Tuning into your body’s emotions is a terrific way to understand where you should be spending your time and where you shouldn’t.
We have that second brain, down in our gut, that doesn’t think but feels. We can make decisions from it if we just get quiet and sometimes ask ourselves how we feel and tap into that emotional state
I found that if I do things that make me feel good, I’m generally happier, more successful, better to be around, have more energy, and the list goes on.
So the question is, what excites me and what doesn’t?
What I’ve realized is, what excites me is basically anything that I’m present for - where I’m fully there.
The simplest way to put it - things that I’m really present for are amazing and things that I’m not tend to suck my energy, take longer, and really leave me with my cup half full.
I have what I think is a good way to simplify this and make that info a little more actionable.
Reflect on what actually excites and drains you.
Do this by looking over your schedule at the beginning of the week and at the beginning of your day.
Review your calendar, review what you think you’ll be doing. Try and set yourself up for success.
If something isn’t on the calendar just try and understand what you enjoy doing.
For example, I never used to find time for reading until I really reflected and valued what reading gives me. It brings me into the moment, it heightens my senses, and it just makes me feel amazing. I leave feeling happier, calmer, and more energetic all at the same time.
So understand what gives you that and you can start to make quicker decisions around it.
Now you’re never going to be perfect at design making. You're going to have exterior motivations; your friends, partner, your family, whoever/whatever is going to ask you to do things that you don’t want to do. Or maybe you wouldn’t necessarily do.
That’s okay. Either commitment to or don’t.
If you’re going to commit to it, be there 100%.
That means if you’re tired, put that tired feeling off and bring some energy to the table. It doesn’t have to be over the top, it can just be that you’re focused and engaged in the discussion.
If it’s an event that you don’t want to be at - maybe a dinner? Seek out someone at the table and what makes them interesting. Listen well, ask a fun question, learn something new. Practice patience, practice breathing. Enjoy the food. Be grateful that you have this opportunity. Be grateful that you’re eating with people you know.
If you don’t think you can 100% commit to being there, whether it’s a meeting or a social event, then excuse yourself and do it in an honest way.
“Hey, I find my mind is racing because I have x,y,z, to do, I’m actually going to go work on this and just excuse myself”
It can be a little socially awkward but be honest and upfront and in a positive way and it’ll get received well.
So I was thinking about this as I took Emma (my girlfriend) to the hospital for a surgery that’s going to take a few hours. I would be there for her even if the surgery was five days long, and, this isn’t really how I want to spend a Friday - the first sunny Friday in a while.
I’m a little bit ahead on work - I could go for a run, swim, read by the lake, etc… but this isn’t about me and it’s a conscious decision I’m making to support her - and guess what - I’m understanding that even if it’s not my first choice - I’m still happy to go.
And I’m going to make the most of it. See how much I can be there for Emma. See how much I can take off of her plate. Be the communicator to her family. Make it a fun experience. Get her flowers. Enjoy the process and be there entirely. Then sure, if I have the opportunity, if I want to go work or go to the gym across the street while she’s in her several hour surgery - that’s all good. But I won’t have that racing through my mind the whole time - it will naturally occur.
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