing the problems and opportunities of the day to own me, versus the other way around.
I am not addressing things that need to be addressed, or I am afraid of the consequences. Neither of which is good.
If I am not getting out of bed energized - it means I need to strengthen my mindset, changing my behavior or change my environment. But, changing my environment is never a short term choice. Not because it may not make sense to do so - but because I OWN my energy and my happiness, and I EXPECT to manage my mind and my behavior to be strong enough and wise enough to make great situations out of any mediocre situation.
Unless I was in a toxic environment, where rational and constructive efforts are met with irrational confrontation... my environment is not my problem.
And, its not.
My environment is made up of people motivated to the right thing.
My position is such that I have the authority to modify things that don't make sense.
The solution, as it most often does, resides with me - with how I choose to SEE the day, with how I choose to FACE the day, with how I choose to ACT in the day.
And, importantly, with what conversations I choose to take on, with what level of candor I choose to engage, with what patience and open mindedness am I willing to consider the responses and feedback, with what level of success am I able to suppress my ego, to find the best path forward.
And, with what level of courage and discomfort am I willing to press forward for the right solutions.
Change often takes not only courage but the willingness to tolerate discomfort... emotional discomfort that sometimes feels physical as well.
And, leadership takes energy.
Leadership of yourself above all else...
When I lay down to sleep at night.... how easily does my mind clear enough for it to rest?
Fortunately, I sleep like bear or like a baby.... sleep is seldom my issue. It's getting out of bed that is a challenge on occasion.
TWO MOMENTS of the day to notice, to dissect, to understand...
TWO MOMENTS that deserve our attention...
And, that should challenge our mind and our behavior until they are both where they ought to be...
And, life is fluid... one day is different than the next.
Our level of harmony is always present, but at those two points, when we lay ourselves down to rest and when we open our eyes
our minds are balanced between the weight of our perceived tasks and the strength of our gratitude...
Maybe that is why touch and a warm hug feel so very perfect and necessary when we lay down and first thing in the morning... They are reinforcing our gratitude... they are reminding us of our love and our strength... to take on whatever challenge needs to be taken on that day...
It is like the scales of justice... it is the scale of harmony... with some blindfolded beautiful sculpted soul holding your gratitude and your clarity on one hand and your ambition and your reality in the other...
Be mindful of the scale of harmony...
Be aware of your energy...
A friend of mine said the other day, "Replace EXPECTATION with GRATITUDE" or something like that... That does take from one side of the scale and load up the other...
Life is a balancing act...
In every moment...
Some moments, some days it works so well... others we need to regroup.
Focus on those two moments of the day, and see what you see...
And, tweak your mind...
in harmony,
Nestor