Years ago, when I moved back to Detroit from Germany, I felt I needed to focus less on doing and more on being. Being a good husband. Being a better father. Being healthy. And I did make some progress in those areas. Five years ago I had the feedback from a work superior that I must not be angry in my emails. I must always remain calm and considerate. It was very good feedback about my way of being, not doing. Every day, after my prayer and journaling, I discern what it is that I should DO that day. This week, I have changed my focus to what should I BE today. This has changed how I DO everything. The intention I bring, how I show up, how I behave in my “doing” is even more important than what I actually do. Doing the right thing with the wrong “beingness”, the wrong intention or heart, can ruin a relationship, lose the trust of a customer, alienate an employee, or hurt a child. Today I was to BE strong, focused, and present. I have brought those qualities to everything I have done today and it has been a very productive day without being hectic. Another day this week my being focus was restful, calm, and centered and the day went much better than if I had tried to force things and not taken rest when it was needed. How should I be today? By being, behaving, having my intention, in the best way, and bringing those qualities to everything I DO makes all my activities much more enjoyable and more productive in the long run.
How do you need to be this weekend? For you? Your family? Your community? How do you need to be next week? For your colleagues, customers, employees? When you focus on that, see how it impacts everything that you do.
Have a great weekend,
Art
