- Business Marketing
- 10 TIPS for Networking
- Social Networking???
- Hamsters, It’s Time to Get Off the Wheel! – How to Release Your Forward-Thinking Scoundrel
- Event Planning
- How to list on LinkerNoodle
- Green Living: Declutter, Donate, & Enjoy!
- Event Marketing WORKSHEET
Hamsters, It’s Time to Get Off the Wheel! – How to Release Your Forward-Thinking Scoundrel
09/19/2009 - By DEANNA REITER Deanna Reiter
The Nine Scoundrels Book Cover
A Forward-Thinking Scoundrel mentality is one of nine common subtle patterns of sabotage, known as The Nine Scoundrels, affecting most people.
Hamsters, It’s Time to Get Off the Wheel! – How to Release Your Forward-Thinking Scoundrel
by Deanna Reiter, MA
Karen uses her drive home from work to catch up on phone calls, the latest music, and to plan her dinner menu. From time to time, she reads, writes and sends text messages and e-mails. She packs every moment of every day to the fullest, buzzing about from one activity to the next without being fully aware of anything she is doing. She lives her life with a sense of urgency, sometimes doing two or three things at once. While she thinks she is getting many things accomplished, in reality she is only accomplishing many things poorly. Karen has little patience and wants everything to be done “right now.” Because of this urgency, she usually ends up doing everything herself. She loves the theatre, museums and travel, but she has little recall of anything she has experienced.
Jackson is a well-known artist who has found success because his manager keeps him on task, but apart from his paid projects, he rarely finishes anything because something else always grabs his attention. Because of this, he is notorious for being late. Although he never stops to take breaks, he wastes a great deal of time because he assigns every activity, except his commissioned artwork, the same priority level for completion. He is charming with small talk, but he is a horrible conversationalist because his mind is unable to focus and contribute to the topic at hand.
Both Karen and Jackson are unconscious of how they are impairing their lives with a Forward-Thinking Scoundrel mentality. This is one of nine common subtle patterns of sabotage, known as The Nine Scoundrels, affecting most people. By becoming conscious of these nine scoundrels that distract us from happiness, we can dissolve the mind-set that has kept us locked in a world that is no longer ideal in one way or another. By discovering the patterns that are blocking your joy, you can create the life that you desire and deserve.
Forward-Thinking Scoundrels are rarely in the present moment, the most serene, authentic and joyful moment we can experience. They tend to be people who are anxious and filled with doubt and worry. Forward-Thinking Scoundrels rarely enjoy the peace that comes from stillness.
The worst time for Forward-Thinking Scoundrels is bedtime. If they are unable to fall asleep, many Forward-Thinking Scoundrels become anxious and dwell on what they will need to do the next day. The lethargic feeling that accompanies sleep deprivation may help them to slow down their minds and actions initially, but long term it has disastrous effects.
Many Forward-Thinking Scoundrels tend to be in a frantic pace most of the day. While they continue to move at such a rapid pace, they only allow more time for more things to fit into their schedules. It’s an endless cycle. They become hamsters running around in a wheel, and by increasing their pace in an attempt to get more things done, they really only end up increasing their pace.
The more activities we try to squeeze into our day, the more irritable we become. How joyful can we be when we rush from one activity to the next without transitioning or enjoying ourselves?
So, how can we break free of the Forward-Thinking Scoundrel?
In order to slow down the pace of our lives, we must actually slow down. When we slow down, fewer things will be able to fit in our lives. The things in which we engage then gain our full attention and become more enjoyable because we are more relaxed and less distracted.
Check in with the pace of your present lifestyle. How can you establish a slower rhythm in your day? Can you take regular breaks? Take the opportunity for a break right now. Take a few deep breaths. Close your eyes and get calm. Lower your head into a forward folding position, such as resting your head on your desk or lap. Forward folds bring calming energy into the body.
By taking several breaks throughout the day, you will not only be calmer, but be more efficient as well. It is a beautiful paradox that by slowing down, you will be more productive. You gain greater clarity and focus by taking breaks.
Along with taking breaks, make sure you fully relax. In order to free yourself from this scoundrel, a switch in perception needs to occur. Value and importance need to be placed on relaxation. What good is a clean house if you have exhausted yourself to get it clean? What good is a manicured lawn if your back is wrought with tension because you avoided taking a break? What good is accomplishing loads of computer work if your eyes are strained and your shoulders and chest are tight from hovering over the keyboard for hours?
Time spent in relaxation lets the body, mind and spirit become harmonious and recover from the hundreds of tasks we demand of ourselves. Just as athletes would not subject themselves to weeks of training without sleep, neither should we avoid moments of relaxation in our lives. As physical beings, placing too much stress on our bodies moves us into a stage of chronic exhaustion where autoimmune disorders, digestive, circulatory and endocrine problems can occur.
True happiness comes to Forward-Thinking Scoundrels when they allow themselves time to rest, such as in the evening or when they are on vacation. These relaxing periods often occur after huge bouts of productivity. Even at these times, they may still be forward-thinking, but it is much less intense than usual. Forward-Thinking Scoundrels also gain happiness when they reflect on past achievements and successes.
Slowing down is the best pathway to ultimate joy for Forward-Thinking Scoundrels. Scheduling less each day with more time between activities is helpful. Meditating, or deep breathing, will slow down the mind and will result in becoming more efficient and less harried. Short meditation periods, such as three minutes or less, done several times throughout the day will greatly calm these scoundrels and provide tranquility and contentment.
Being present is also crucial to release the Forward-Thinking Scoundrel. In moments of self doubt, we can turn inward through meditation and deep breathing and gain the self assurance we need for any feat we may attempt. This helps us to be present and also veers us away from potentially self-destructive methods of escape, such as unconscious eating, drinking, smoking, etc. It offers us a few precious moments during the day to rejuvenate ourselves and relax, which will give us a more optimistic outlook on ourselves and our environment.
Staying present makes us pay attention to when we are not mindful of potential danger. We may be likely to carry a heavy bag a long way if we are distracted. This could result in stiffness and pain. We may not notice a hole in the ground or misjudge walking around a desk. It allows us to correct bad habits and establish good ones.
By being mindful of the present moment, we release the past and the present and the whole realm of anxiety and regret that is exaggerated in our memory and our projections. The present moment nearly always finds us safe and protected. As long as our basic needs are met, the present moment is blissful. Our senses become alive in the present. We see and hear fine details, feel interesting textures, and savor aromas and tastes. It opens channels of compassion and empathy toward other people. It helps us experience things more deeply and fully.
The perfect affirmation for these scoundrels is: I have the time, energy and ability to accomplish all that I need to accomplish. By embracing that statement, forward-thinkers, like Karen and Jackson, can be present, slow down and relax. As they stop racing through life, these scoundrels can analyze their goals and prioritize their lives so that what is truly important to them is completed joyfully and efficiently.
Part of the above article is an excerpt of The Nine Scoundrels: How to Recognize and Release Subtle Patterns of Sabotage by Deanna Reiter. It is available for $12.00 at: http://www.dayawati.com.
Deanna Reiter is an expert in the world of positive thinking and releasing sabotage. She is the author of Dancing with Divinity: Positive Affirmations for any Situation and The Nine Scoundrels. She is also the creator of two DVD’s: Dancing with Divinity Yoga DVD and Reiki Affirmation Dance. Deanna is a Certified Yoga and Pilates Instructor, Personal Trainer, Rebirthing Breathworker and Reiki Practioner. For more information, please contact Deanna through her website: www. dayawati.com.
Powered by eDirectory™