When in doubt, begin with self

If you are a human being, you will be finding something hard right now.?

We are all fatigued – mentally, emotionally and physiologically.

The struggle is real when we are flooded with external demands, trying to stay on top of the workload while managing relationships at home and at work, trying to take care of our households or managing to stay afloat if we are battling it alone.

Here are 4 simple?mindset hacks?to help you on this next leg of the journey:

1. Always begin with self.?

Because, simply, that’s the only thing that you are really in control of at any given moment in time.

E + R = O?( Event + Response = Outcome)??

Without this equation, you will be stuck in a reactive pattern to events and that’s exhausting and counterproductive. To get yourself unstuck, focus on the learning zone.

Some useful questions to ponder: How can I get back into the locus of control? Who do I want to be? Are my actions aligned with my values?

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2. Ask yourself: What matters most right now?

Get crystal clear on what’s really important to you right now. This is an ongoing battle when we are juggling so much and requires a daily check-in with yourself. Give yourself permission to pause and reflect: In the fulness of time what would have mattered most?

?Be diligent about this dynamic of?urgent vs important??

Try to lighten up the bottom two quadrants and give yourself permission to focus on what may not appear urgent but really matters the most. Just having the intention to reflect on this is a good start and will give you access to the top quadrant.

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3. You have to nourish to flourish.

Stop wearing your exhaustion as a badge of honour - this powerful reminder comes from Brenê Brown. As conscientious, busy people, the impulse is to knuckle down and work harder.

To be your best self, you need to find a more holistic approach to getting stuff done. Working harder in a state of exhaustion and brain fog is simply not productive.?

A beautiful and wise reminder from my colleague Andrew Deering came in this morning:?

"Make sure to keep feeding your souls amongst these changes. Serving self is the most powerful way to enable you to serve others. And a little further…?serving self is not self-serving!"

4. You are FLAWESOME!?(flawed AND awesome, at the same time!)

We are not machines; we are complex, vulnerable, brilliant creatures with infinite potential to grow, learn and adjust. True opportunity lies in accepting this paradox of being flawsome. Remember, we are wired for negativity bias. Start noticing the awesome a bit more and accept the flaws that are part and parcel of being human.?

Everything depends on the focus of your attention.?What will you lean into today?

About the author

Maya Nova is a speaker, trainer, coach and a mindful leadership consultant with over a decade of experience working with people and organisations to help them improve their mental agility, resilience and wellbeing. She is passionate about living our lives as if they really mattered, mindfully, one day at a time. Some of her clients include TVNZ, ANZ, Fisher & Paykel, 2degrees, Tower and Lotto NZ among many others. Visit her?website?

You can sign up for more of?Maya's mindfulness musings?here.

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