Spend more time being. Being lost in the moment. Being at peace with who you are and where you are in the world. Being passionate about your work. Being kinder to yourself and others. Being happy. Being able to open your heart to love. Being okay with failure, but striving for success. Being the best version of yourself.
Dictate your agenda
Agendas are merely a way for us to stay organized. They should not control our lives. In the past, I let my agenda control my days, now I control my days. Sometimes, this requires saying no to certain things. This can be difficult for many people, but it is necessary. We cannot do it all and we should not do it all. Life should not feel like a giant to do list that is never ending. When there are too many things on our agenda, we become mediocre. Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Do you want to be remembered for how many things you completed on your agenda or what type of person you were?
Be present
Close your planner and focus in the moment you are in now, not the ten million things you need to do after. Disconnect to connect. Take a social media hiatus. Breathe in the fresh air. Appreciate the sunset. Go on a bike ride. Smile. Say “Hi”. Give someone a hug. This world around us is incredible; pause to have gratitude for it. The only thing we have is the present. Life is not days or years, it is what we do with the time we are given and the grace inside of us. Completely give yourself to the moment you are in. The future comes fast enough.
Ask yourself, what matters most?
How do your values play out in your agenda and life? Are the things you are doing aligned with your values and what matters most? Everything you do should have a genuine intention. Stay true to your values. When the things you do are aligned with the values you aspire to live out, you can focus more on being instead of doing. If your values do not align with your agenda, you are just doing and not being. Fix it, and you will find more serenity in your life.
Take time for yourself
This is probably one of the most challenging things to do, it is also the greatest life lesson I have learned. You cannot give 100% to anything you are doing, if you do not take time to refresh and reenergize. Everyone has their own way of doing this- for some it is working out or practicing yoga, for others it is journaling, or going to the beach. Figure out what helps you feel refreshed and do it, and do it often. It is not selfish to make time for yourself. You need to be the best version of yourself in order to be the best for others.
