Keeping the “Checklist” in Check
Sunday, October 12th, 2008, Luca DiMatteoEach day we get up and run through our mental checklist of all the things we have to do for the day. Our day progresses and we keep reviewing the list over and over. Each night we run through our mental checklist and see what we managed to get done during the day. We climb into bed and recall how overwhelmed we felt all day and what can we do to get more done tomorrow. This is the perfect recipe for paralyzing ourself and creating inaction. We then find our self unable to tackle any of those items on the checklist.
How do we break away from this pattern and regain the power of action that we unknowing gave away to the fear of the “checklist”?
The key is BALANCE. If you are not giving yourself the time to play and to experience living life for the enjoyment of happiness, you have locked yourself into a task filled life with no room for the love of SELF. I would recommend a balance between the checklist and playing. Schedule time for yourself to play in whatever way brings you joy. This checklist will be there after you take time out for you. Just like it is each morning when you wake up.
See if you can take this advise and “checkout” how you ability to wipe things off the ckecklist may improve. Let me Know how it works for you.
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Lovely blog, Luca. A good day at the movies is one of my faves in the work/play balancing act. I’m particularly glad I went today.
I recently learned about the incremental process of manifesting one’s day, which has helped a lot in the balance department (Abraham and Hicks - Ask and It Is Given). By noticing the incremental shifts of movement in our day, such as 1)waking 2)rising and heading to the bathroom 3)getting dressed 4)preparing breakfast, etc. we can develop the process of conscious choice in how we experience our world throughout our day. By simply pausing for a moment before each shifting increment and setting our intention, we create our life moment by moment.
For example, when you rise in the morning: “I will feel rejuvenated and happy to experience my day,” and when you’re ready for breakfast: “I’m going to enjoy preparing a healthy, delicious breakfast,” and on your way to work, “I intend for work to be fulfilling and joyful today.”
It’s a simple practice, yet challenging to remain conscious. But it’s worth the effort, because the self-awareness alone can be powerfully transformational.
Thanks again for the kind invitation to visit your site, Luca. It’s wonderful.
Warmest Regards,
Fran
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Fran, thank you for your insight. Conscious choice is merely a breath away, yet we all work so hard to hold our breath and just make to the next item on the checklist. Some even work at play. I prefer to play at work. thanks again, Luca
December 8th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I set up an alarm on my cell phone - 4 times a day - to remind me to check in with myself. I feel how I am feeling, notice the conversation I am having in my head, forgive myself if it is a disempowering conversation, love myself if I am feeling ‘dis-ease’.
(I make myself aware of the times in the morning as I am checking my checklist to make sure that the times don’t interfere with a meeting/gathering that I can’t allow an alarm or take the time within.)
When I ‘answer the alarm’ - It takes only a moment, I close my eyes, breath deeply, focus on my heart and my body. Really just take that moment no matter how brief to quiet the noise of my mind and let my body and my heart come through and have their time.
As happens with items on the checklist, I often hear my alarm/feel the vibration and ‘put it off’ … but it is my practice to forgive that and often part of the time, when I do ‘answer the alarm’ is spent forgiving myself for ‘dismissing’ the previous 2 alarms. It is now just like other items on the checklist. But, as it turns out I ALWAYS end up with time for at least one of the 4!
Thank you for your blog - Dream of the Heart brought me to your site, glad to have found it and I look forward to further exploration.
Sandra
December 8th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Hi Sandra,
It was fantastic to hear of you checking-in technique. I found it to be a terrific concept and one that I am trying out immediately. How true it is that we get lost in our busy day or get tangled up in the events of the world and forget to love ourself. Can’t wait to hear more from you. Thanks again for the thoughtful sharing of yourself. Luca