Written by: Kristie Kennedy, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Genius demands space to express. Growth demands space to expand. Greatness demands space to evolve. Without space, you will suffocate.
In my young adult years, I rarely took time to deeply consider why I was moving at break-neck speed. One day in my senior year of college, sitting in the back of the class, the professor quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He said, “Nothing pains some people more than having to think.” Hmmm, I will never forget this pivotal moment in time because that was the catalyst to contemplative living.
“Each life needs its own quiet place” — Melody Beattie.
During my childhood, we spent most of our days using the power of imagination to create moments that I still vividly remember.
In today’s society, there is a strong undercurrent of constant chaos and global contention pulling our attention. How many times have you reached for your mobile device unintentionally in the past hour? It is the same autopilot response that leads us to open the refrigerator multiple times as if something new will appear. The daily discipline of sitting in solitude is an invitation to wander in a whole new world of enlightenment, enrichment, and excitement.
“I remember to breathe throughout the day. I remind myself that I can choose peace, no matter what is going on around me. Whenever I desire, I can retreat to that quiet place within simply by closing my eyes.” — Doreen Virtue
As a former workaholic who is extremely achievement-oriented and purpose-driven, I understand the value of high-caliber self-care. I would often ask the question, “Is it possible to be successful and healthy?” As leaders in our respective industries, the demands are unceasing. To persevere under pressure and operate at peak levels during adverse circumstances, a pause from the cause is paramount. There will come a day when you are standing at your own crossroads of change and recognize the dire need to do something drastically different.
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” — Anais Nin
When you are blazing on the success speedway, it may feel overwhelming to make any adjustments in fear of crashing into a wall. We can navigate through this crowded place together.
The first step is to find out what makes sitting alone with your thoughts uncomfortable? It is hard to conquer that which we are unwilling to confront.
Am I avoiding any unresolved pain that I’ve experienced in the past?
Do I fear missing out on a self-imposed timeline in comparison to the lives of others?
Will I have to face a truth that I have chosen to suppress?
"When thinking about your life remember this: no amount of guilt can change the past and no amount of anxiety can change the future." — Unknown
Step two:
Create a list of benefits to creating space to contemplate. The moment you begin practicing a new way of being, a certain level of resistance is normal. Understanding why the change is important will ground you during times of uncertainty and dwindling resolve.
1) The beauty of having space to contemplate provides freedom to express myself apart from public opinion.
2) The joy of having space to contemplate allows time to explore beneath the abysmal depths of my soul to hear the whispers buried in the noise.
3) The power of having space to contemplate infuses strength into a weary mind until it emerges fortified.
4) The richness of having space to contemplate is actualized when empathy flows freely from a heart full of compassion and generosity.
5) The delight of having space to contemplate is celebrated when every breath is a step towards a heightened awareness of becoming one’s best self.
“Being silent for me doesn't require being in a quiet place and it doesn’t mean not saying words. It means, "Receiving in a balanced, non-combative way what is happening." With or without words, the hope of my heart is that it will be able to relax and acknowledge the truth of my situation with compassion.” — Sylvia Boorstein
Step three:
Decide to live by design and not default. Consider each of the responsibilities you are currently managing. Are they in alignment with your top five values and highest priorities? If not, decide to eliminate the non-essentials draining your energy and taking you away from what matters most.
I would love to hear your thoughts. Complete this sentence and share with me what feels most challenging at this time in your life.
What I need NOW is LESS and MORE .
“It's a quiet place, so people talk quietly," said Naoko. She made a neat pile of fish bones at the edge of her plate and dabbed at her mouth with a handkerchief. "There's no need to raise your voice here. You don't have to convince anybody of anything, and you don't have to attract anyone's attention.” — Haruki Murakami
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Kristie Kennedy, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Kristie Kennedy, The Image Confidence Expert, is a TEDx Audacious Leadership Keynote Speaker and Authentic Lifestyle Author. As the owner of Queenfidence Global Image Consulting, her electrifying inspirational gift empowers women with confidence and clarity keys to find their voice, free their voice and look fabulous using their voice. She specializes in four areas of peak performance: mindset mastery, massive momentum, magnetic messaging, and potential maximization. She is a Certified Radical Resilience Trainer who builds powerhouse mindsets to equip them for success. Kristie's evocative teaching style elevates your self-perception from stuck to unstoppable, invisible to invincible, and timid to tenacious. Her bodacious belief is a testament that you can shift from mediocrity to magnificence one daring action step at a time.
