Photo credit: Love Knot Photo
When my good friend Shawn, asked me to take part in her book tour for the print edition of “Savoring Slow” I was honored, albeit a bit apprehensive too as slowing down is not an easy feat for me. I enjoy being ‘busy’ and filling our days with work, school, activities, and outings. But slowing down isn’t always about doing less. It’s about being more intentional with how you think about and fill your time.
The post below is an excerpt from a lesson in my 9 month ‘Embrace Experience’. It’s one I send to my private clients frequently as well. In the last year, the process I’m about to share with you has become my daily saving grace.
Keep on reading to learn the morning ritual that’s helping me to slow down enough to maintain our busy schedule with less guilt, shame, and overcommitment.
Each morning, I wake up (usually to the sound of my little girl’s whispers at 5am — yep that early…), throw on a hoodie for warmth (I’m always cold) and stumble down the stairs to brew cup of coffee for myself, and then prepare breakfast for us all.
The coffee always comes first.
Priorities, people. Priorities.
Cartoons get flipped onto the TV (that’s about all I can handle at 5am pre-coffee) as we all feel our way into a new day. Each sip of my warm wake up elixir helps the fog lift, and I sit with my favorite journal and colorful felt tipped pen (whatever color aligns with my mood) and begin to plan out the day.
I set my intentions and figure out what must get accomplished.
What used to start as a simple to-do list has transformed, over time, into a ritual I cannot live without.
This morning journaling is so simple, yet so powerful, as I set my daily commitments. It’s the process where I hold myself accountable and write out exactly how I want my day to FEEL.
Photo credit: Love Knot Photo
STEP 1: SET YOUR DAILY INTENTION
The “feeling” component is key. It’s one unexpected piece of my process that transforms my to-do list into so much more. It gives the list a voice that guides all my actions and emotions for the day.
To do lists can be lengthy and never ending, especially as a busy mom. Unfortunately I can’t always control the length of the list, but I can control how I FEEL as I work through the never ending list.
• When I’m having a day where I’m feeling particularly angry or frustrated, I set my intention to seek out laughter and joy.
• When I’m spinning wheels on what to do and/or slow to get going and I just can’t seem to begin anything on my list, I set my intention to seek out spaciousness and action.
• When I’m nervous or anxious about the outcome of something happening in my life that I can’t control, I set my intention to seek miracles and surrender in the unfolding events.
My intentions help me combat whatever feelings surface that I perceive as negative. The intentions are my coping mechanism, and the best part is they help guide me to both expected and unexpected discoveries.
Now it’s your turn to dip into your intuition. How are you feeling at this moment? It’s time to set a new intention to guide you as you go about your day.
Intentions should be short and sweet, and help you arrive at new levels of positive awareness about yourself and your life.
FILL IN THE BLANK
Today I will seek ____________, ______________ & ________________ in expected and unexpected sources as I go about my day.
Photo credit: Love Knot Photo
STEP 2: COMMITMENTS
Now that we’ve explored the intention setting process, it’s time to create a daily commitment list. My daily practice is short and sweet. It doesn’t take longer than 10 minutes.
I’m done by the time I get to the bottom of my first cup of coffee.
I pretty much stick to writing down the items floating around in my brain that I KNOW I can commit to on that particular day. Appointments go on the list, as well as the other odds and ends I want to accomplish.
(Sometimes I’ll do a quick down and dirty brain dump of all the to-dos in my brain before this process just so I know ALL the thoughts and commitments I’m dealing with at a particular moment in time)
Sometimes the my daily commitments will include 10 really short items: do the dishes, clean up my desk, send out thank you cards, get gas in the car, meal plan, sort one folder of photos, 8am client meeting, complete one load of laundry, put one item up for sale in yard sale group, read one chapter in my book.
Sometimes the list will have 5 longer items: Doctor’s appointment, 2pm client interview, write and schedule weekly blog post, office hours for class, tidy the playroom.
The goal for me is to not over commit. Follow what’s most in my pleasure for the day (sometimes getting the most overwhelming or daunting project off the list is secretly what’s most in my pleasure), and to not beat myself up if I don’t get to everything.
As I’ve practiced writing my commitments daily and made this a daily ritual it’s gotten easier knowing how much I realistically can expect out of myself.
And that leads to a slow mind, a slower pace, and a slower lifestyle for us all.
How are you committing to less so you can do more? What intentions are you currently leaning into? Is taking better photos on your commitment list right now? Why not get yourself on the path to more amazing photos with your kids with my completely FREE One Ingredient Fix mini less today. You can get the details right HERE and get started right NOW.
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