“It’s a GREAT Tired,” said my friend. We had skied hard all day, hardly taking a break, gobbling Gorp on the lift. The snow on the slopes, in the trees, off of the main trails beckoned: Come into my playground. Relish the views. Feel the strength and challenge to your body. Let the cold air wake you up. Discover new places even the “Jerry’s Garage”. Harness the warmth from within. Tend to your ski buddies. Keep them close. Ski as a unit. Share funny stories. Laugh. Yodel. Full throttle until shutting the mountain down. Then, under the ropes to try a new route to Minturn through quiet woods, a luge trail much of the way. Surrounded by other enthusiasts, enjoy a refreshment in the town’s Saloon. Making the most of time time together. We were “All In”.
PODCAST VERSION:
Sometimes we’re especially aware of the moments in front of us. When we travel to a new place, for example, we’ve primed ourselves to be more observant. Yet the opportunity to make the most of any and all experiences is available every day. Whether we travel away or experience daily life at home, no special snow adventure is required. We can choose our happiness. We can live and work “All In”.
Admittedly it’s not always easy to feel enthusiastic about surroundings, pending tasks or interactions with co-workers, friends and family. Life’s challenges can make it hard and we might not want to deal with tough stuff. We’re not recommending, BTW, that you wear “rose-colored glasses” all the time.
“All In” connotes noticing the good and the not so good. The power of noticing let’s us “drop in” to what is true in a situation, concurrently rooting in our own best self too. So how might we cultivate more awareness of all opportunities in front of us? How might we live “All In”?
Noticing first is a practice
Being mindful is not a new idea. We’ve heard it before: stay present. What we want to remember is that paying attention to our thoughts and feelings and what’s happening around us is a practice. It’s a decision to observe and notice before making judgements or reacting. We want to consciously choose the abundance that’s there and or acknowledge to ourselves when a situation triggers or disturbs us. Practice bringing attention first to what’s right in front of you and choose a response that serves you and your community. Stay present enough to notice thoughts and emotions, good or bad. Create space.
Pinching versus breathing
Sometimes we want to “pinch ourselves” so as to notice. Use pinching if that’s your “go to”. Or, we suggest bringing attention to your breath. A few deep breaths throughout the day will help create focused attention. One big breath is absolutely enough in any moment at any time, to remind yourself who you are, your needs and wants. Physically coming into your body through your breath grounds you in the present moment.
How bad can it be?
When a situation doesn’t go as planned or meet expectations and you’re feeling unhappy, ask yourself, “how bad is it?” In other words are your emotions dictating the reality? Stay open to outcomes, understanding that flexibility can create new unimagined benefits. If we’re able to observe and acknowledge our feelings versus becoming them, there’s most likely still lots of “good” in an experience. My husband takes the lead on the ski trail and everyone follows. This isn’t always my preference; yet letting him lead has created tons of joy in so many ways.
Sing with gratitude as often as possible
Consciously celebrate the gifts, the good that does occur in your work and personal life. Including the small stuff strengthens a gratitude practice: “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” (Melody Beattie). Again it’s a practice of focused attention, noticing…
Are you “All In”?
