?? Weekly Mind Sweep No. 160 | What’s On My Mind | Introspection
Jamie Chapman
Business Consultant. Transforming entrepreneurial ideas to profit. Strategic Advisor | Collaborator | Panelist | Speaker | Leader | Brain Geek
January 2025
*Week 160: What’s On My Mind: Introspection
New to the Weekly MindSweep? Past issues live here.
In the MindSweep this week:
Looking back to look within.
Saturday afternoon, I met an Aunt that I never knew existed.
I’ve been looking into my family’s past—just out of curiosity at first, poking around old documents and rummaging through genealogical records on Ancestry. Then, working with a local genealogist. You may remember some of my discoveries from our month’s discussion on Boundaries. [1]
I half-expected to find nothing more exciting than a few musty birth certificates.
Instead, I found an aunt.
Let’s sweep the brain…
?? Rather watch or listen instead of read? Now you can!
Let me say that again: I found an aunt I never knew about—
—someone who’d been a part of my family tree all along, just one branch over.
I met her in person this past Saturday, and it was simultaneously the most surreal and wonderful experience. It was like catching a glimpse of a puzzle piece I didn’t know was missing. This experience made me think about how we’ve spent the last few weeks discussing introspection.
Sometimes, you look back expecting a bunch of facts; instead, you discover an entire person!
Another layer of your own story.
In our first week of introspection (Week 157), we explored how life’s warning signs can go unnoticed if we don’t take a moment to reflect. It’s a bit like missing that a piece of your history is hiding in plain sight. I always wondered if there was more family out there. I could only shake my head. We were practically down the street this whole time.
Her family lived in the same area where my family walked every day:
Never knowing the relationship. Meanwhile, all the clues were available to me at the time. I had no idea. [2]
Looking back now, it’s clear I was racing forward without checking my “rearview mirror,” ignoring the subtle signals that something bigger was at play in my own family story.
Introspection is that mirror we all need—to slow down and ask, “Is there something behind me I’m missing?”
In Week 158, we discussed entrepreneurship as a heart-centered road trip. We talked about fueling up with purpose—checking in with yourself before you barrel ahead.
Discovering a long-lost aunt reminds me how easily we can get caught up in day-to-day hustle and forget that there’s a deeper context we’re part of.
Family, identity, and ancestry are all core pieces of who we are.
They can drive (or derail) our entrepreneurial pursuits if we’re not paying attention. Sometimes, the best “fuel stop” is letting yourself be open to whatever you discover, even if it shakes up your sense of who you are. My aunt’s existence didn’t just change my family tree; it reconnected me to a sense of wonder—it reminded me there’s more to life than the next deadline or business offering.
In Week 159, we talked about the “control room” in our minds, inspired by Pixar’s Inside Out, and how our medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) can be both a brilliant navigator and a relentless overthinker. Finding out you have a surprise relative is a recipe for that control room to go haywire. Excitement, anxiety, curiosity, disbelief—they all start clamoring for the controls at once.
If you’re anything like me, you know how quickly introspection can turn into rumination.
But then I remembered that introspection isn’t about regret but guiding me forward.
That’s when the “Sadness” part of my brain might want to brood on what-ifs and regrets. But, as we learned, introspection’s real gift is guiding us forward, not trapping us in loops of self-doubt. Recognizing the difference between helpful reflection and self-critical spiraling is crucial if we want to keep our emotional “console” balanced. [3]
So I breathed, smiled, and asked her about her life.
Uncovering my aunt has connected the dots and tied together these three weeks of introspection in a way I never anticipated:
Check the Rearview (Week 157)
My genealogical deep dive was a literal look backward. I found not just a name on a record but a living, breathing person who expanded my sense of who I am.
Fuel Up with Heart (Week 158)
Meeting her reminded me that real connections—family, friends, or new partnerships—are often what keep us going. They’re the emotional fuel that powers a heart-centered life and business.
Navigate the Control Room (Week 159)
As excited as I was to meet my aunt, I also noticed that flicker of “What if?” swirling in my mind. Recognizing when the brain shifts from genuine curiosity to unproductive rumination lets me stay present in the moment, celebrating this new family bond instead of getting lost in regret.
I left Saturday afternoon with more questions than answers and a heart that felt unexpectedly full. If one slip of paper could alter my entire understanding of “family,” what else am I missing in my business, my daily life, or my own mind?
Sometimes, the best way forward is to stop and look within.
If I hadn’t practiced these introspective habits—if I hadn’t paused, leaned into curiosity, and managed the swirl of emotions—I might have missed out on truly embracing this unexpected discovery.
Much like finding a long-lost relative, introspection is about seeing aspects of yourself you might not have known existed. It’s about recognizing the small signals, feeding your journey with genuine purpose, and keeping your emotional control room from spinning out of control.
One genealogical surprise reminded me that we’re all part of a larger story—and it’s never too late to learn more about where we come from or where we’re going.
I plan to keep up the conversation with my aunt, hear her stories, and weave them into my own.
In the same way, I hope you keep the conversation going with yourself—through journaling, mindfulness, or simple moments of pause.
领英推荐
Remember, introspection isn’t a one-time event; it’s a steady, ongoing practice. Whether you’re:
–the goal is growth, not perfection.
And hey, who knows what you might discover—an old memory that sparks a new idea, a relative who broadens your understanding of home, or simply a fresh perspective that changes your path. The road is wide open; just make sure to glance over your shoulder once in a while, keep your heart in the driver’s seat, and steer your thoughts with compassion and intention. [4/5]
Here’s to the journey—past, present, and future.?
My questions for you this week :
Reply and share with me!
Let’s discuss ways I can support you and your business.
Jamie’s Second Brain Corner:
[X] Did someone say MindSweep MAP?! Learn more about my Personalized MindSweep Mapping Process!
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What I’m reading and where to find me!
What I’m reading:
Storyworthy
Written by Matthew Dicks
This book has changed the way I write.
For 155+ weeks I’ve been developing my creative writing and this book gave me an invaluable insight on how to tell better stories.
Whether we realize it or not, we are always telling stories. On a first date or job interview, at a sales presentation or therapy appointment, with family or friends, we are constantly narrating events and interpreting emotions and actions.
In this compelling book, storyteller extraordinaire Matthew Dicks presents wonderfully straightforward and engaging tips and techniques for constructing, telling, and polishing stories that will hold the attention of your audience (no matter how big or small). He shows that anyone can learn to be an appealing storyteller, that everyone has something “storyworthy” to express, and, perhaps most important, that the act of creating and telling a tale is a powerful way of understanding and enhancing your own life.
Mindful Connections:
Connecting like-hearted entrepreneurs to build relationships, offering support, understanding their passions, and sharing their names in rooms of opportunity.
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Oh, Hi! I’m Jamie Chapman
Self-proclaimed brain geek, relationship builder, and business consultant who helps heart-centered entrepreneurs and small businesses execute their big ideas.
I have always been a curious person who thrives on helping others succeed.
Finding solutions is what I do.
When my twin boys were diagnosed with ADHD in elementary school, I had to learn how to navigate a school system that wasn’t built for neurodiverse individuals. By helping my boys find ways to succeed in these spaces, I realized the importance of shining a light on the gifts we bring to the world.
In a society that tries to “fit a round peg into a square hole,” I am here to support entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to take a different path to success.
While supporting small businesses in various industries, I have a special place in my heart for neurodiverse entrepreneurs and ADHD business owners.
Relationships and a holistic, human view of your business needs is something I value.
I meet you where you’re at and support you in getting where you want to go.
With a multifaceted approach to problem-solving, and extensive knowledge of executive functioning, habit formation, and the neurodiverse and ADHD entrepreneur’s mind, I support small business owners to thrive and feel proud of what they’re building.
My background is in manufacturing and business operations. I use my decades of experience with developing systems and processes to make your business operations smoother and more efficient.
As a perspective integrator and big-picture thinker, I want to help you execute your vision, spot inefficiencies, and find effective ways to grow your business.
Think of me as your strategic C.O.O. and partner in business success and growth. ?
Whether it’s 1:1 Consulting, MindSweep Mapping, or joining our Chickbook Creative community of business owners, I support idea generators in cultivating clarity and taking action to pursue their best ideas.
My purpose is to illuminate the gifts business owners and entrepreneurs bring to the world. I can’t wait to meet you and get started.
Chief Marketing Officer | Brand Builder | Idea Generator | Creative Partner | Coach | Speaker and Panelist | I help business owners create a brand strategy with ease that grows their community and makes sales.
1 个月I love this. Your perspective is a bright light in this dreary month. I am along for the ride!
Jamie Chapman, what a fascinating journey into your family history. Discovering connections like this can truly enrich our understanding of self. ?? #FamilyConnections