There is work that I do that nobody sees, knows that I do, or likely would think is important. This invisible work is attributable to my professional success, helping me to enjoy more than two decades in the C-Suite of corporate America. In this episode we explore why some of the best work you do will never be see, only realized.
Behind the scenes I make purposeful and structured time to reflect and work on myself. Itβs an inside job.
What does that look like? On my nightstand always are 5 nonfiction books the topics of which vary from self-help to business to mindfulness to poetry. I am acutely interested in human behavior as it helps me to understand why people make choices and what drives them. This also helps me to evaluate my own thoughts and behavior.
I keep a Daily Intention Word document on my computer where every morning I write very short answers to specific questions as I don't have a lot of time to complete it. The brevity of it keeps me engaged and excited to fulfill it each day. I write down my daily intention which is simply a promise to myself, what I celebrate in my life, how I will be kind to myself that day, any outstanding critical thought and an alternative kind response to that thought. This gives me space to mindfully challenge myself without judgment. It takes less than 5 minutes.
Tucked away in a desk drawer in my home is a pretty blank page journal, colored gel pens, markers, scissors, and a glue stick. I call this My Favorite Things. When inspired, I write down fun things I'm doing or that I've seen that bring me joy. I glue pictures from magazines that I love or from our trips on the beautiful pages, outline them in color and doodle in images around my thoughts. I chronicle what I'm manifesting that I want to bring to my life. And I note how I'm dealing with setbacks too. It's a safe space for honesty, vision, and celebration.
Some people might call these practices woo-woo. As an executive coach I see firsthand how they change lives, including my own. Most conflict in life comes from an ego that needs to be right more than it wants to get it right. When we can be kind enough with ourselves to reflect without judging ourselves, we acquire acceptance that helps us self-regulate difficult emotions. We stopped being hard on ourselves.
These practices help me better understand my team members, my family members, my friends, colleagues and people I need to find common ground with in business. They help me notice when I'm not my best, what feeling is making me uncomfortable, and how to shift to an alternative thought that will serve me better. That ability to be self-aware, self-regulate, and self-accept is key to understanding my world and how other people navigate their world to create alignment. Think about an emotional or insecure leader you know. Then think of an effective leader who has ease and relatability. My guess is that they have reflective practices as well.
Here is a link to a YouTube video on my 'My Favorite Things" Jounal and my creative spaces >>> https://youtu.be/e1enISNabD8?si=nuKt2WhzaLZwFK5U
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