Author: sgchangeagent

As this year quickly moves to a close, it’s more critical now than ever to step into mindfulness. And embrace the now.

New opportunities, new things to sell, new conversations with clients, prospects, friends and even strangers who could become friends. Deeper and more meaningful discussions with those in my core have been some of the most encouraging things that came out of one of the most challenging year for so many of us.

Here are three action items to meditate on as your prepare your manifesto for success in 2021.

Number 1. Write down everything you accomplished in 2020 in your professional world. When I started reflecting on each month of this past year, I became very proud of what I accomplished with my team. On the positive changes that I was able to bring to my company. On my own growth in emotional intelligence and self awareness.

Number 2. Write down everything you accomplished in your personal space in 2020. I hold a special memory for the travels that I made to one of my favorite cities, NYC during the first quarter of 2020. I’m blessed to finish the year with my son in a special place to celebrate the holidays, Copper Mountain. I moved to a new downtown high rise. Met new people. Explored new local places. Focused on my fitness journey and even lost another 10 pounds!

Number 3. Reflect on your top 3 vital needs from 2020 and start identifying your top 3 for 2021. I went into 2020 with variety of experiences related to travel as one of my core vital needs. I quickly realized once travel was halted, I needed to shift that vital need to variety of experiences tied to learning new things. I focused on obtaining my Modern Classroom Teacher and IT Security Fundamentals certifications. I got involved in understanding social injustice and privilege. I enhanced my yoga practice and even created my own soulful flow with a music soundtrack on Spotify. Once you know what these vital needs are, you can start to plan action items, things to do that align with your vital needs.

These three tips will be helpful for those of us who have shifted to a work from home or even hybrid workspace. When you reflect on your accomplishments in both your professional and personal space, it will help you stay grounded in why you do what you do. This, in turn, will help you build your own business plan for life for 2021.

#namasteforwardready

It’s been said that a picture speaks a thousand words. Usually I write first and choose a picture after the written words. Today I sit in silence as I reflect on my interpretation of this amazing photo.

Authenticity comes to my mind here. Finding a space to sit and reflect when feeling anger or uncertainly. Being real with your own emotions and being ok admitting to feeling upset, unheard, scared or hurt. Basking in the sunlight of your own happiness as it shines through the trees.

During leadership workshops, we talk about taking time to sit on the rock. To observe yourself. To go back to what’s in the heart during tough conversations. To be real with yourself. To never stop learning and growing as an individual.

During yoga practice, we are taught to find inner calm. To focus and be mindful. In the moment. To move with our breathe. To flow with the practice.

The rocks here provide a calmness that moves beyond the woods and off the yoga mat. Into the world where we connect with others. Where we can build foundations that start relationships. Ones that matter.

The water represents a beautiful flow of energy associated with life. Staying open to new experiences, new people that may ebb and flow through our lives. For a day, a reason, a season and sometimes forever.

Here’s to finding your rock, new beginnings, getting to your edge and coming out strong on the other side.

#namasteauthenticandrealtomyself

I’m walking the path to peace. It’s a beautiful and rocky path that twists and turns with unexpected challenges, unexpected words to affirmation, joy and sorrows.

The ability to stop along the path. Sit in the beauty and in the discomfort is a part of the journey. Be in the moment. Listen to the sounds and words around you. The journey to feeling grateful for something every single day.

My corporate space and my yoga world came together at a intersection on my path yesterday in a beautiful way. I received a message from our leader with an amazing quote of gratitude before wrapping up for Thanksgiving holiday. After work, I decided to take a relaxing yin and restorative yoga practice. And guess what, our instructor closed our practice with the same quote!

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” -Melody Beattie

I’m grateful for the growth I’ve experienced this year. For the continued peace I find each day and for the purpose of my tomorrow. #namastegrounded

Anxiety is real. When I learned that anxiety is created within by excessively worrying about the future, I wanted to learn more. To help all of us dealing with the collective trauma of this year.

We can only control how we react to situations out of our control. This year has been the ultimate test for everyone as the pandemic has forever changed the way we work and play.

I say. Sit in the moment. Own your feelings. Acknowledge the discomfort. Go forward ready.

In peace and out worry became my mantra tied to my breathe in my yoga practice today. Breathe in peace. Breathe out worry. Sitting in the moment and using breathe is such a grounding tool.

What’s the grounding tool you are going to use as we move into the last two months of this year?

#namastegroundedinpeace

Situations change constantly. If you are feeling uninspired in your current space, think about what you can do to make that shift of change.

Shifting with purpose starts with focus on your own vital needs. What may have been an important vital need pre pandemic could have changed post pandemic. And that’s okay.

What’s even more important is to recognize it and refocus on what you need.

What can you do differently to become unstuck? What new goals can you put in place for this quarter? What is something new you can try or learn to do?

As we shift into the fall season, I’m focused on my personal space. I’m focused on continuing my yoga and fitness journey. I’m focused on owning whatever feelings I have. In the moment. And working through them in a healthy way.

Cheers to new October spaces and experiences. #namastefocusedonmyshift

I heard these words during one of my recent yoga practices. It gave me reason to think about what this means. To me.

It’s been 26 weeks since I’ve gotten on a plane. To travel for business or pleasure. I’ve been stopped. And today, I’ve realized it’s okay. For now.

STOP

I can’t stress enough that this year we have all experienced some level of trauma associated with the changes brought on. We’ve also experienced levels of opportunities that maybe we never even imagined! When I started reflecting on the word stop by starting at yoga, I began thinking about what this looks like off the mat.

Halting the travel and variety experiences that went with it caused me look deeply again at my own vital needs and to make a shift. Movement took a front seat as I tabled my travel. For now. As a reflection back on my fitness journal, I took a note week 4 which was actually 3 weeks before the pandemic hit us.

“Thoughts have a big part in shaping your reality, which in turn directs your outlook in life. Ruminate on where you are feeling stuck, uninspired or hopeless.”

I took this note week 4 which was actually 3 weeks before the pandemic hit us.

STOP. TO START.

It’s September now. We are living and working in a new remote reality. What changed for me was to shift focus on my vital needs. I felt stuck because I couldn’t travel like I used to. So I took that vital need of travel related to variety of experiences and shifted it to a focus on movement.

I’m happy to say that fitness has become such a integral part of my life! For 32 weeks, I have documented my fitness journey by planning workouts in advance and tracking my accomplishments. I’ve learned to be more mindful in the choices I make as to what I put into my body, mind and soul.

#namastecommittedtoseeingthepositiveinlife

Habit is defined as a settled regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.

I’ve always heard that it takes 30 days to break a habit or to instill a new habit however after testing out this theory, I’m inclined to say it could be shorter or take much longer!

I started documenting my fitness journey at the end of January. 30 weeks ago. As a reflect back into my journal, I wanted to share key points that stand out.

Planning in my asset! I heard this from a coach that my gym provided me with to get started. That really resonated with me because I am a planner. I’ve been planning fabulous trips these past several years. Little did I know months later, I would be planning more workout trips and little or no travel trips.

Start with a goal. My coach suggested that I incorporate three days of moderate cardio for 300 minutes each week. I had to define what moderate cardio meant to me. I started by committing to 3 days of walking. I found a beautiful park by my place, causeway over the Indian River and of course I have my Atlantic Ocean across the street!

Within 7 weeks, I was consistently walking and documenting my moderate cardio goals. It’s very satisfying to look back this morning into my first fitness journal. When I got to week 7, I actually had to take a deep breath. That’s the weekend that I returned from my last trip to Manhattan and New Jersey. The pandemic started.

Onward we go. Flash forward to today. Week 30. I’m proud to say that walking, gym and yoga are now a consistent part of my schedule. They are things that I look forward to doing and actually really enjoy! I’m seeing results in how I look and feel. I no longer need to write down moderate cardio. I block time to do it with focus each time on a 5 mile journey. Literally and virtually.

Meal prepping. I’m not a cook however I am learning that meal prepping is crucial to healthy choices with food. In week 8, I started tracking foods that I eat in my Fitbit and paying attention to the micronutrients mix searching for that correct mix of carbs, fats and proteins that works for my body and mind.

I stared looking within to try to understand myself. My own motives, struggles, wants and desires. This got heavy. This got deep. I took this note that warrants ongoing thought and reflection today:

What is the compelling desire that is stopping me from (fill in the blank) so I can (fill in the blank)?

#namastecommittedtomyself

I started with this title topic the first week of April and haven’t been able to expand on it until now as I sit on the beach reflecting on the past four months.

It’s been exactly 16 weeks since I got off a plane as I traveled home from my trip to Manhattan and New Jersey. I started to say “last trip” however I stopped my self and said “this will not be my last trip.” To anywhere!

Since then, we’ve experienced a pandemic that continues to rear its ugly head, political unrest, social injustice, unnecessary killings. This list goes on if I want it to.

We’ve also experienced quality time with people we love and care for, had more meaningful conversations at work and at home, found new things to learn, fun things to do exploring our own backyards, peace, kindness, tranquility and self care. This is the list I want to expand on.

Quality time. Conversations matter. Quality time has always been important to me. Now, more than ever, it’s imperative that we take time with people. To listen to understand. To enjoy the moment. To focus on quality. Not quantity.

Meaningful conversations. Conversations that have meaning matter! Difficult conversations. This brings me back to a workshop I hosted last year related to the book Crucial Conversations. It’s important to understand when people don’t feel comfortable they go silent or they go violent in their responses. Helping others find the space to feel comfortable during any type of conversations is a first step to having a meaningful conversation

. Make them matter!

Learning new things has now become one of my vital needs. Over the past four months, I have obtained my Modern Classroom Certified Trainer and my Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Sales Certifications. I’ve continued my health and fitness journey to learn more about ways to stay healthy and fit loosing weight slowly along the way.

Variety of experiences has always been important to me with my travel. Seeing the world, learning about other cultures while exploring other places. I’ve shifted this need to focus on exploring new places in my own backyard. New places and new things to do. What things can you find in walking distance of your own home?

Meaningful mindfulness. Now, more than ever, is the time to schedule downtime. To reflect on what’s important. To stay in the moment. If only for a short moment, take the time to be present with yourself, with your situation, with your world. Find your own peace, kindness and tranquility in your own time.

Self care. Need I say more? It’s ok to say no! It’s ok to take a wellness day off work. It’s ok to take care of you. Your own mind, body, spirit and soul. Schedule time for self care. You’ll be surprised even if you do nothing during that time but rest, reflect and maybe write a blog!

Life is full of changes. We can only focus on what we can control. On how we feel. On how we can evolve to change within ourselves. My pathway to a new remote reality starts with a stronger voice, a commitment to the now and a confidence to thrive.

#namasteonmyownpath

People want a sense of routine and purpose. It seems as though we are all trying to find that new normal of routine and purpose within the scope of our new remote reality.

Fact. We are all experiencing trauma.

We have been propelled into a unique state of awareness. A unique state of life. As I sit here on my balcony reflecting on the past twelve weeks, my mind is actually starting to relax. To find it’s new state of routine. Of purpose.

Here are three tips I am using to help adjust:

Meet the Critical Need Now. This means taking time to revaluate your own vital needs. What was important before this pandemic may not be as important after we shift into a new way of life. I replaced my vital need of variety of experiences which was so heavily tied to my travel to learning something new!

Become More Self Aware. This means taking time to look within. Be ok saying no if it’s not serving you now. Be ok saying what you need. Standing your ground. Being confident in your worth. Self Care.

Just Breathe. Four deep breathes. Hold for four seconds. Let it go. Do it again. Slow box breathing will calm the nervous system. And it may even help you sleep through the night!

At the end of the day, we can only control how we react to whatever is thrown our way. Take time to be kind to yourself. Heal yourself. Find compassion for yourself and dig deep to find your own beautiful soul purpose.

I’m staying focused on #myownsoulpurpose

This mantra really moved me this month on so many levels. With our yoga practice, we link movement with breathe. Off the map, movement takes on a whole different level.

With everything going on in our world today, movement of our mindset is critical for shifting. Shifting our thoughts and how we respond to others in our lives. Because, at the end of the day, can we ever really understand feelings through a text, email response or instant message?

With social distancing and the new remote reality starting to set in, its critical that we take time to check in with self and get ready to reprioritize daily.

Here are three simple tips to help guide your mindset.

Talk to people. Check in with your core people. Connect with someone new or someone you haven’t talked to in 6 months. It’s not insensitive to contact a customer to check in. It is insensitive not to listen to their concerns.

Set three realistic daily goals. Top producers set written goals. Regardless of your experience in the past working remote or working within an office space, goals must still be set! Priorities are still priorities. They may just shift quicker due to circumstances out of our control. So, start today and set 3 goals. Do it again tomorrow. Write them down. Act on them.

Practice the art of empathy and listening. At work and at home. Grab a book on this topic. Read it or listen to it. Practice on yourself by knowing when you have the capacity to engage with others or when you need to take the down time for your own self care. Listen to others. Listen to you!

At the end of the day, week, month, year, in life, we all move at our own pace. May we all find beauty in own space and practice kindness to others moving at their pace. #namastekind