FOUR PILLARS Thank you for continuing to join me on this journey of (hopefully!) bringing more balance to life. As I shared in the last edition, the mission of CORE Women focuses on four pillars: Mind, Body, Spirit, and Community.
OUR MIND IS THE FIRST PILLAR There are so many different directions we could go when discussing the mind, but for me, I’ve been working on several steps. I’m intentionally staying focused, quieting the busyness to be present wherever I am, devoting time to meditation and prayer, and learning new things by tapping into my interests and learning style so I can fully bloom!
STAYING FOCUSED Growing up, I was a curious, hyper child. I talked too much, couldn’t sit still, and wouldn’t be found reading a book quietly in a corner. I wanted an “S” for “Satisfactory” on the conduct portion of my report card instead of an “N” for “Needs Improvement” so badly, but I didn’t know how to stop talking and pay attention. I spent most of my younger years thinking I wasn’t very smart. It wasn’t until I was working on my MBA when I decided to go to a doctor and was diagnosed with ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. He started me on medication to help me with my ADHD, and within a few days, I learned that I love to read and was suddenly able to pay attention in class. I realized what had been going on was not that I wasn’t smart, but just that I was struggling to stay focused. That’s when I found a love for learning.
QUIETING BUSYNESS & BEING FULLY PRESENT Fast forward to the present time where I am always going several different directions and want to do so many things. It’s still a bit challenging to slow down and be fully present to quiet my mind. I can be in one place while thinking of three other things I need to be doing, or have a conversation and tune out halfway through it. Sometimes it is hard to tame the monkeys in my mind, but I have found meditation to be a huge help.
MEDITATION & PRAYER There is a lot of research to support meditation for several areas of our health. I am a fan of concentrative meditation, where I focus on deep breathing and spending time with God. During that time, I let go of all my thoughts and distractions and shift all my focus to Him. When wandering thoughts pop up, I kindly pat them on their little heads, refocus my thoughts on God, and quietly sit in His presence. When I need a little guidance on a specific topic, I use a meditation app on my phone that walks me through a Bible verse and prayer, all while reminding me to take slow, deep breaths. I have found that when I start my day off with quieting my mind and giving God the first few minutes, I am better suited to take on whatever comes my way.
LEARNING NEW THINGS After my morning quiet time of meditation and prayer, I am fresh and ready to learn something new! Right now, my “something new” is French. Later this year, a group of us will be traveling to France and I cannot wait to practice my “Texas French” with the new Parisian friends I’ll meet! Right now it’s French, but my audiobooks, paperbacks, Youtube, and podcasts all ebb and flow between topics such as gardening tips, the human body, recipes I can’t wait to try, or some kind of self-help. The number of topics I am interested in could keep me busy for several lifetimes. I have such a passion for learning and growing and encourage you to do so also. First, find your own new interests and style of learning.
EXPLORE YOUR INTERESTS & LEARNING STYLE What do you like to do? What makes you feel happy? What do you love to dream about doing? Get creative! Learning is fun and there are many avenues you can choose from including audiobooks, reading, one-on-one coaching, spending time with a mentor, or enrolling in a cooking class. Explore by traveling or learning something new…a sport, hobby, art, trade, or a new language. Consider taking a class at the local college. Whatever your style–morning, or night, being indoors or sitting with a cup of coffee outdoors by the pool–consider taking time to be quiet, meditate, and breathe slowly and deeply. Start with 8 minutes. Try paying attention to where you are and what you’re doing without thinking about other things or looking at your phone (I’m totally talking to myself here.)
WATCH YOUR MIND BLOOM After you have found that “something” you are passionate or curious about, discover your learning style and challenge yourself to grow. Take that class, read the book, try new foods, learn a new dance, see new things, and watch your mind bloom!
CORE Women will host a brunch on June 29. If you would like to join us, visit our CORE Women Facebook Page for
more details.—
