How to Stay in the Moment and Become more Successful
Being mindful of having the basic human ability to be fully present and aware of where we are, what we’re doing, and not being overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us — {is the key to success.}
Think for a minute how truly important being mindful/observant is.
I think it’s safe to say how intelligent you can dictate how good a friend, family member, or parent you are. It also dictates what sort of professional success you experience.
While this is one thing, most people believe that observation involves sitting in cross-legged meditation for hours on end. But it is a collection of practices and skills that can help you cope with stress more effectively, manage your emotions better, and improve your focus and productivity.
According to Tim Ferriss, (b)(eighty percent of the world’s most successful people have some daily observation practice.) Eighty percent! Here’s what those people do differently.
1. They Pay Attention to What There Is Mind Is Saying
We have 60,000 to 70,000 thoughts every day, and science estimates 98 percent of them are the same. This means our minds are basically “out to lunch” most of the time. During these times it’s easy to get hooked on negative self-talk such as:
All-or-nothing labeling.
You see things in black and white. If your boss says you did not meet expectations in a single category on your performance review, you label yourself as a “complete failure” at your job. With this way of thinking,– there can’t be parts of your job you’re great at, while also aspects of your position you need to work on.
Discounting the positive.
It’s common practice for you to downplay positive experiences by telling yourself they don’t count. If you do a good job, you reason that anyone else on your team could have done just as well, so what does it even matter?
Jumping to conclusions.
Interpreting things negatively without facts to support your conclusion is the hallmark of this mindset. No matter what, you predict things will turn out badly. Before a crucial meeting, for example, you may tell yourself, “I’m really going to blow it.”
“Should” statements.
Instead of focusing on how best to handle situations for what they are, you demand they turn out as hoped. These “should statements” directed against yourself lead to guilt and frustration. I “should have” figured out my passion by now.
The difference is mindful people look for exaggerated, irrational, or unrealistic thoughts that may cause them undue worry. They choose constructive self-talk over the falling victim to their inner critic.
2. They Are Curious and Ask Questions
Observant people are empathic and expert listeners. They spend more time listening to others then they do talking about themselves. By being curious about how others in the world do things or how they learned something expands and opens your mind. It also makes the people around you feel important.
Overevant people ask open-ended questions to encourage vulnerability, and by doing so, often create psychological safety for those around them. When we allow people to give an opinion, we are inviting them to engage with us. We’re saying; “I see you, I hear you, I want to share this moment and platform with you.” This causes an instant connection between the two people sharing that moment. Effective leaders are great at making this happen with others. That’s why they are leaders, they are able to make everyone feel included.
Let’s face it, everyone wants to feel special, counted, heard, and recognized.
3. They Embrace Imperfection
Perfectionism is a happiness killer. Observant people understand that aiming for an impossibly high standard (for themselves or others) will only lead to disappointment.
They know that this is simply the ego talking in them, not their true feelings. We all want to be good, wait, great at our jobs, but in our heads, we start launching harsh internal criticisms, ruminating on our incompetence or how we’re otherwise not up to snuff at something.
The thing is, you’re human, let that crap go! Does beating yourself up ever really do anything for you? Overly harsh self-criticism has been shown to undermine motivation, impede progress towards goals, and increase procrastination.
Observant people can keep calm, walk away, and realize they aren’t perfect. Nothing they do will ever be perfect, and that is OK. Good is great enough.
4. They Practice Self-care
Each day, we make about 30,000+ decisions, from what to wear to what to eat and everything in between.
Observant people manage their attentional resources. They monitor their internal state to watch for signs of depletion. They replenish their mental and emotional reserves before burnout hits. How do they do this? Self-care.
Self-care is vital to your well-being and state of mind. It’s impossible to be mindful without taking time during the day to reflect, relax, and rewind. This is a time for you to focus on yourself and let your mind take a break. Whether it’s something active like the gym, barre, yoga, or running, it restores balance in your life — which is vital to your success.
Successful, observant people use these times as a way to recharge the battery and move forward towards their goals. They realize the importance of taking care of oneself, so they can keep walking towards what they want. The journey of achievement doesn’t matter if you never get there — take your time and take care of yourself.
5. They Don’t Let Their Emotions Run wild
People who are successful at anything are able to control their emotions.
When they experience some sort of unpleasant emotion they are able to pivot their thinking. Instead of blaming others or trying to push the negative emotion away, they recognize the emotion for what it is; just a thought. Then they move on with their day.
See, observant people don’t react to the situation, they think through it. Everything we encounter in life is simply a movie reel moving in front of us. How successful or how happy we are depends on how we react to that reel. So when something negative happens, it’s important to be able to acknowledge the emotion you’re having, label it, and find compassion and self-respecting ways to move forward.
Remember, observation is about observing your mind and staying in the moment. It’s about dedicating attentional resources towards what is happening within and watching for old thought patterns. With a little practice, you can train your brain to recognize these patterns and say “that’s nice, but that’s not me anymore” and move on. This is what’s called pivot thinking, and it’s very powerful.
Your ego is needed to keep you alive, but it also causes you a lot of grief and stress. Recognize that by shifting your thoughts, your success in this lifetime can experience a dramatic and sharp turn upwards. Don’t let negative self-talk dictate what you can do. Develop your self-care routine and be an active and attentive listener in your professional and personal life. When you put all of the aforementioned pieces together, you are going to experience a more happy, fulfilling, content way of living. More importantly, you’ll become a success in all facets of life.
For more articles on self-improvement, & life.
Subscribe to my website.
Being mindful of having the basic human ability to be fully present and aware of where we are, what we’re doing, and not being overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us — {is the key to success.}
Think for a minute how truly important being mindful/observant is.
I think it’s safe to say how intelligent you can dictate how good a friend, family member, or parent you are. It also dictates what sort of professional success you experience.
While this is one thing, most people believe that observation involves sitting in cross-legged meditation for hours on end. But it is a collection of practices and skills that can help you cope with stress more effectively, manage your emotions better, and improve your focus and productivity.
According to Tim Ferriss, (b)(eighty percent of the world’s most successful people have some daily observation practice.) Eighty percent! Here’s what those people do differently.
1. They Pay Attention to What There Is Mind Is Saying
We have 60,000 to 70,000 thoughts every day, and science estimates 98 percent of them are the same. This means our minds are basically “out to lunch” most of the time. During these times it’s easy to get hooked on negative self-talk such as:
All-or-nothing labeling.
You see things in black and white. If your boss says you did not meet expectations in a single category on your performance review, you label yourself as a “complete failure” at your job. With this way of thinking,– there can’t be parts of your job you’re great at, while also aspects of your position you need to work on.
Discounting the positive.
It’s common practice for you to downplay positive experiences by telling yourself they don’t count. If you do a good job, you reason that anyone else on your team could have done just as well, so what does it even matter?
Jumping to conclusions.
Interpreting things negatively without facts to support your conclusion is the hallmark of this mindset. No matter what, you predict things will turn out badly. Before a crucial meeting, for example, you may tell yourself, “I’m really going to blow it.”
“Should” statements.
Instead of focusing on how best to handle situations for what they are, you demand they turn out as hoped. These “should statements” directed against yourself lead to guilt and frustration. I “should have” figured out my passion by now.
The difference is mindful people look for exaggerated, irrational, or unrealistic thoughts that may cause them undue worry. They choose constructive self-talk over the falling victim to their inner critic.
2. They Are Curious and Ask Questions
Observant people are empathic and expert listeners. They spend more time listening to others then they do talking about themselves. By being curious about how others in the world do things or how they learned something expands and opens your mind. It also makes the people around you feel important.
Overevant people ask open-ended questions to encourage vulnerability, and by doing so, often create psychological safety for those around them. When we allow people to give an opinion, we are inviting them to engage with us. We’re saying; “I see you, I hear you, I want to share this moment and platform with you.” This causes an instant connection between the two people sharing that moment. Effective leaders are great at making this happen with others. That’s why they are leaders, they are able to make everyone feel included.
Let’s face it, everyone wants to feel special, counted, heard, and recognized.
3. They Embrace Imperfection
Perfectionism is a happiness killer. Observant people understand that aiming for an impossibly high standard (for themselves or others) will only lead to disappointment.
They know that this is simply the ego talking in them, not their true feelings. We all want to be good, wait, great at our jobs, but in our heads, we start launching harsh internal criticisms, ruminating on our incompetence or how we’re otherwise not up to snuff at something.
The thing is, you’re human, let that crap go! Does beating yourself up ever really do anything for you? Overly harsh self-criticism has been shown to undermine motivation, impede progress towards goals, and increase procrastination.
Observant people can keep calm, walk away, and realize they aren’t perfect. Nothing they do will ever be perfect, and that is OK. Good is great enough.
4. They Practice Self-care
Each day, we make about 30,000+ decisions, from what to wear to what to eat and everything in between.
Observant people manage their attentional resources. They monitor their internal state to watch for signs of depletion. They replenish their mental and emotional reserves before burnout hits. How do they do this? Self-care.
Self-care is vital to your well-being and state of mind. It’s impossible to be mindful without taking time during the day to reflect, relax, and rewind. This is a time for you to focus on yourself and let your mind take a break. Whether it’s something active like the gym, barre, yoga, or running, it restores balance in your life — which is vital to your success.
Successful, observant people use these times as a way to recharge the battery and move forward towards their goals. They realize the importance of taking care of oneself, so they can keep walking towards what they want. The journey of achievement doesn’t matter if you never get there — take your time and take care of yourself.
5. They Don’t Let Their Emotions Run wild
People who are successful at anything are able to control their emotions.
When they experience some sort of unpleasant emotion they are able to pivot their thinking. Instead of blaming others or trying to push the negative emotion away, they recognize the emotion for what it is; just a thought. Then they move on with their day.
See, observant people don’t react to the situation, they think through it. Everything we encounter in life is simply a movie reel moving in front of us. How successful or how happy we are depends on how we react to that reel. So when something negative happens, it’s important to be able to acknowledge the emotion you’re having, label it, and find compassion and self-respecting ways to move forward.
Remember, observation is about observing your mind and staying in the moment. It’s about dedicating attentional resources towards what is happening within and watching for old thought patterns. With a little practice, you can train your brain to recognize these patterns and say “that’s nice, but that’s not me anymore” and move on. This is what’s called pivot thinking, and it’s very powerful.
Your ego is needed to keep you alive, but it also causes you a lot of grief and stress. Recognize that by shifting your thoughts, your success in this lifetime can experience a dramatic and sharp turn upwards. Don’t let negative self-talk dictate what you can do. Develop your self-care routine and be an active and attentive listener in your professional and personal life. When you put all of the aforementioned pieces together, you are going to experience a more happy, fulfilling, content way of living. More importantly, you’ll become a success in all facets of life.
For more articles on self-improvement, & life.
Subscribe to my website.
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