Simple Goals
This morning I set two simple goals for the day: meditate, and make a To Do List. I figured this would be a good way to ease myself into the post-holiday world, and lay the groundwork for getting into a better routine.
By eight p.m., I still had not done either. But finally I felt a surge of motivation, and decided that I still had plenty of time to accomplish both tasks. I went up to my room, sat down, set my timer, closed my eyes, and meditated for twenty minutes.
When the timer went off, I opened my eyes, feeling a little more centered. I've been practicing meditation since last February, except for a gap over the past month. I'd like to take it up again, and this was a good first step.
Then I came downstairs and made a list of things I need to do, and a list of goals for my daily routine, such as exercise and meditation. I circled the tasks that I would like to accomplish tomorrow.
Although they were rather simple, I still felt good about achieving my modest goals for the day.
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6 comments:
It's only through achieving our smaller goals that we can ever approach our grander dreams. It's all step-be-step.
I'm very envious of your ability to meditate for 20 mins, Mike! I tried for 5 mins once, and I don't think I even managed that. To-do lists, however, I am extremely proficient in ;-)
I agree with Amy .. you have to start somewhere and it's the small things that can get you going toward the larger things.
Meditation takes a lot of self discipline, good on you for getting in 20 minutes. I don't think I could do it... I think I'm going to try sometime today just to see. :)
Again, like Amy, I LOVE a good to-do list. I do some sort of list every day. I have a tendency to overdo the lists, but as long as I don't have a list of my lists, I guess I'm doing pretty good.
Take care!
Amy, thanks for the reminder that every goal is accomplished one step at a time. I do sit for 20 minutes, but honestly much of the time is still spent lost in thought. Steady concentration is difficult, and seems to take a lot of practice. I still enjoy doing it, though.
Kelly Jene, good luck with the meditation! List of lists- LOL. I find lists helpful, but sometimes items just sit there for so long, unaccomplished, that I tend to not even notice them anymore. I’m going to try to be better about that, and designate a few tasks each day that I want to get done.
Do you light incense when you meditate? I love it. It helps me relax into my session. My favorites are Aloeswood, Sandelwood and Nag Champa.
I also ring a cool little bell. I do 20 minutes too and have learned a few things in the four years I'd been a meditator.
When I find myself focusing too much on random thoughts then I calmly say to myself, "Breathing in I am present, Breathing out I am aware" and this really helps me return to the present moment.
Keep up the great work!!
James, my favorites are Nag Champa and Sandelwood too! I use Nag Champa all the time, because it is the best priced, quality incense around here. Good Sandelwood is more expensive and harder to find. I've never tried Aloeswood, though, I'll have to check it out. I like the "Breathing in I am present..." idea, I'll try it. Thich Nhat Hanh teaches similar methods... I learned from reading him to say "Breathing in I calm my body, Breathing out I smile" whenever I'm stressed or need to center myself.
That's funny that you bring up TNH because that is where I got that mantra I mentioned!! He is such an amazing person and I have read many of his books and have learned so much and been helped so much by them. I have a picture of him right next to my Buddha.
By the way, if you're interested I run a Buddhist blog. Here's the addy:
The Buddhist Blog
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