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Join Me In The Present

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It’s true …

We may regret the things we do at times, but most of us regret what we didn’t do!

As I witness and experience family struggles with my mother’s debilitating Alzheimer’s disease, I can’t help but contemplate my own life and yes, mortality.

I think about things now, that if I am honest with my feelings, were only fleeting moments of thought in the past.

Now, more than ever, I realize how precious life is and how important it is to live in the present time.

Someone very wise told me that learning how to live in the “present” is the greatest gift you can give yourself – that is why they call it a “present.” You become more consciously aware – there becomes a true “presence” about you and life becomes fuller and richer.

A Simple Gift

I came across an article recently that revealed the top 5 things people regret, and I thought about how this intertwines with my philosophy of living simply.

It fascinates me, even to this day, that we as humans work so hard to get ahead in life so we can afford to do the things that we “think” we want, only to find out later, when we are faced with our own mortality, our perspective changes.

What once was so important, no longer rates high or even exists for that matter.

Check out what most people say:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

Simplifying our lives allows us the opportunity to focus on what’s really important to us. I view it as a revitalized life purpose plan – because after all, what is life without a true purpose anyway?

Creating more space in our lives – whether that means physical, emotional or mental space affords us the opportunity to be happier and healthier.

What about you? Are you ready to keep things simple and let go of what is no longer serving you well?

Having the courage to be true to ourselves, by exploring our feelings and acknowledging them, may be one of the best gifts we can give to ourselves.

Won’t you join me in the present?

Body Doubling

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Body DoublingWhile sitting opposite from one another during our scheduled work session, a relatively seasoned client of mine looked directly at me and said “I think I like it better when I write in my own personal handwriting rather than you printing out labels for me.”

“OK” I said. “May I ask why?”

“I think I find it too impersonal and sterile. I find myself feeling more drawn to the files and want to pick them up when I see my own signature rather than unfamiliar printing.”

Since we already established a relationship with one another, I felt comfortable enough to ask her if there was anything else she wanted to let me know.

“Well, as a matter of fact,” she said, “I think I would really like it if I could try working for a while just on my own, while you sit there. Is that alright with you?”

I smiled back at her and said “Of course. Take your time and let’s see how it goes.” We agreed that we would try this for one hour without talking unless she needed my input.

As I sat there, I started to imagine what it would be like for me to have my assistant just sit in my office while I worked. But that image didn’t last long for me. Unlike my client, I am an active participant when it comes to my work and like to engage and interact with my staff and also require and enjoy their input and feedback.

So, I started to question in my mind what was really going on for my client. Was she beginning to feel more secure in her own sense of style and wanted to try it out while I was present or was it something more profound than this?

Fifty minutes into the hour, she asked if I would like a cup of tea. Sure I said, that sounds good right about now.

We took about a 15-minute break and sat outside on her deck. We talked about the weather, her new landscaping of shrubberies and a little about family.

As we walked back into her office, I asked her if she ever heard of the term “Body Doubling.” Her eyes widened and she just about whispered, “No, what is that?”

Well, I began; I believe that is what we are doing right now.

Having a person who is present and acting like and anchor, not an active assistant, allows the other person to stay focused and ignore distractions. I asked her if she agreed that was what we were doing.

“Absolutely,” she said. “Having you here somehow gives me permission to finish what needs to be done, and I don’t feel the urge to walk away.”

She wanted to know if the practice was common or highly unusual.

I explained that it depended-sometimes it is woven into the organizing practice quite naturally and in other circumstances it is introduced right away. One thing that is certain is that body doubling is highly effective and actually mirrors what organizing looks like.

With this new-found understanding, it made it easier for my client to accept that her initial request was in essence a particular organizing practice. Body doubling offers alternative solutions for people to succeed in their organizing endeavors, when they recognize they are challenged with distraction.

It was safe to say, my client and I worked silently for the next hour and a half and when I left, she felt empowered and satisfied with her accomplishments.

-Patricia Diesel
Keep It Simple Now