Pat Katz Pat Katz

Categories

Archives

Search

PAUSE – 10.12 – Making Your Mark

REFLECTION:
I paused on this morning’s riverbank walk for a moment to perch on a frost covered bench and soak up a bit of sunshine. When I arose I (or at least my jacket) had soaked up more than the sunshine. Frost be gone! That spot on the bench was white no more.
I found myself wondering, “Could making your mark on the world really be that easy?”
So often we look at impacting the world around us as tricky, time consuming, and complicated. Having an impact is seen as something to be planned, pursued and executed with ferocity and intensity.
Well, maybe there are more ease-filled options in front of us or around us all the time. In our haste to push through and carry on, we may miss the opportunity completely.
ACTION:
What frosty situations are you facing? Strained relationships? Tangled problems? Off-track projects? Commitment overload?
What might actually be resolved, if you simply paused for a moment? Sat down solo to rest your burden and consider your options – or sat informally with someone else for a relaxed conversation about the issue at hand?
Sometimes the natural warmth of connection and the relaxed energy of presence thaws the iciest situations. You may discover inherent bench strength you haven’t even begun to tap.
Give yourself the gift of a moment. Sit. Relax. Pause. Ponder. Thaw out a problem or two. Carry on your way.
_________________________
QUOTES OF THE WEEK:
“People become attached to their burdens sometimes more than the burdens are attached to them.” – George Bernard Shaw
“If things go wrong, don’t go with them.” – Roger Babson
_________________________
RESOURCE OF THE WEEK:
I learned many important lessons about the impact of pause by participating in regular Balance Days with two of my friends and colleagues. For ten years, the three of us met at the turn of the seasons and invested a few hours or a full day in reflection and renewal. The experience taught us a lot about presence and ease and their positive impact on our lives.
You’ll find the story of our experience and a process for creating your own Balance Day triad experience in the Balance Day Guide & Journal, now available for purchase from the Pause Shop in electronic pdf download format. Check it out at: http://www.pauseworks.com/shop/publications.php#balance
_________________________
READERS WRITE:
In response to last week’s message, The Acceleration Trap, Pause reader JK writes: Your message today was very timely. Here are a couple of side effects of overload on an organization that were not mentioned in your article. I have experienced these first-hand.
Rapid change means insufficient time to communicate changes to employees. Lack of communication creates an atmosphere where rumors become the source of (mis)information. This leads to a drop in morale.
How can employees be expected to maintain high levels of performance when change is happening so fast they don’t have time to adapt? This is happening more and more in all industries. Maybe, everyone – including the organization- needs to slow down.

Lawn Chair-wREFLECTION: I paused on this morning’s riverbank walk for a moment to perch on a frost covered bench and soak up a bit of sunshine. When I arose I (or at least my jacket) had soaked up more than the sunshine. Frost be gone! That spot on the bench was white no more.

I found myself wondering, “Could making your mark on the world really be that easy?”

So often we look at impacting the world around us as tricky, time consuming, and complicated. Having an impact is seen as something to be planned, pursued and executed with ferocity and intensity.

Well, maybe there are more ease-filled options in front of us or around us all the time. In our haste to push through and carry on, we may miss the opportunity completely.

ACTION: What frosty situations are you facing? Strained relationships? Tangled problems? Off-track projects? Commitment overload?

What might actually be resolved, if you simply paused for a moment? Sat down solo to rest your burden and consider your options – or sat informally with someone else for a relaxed conversation about the issue at hand?

Sometimes the natural warmth of connection and the relaxed energy of presence thaws the iciest situations. You may discover inherent bench strength you haven’t even begun to tap.

Give yourself the gift of a moment. Sit. Relax. Pause. Ponder. Thaw out a problem or two. Then carry on.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

“People become attached to their burdens sometimes more than the burdens are attached to them.” – George Bernard Shaw

“If things go wrong, don’t go with them.” – Roger Babson

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK: I learned many important lessons about the impact of pause by participating in regular Balance Days with two of my friends and colleagues. For ten years, the three of us met at the turn of the seasons and invested a few hours or a full day in reflection and renewal. The experience taught us a lot about presence and ease and their positive impact on our lives.

You’ll find the story of our experience and a process for creating your own Balance Day triad experience in the Balance Day Guide & Journal, now available for purchase from the Pause Shop in electronic pdf download format. Check it out.

READERS WRITE: In response to last week’s message, The Acceleration Trap, Pause reader JK writes: Your message today was very timely. Here are a couple of side effects of overload on an organization that were not mentioned in your article. I have experienced these first-hand.

Rapid change means insufficient time to communicate changes to employees. Lack of communication creates an atmosphere where rumors become the source of (mis)information. This leads to a drop in morale.

How can employees be expected to maintain high levels of performance when change is happening so fast they don’t have time to adapt? This is happening more and more in all industries. Maybe, everyone – including the organization- needs to slow down.

Category:
Life Balance, Life in General, Overload & Overwhelm, Pause E-zines

Leave a Reply