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When you face a new challenge, what do you feel? Fear,\nanxiety\u2014or excitement? Whatever you call it, it\u2019s energy. And this new rush of\nenergy can help focus your attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before getting her Ph.D. in psychology, My friend Tracey was\na ski instructor in Taos, New Mexico. What she taught people learning to ski offers\nwisdom for facing any new challenge\u2014a mindful blend of intention and attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get clear on what you\nwant to do. <\/strong>Before attempting a new ski run, Tracey would size up the\nsituation, asking, \u201cWhere do I want to go?\u201d When facing a new challenge in your\nlife, what is your intention?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask yourself, \u201cWhat do I want?\u201d \u201cWhere do I want to go?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consider the conditions.\n<\/strong>Pay careful attention. Ski slopes can vary from day to day. It could have\nsnowed last night or the trails might be icy. Melting snow may expose hazardous\nrocks or tree branches. On the ski slopes and in life, knowing the conditions will\nhelp you take right action. What are current conditions like for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tune in to your body.\n<\/strong>Don\u2019t let tension and fear paralyze you. Since you cannot be tense and\nrelaxed at the same time, do a relaxation technique if you\u2019re feeling tense.\nTake a deep breath and release it, feeling the energy in your body. Then focus\non your intention, telling yourself, \u201cI CAN do this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t concentrate on\nwhat you want to avoid. <\/strong>Where do you focus your attention? Too often people\nfocus on hazards. Tracey knows from skiing that if she concentrates on the\nsharp rocks at the end of a trail, she\u2019ll run right into them. In your own challenging\nsituation, don\u2019t fixate on obstacles or visualize failure. Take hazards into\naccount, consider how to handle them, but keep your eyes on your goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Choose your course of\naction and follow through. <\/strong>If the conditions aren\u2019t right or the timing is wrong,\nsay \u201cno\u201d and find a way to withdraw. If you say \u201cyes\u201d to the challenge, then\nfollow through to the best of your ability. Either way, commit to your choice\nwith intention. Then pay attention, remaining centered so you can make\nadjustments if conditions change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are you facing a new\nchallenge in life?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If so, take a mindful moment to center down and ask yourself\nthese questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Intention: \u201cWhat do I want?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Attention: \u201cWhat are the conditions like?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. From Tension to Intention: \u201cHow do I feel?\u201d If you\u2019re\ntense and anxious, take a deep breath and release it, visualizing your goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Attention and Focus: \u201cAre there obstacles ahead?\u201d\nConsider how you can deal with them, then focus on your goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Intention to Action: Before proceeding, ask if the\nconditions and timing are right. If not, step back for now. If so, then move\nforward with intention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Either way, with intention and attention, you\u2019ll blend the\nenergies within and around you to create greater harmony in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Namaste,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Diane<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reference: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some information in this post appeared earlier in Dreher, D.\n(1998). The Tao of <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Womanhood. <\/em>New\nYork, NY: William Morrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" “What you desire and what you fear are within yourself.” Tao Te Ching, Chapter 13 When you face a new challenge, what do you feel? Fear, anxiety\u2014or excitement? Whatever you call it, it\u2019s energy. And this new rush … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.scu.edu\/writeherewritenow\/files\/2019\/03\/20190309_133252-004-1.jpg\")
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