Check Yourself

Hard Stop is intended to help people set their intentions and put boundaries around their priorities so they can ensure all areas of their lives are getting the time/attention they need.???

What I have found in talking with people about this topic is that it’s not necessarily the stopping piece that is hard; it’s just the starting doesn’t happen.

And that’s not intentional.?

Most people that I’ve met agree with the idea of living more intentionally. Sure, who doesn’t think that it would be great to try to find time in their lives for what we find most meaningful and prioritize making time for that?

It’s an easy concept to get your head around. That’s not the issue. It’s this:

It’s just not on our radar.?

It’s not a part of our day-to-day life.

• We’re busy.

• We’re tired.

• We are working all day.?

• We’re in meetings most of the day.

• We may have school drop offs.

• Pick-ups.

• After-school activities.

• Work on the house that needs to be done.

• Chores.

• Cooking.

• Cleaning.

• Grocery shopping.

The list goes on and on and is different for everyone.? Adulting can just flat out suck sometimes with all of our responsibilities, right?

So what doesn’t happen (not just doesn’t happen with regularity; just flat out doesn’t happen) is we take time to check in with ourselves. I’ll share more as we go, but I’m starting with one very simple question because even making the time to do this can seem like too much.?

Ask this:

Am I where I want to be in my life right now?

Go there.

Are you where you want to be in your life professionally? Personally. In your relationship with your partner, your kids, your friends, your family? Physically. Emotionally. Spiritually. Whatever comes to mind, just note it. That’s it. Just take the time to check in.

And here’s the best part about this! All it takes is the following:

? Notebook

? Pen

? Some time to think

We’re on a hamster wheel so frequently in the craziness that is our non-stop schedules that we rarely stop to think:

“Hey!? Is this even the direction I want to be running in?”??

I’ve been there a few times in my life. And while I won’t say that the answers to the question I posed to myself didn’t lead to having to make some big life changes – I recognize that the first step was just getting out of my day-to-day, stepping back, and asking a simple question.

It was extremely powerful just doing that check-in. I hope you find it helpful as well.??