Wholehearted Living Guidepost #7: Cultivating Play & Rest

11/13/2014

I love Brené Brown's Guideposts for Wholehearted Living. Each time I read through them, I find a new nugget of wisdom that speaks to me and helps me re-center on what's truly important in my life.

Here are some thoughts on Guidepost #7 as we go into the weekend...

Guidepost #7: Cultivating Play & Rest -
Letting Go of Exhaustion as a Status Symbol and Productivity as Self-Worth

Click on the picture above to connect to the article.

How often do you ask a friend or colleague how they're doing, and in reply, hear, "Busy!"

How often do you find yourself giving that same response?

My partner sent this article to me a few weekends ago (a hint perhaps?) while I was getting geared up to jump into a really busy next few weeks. I love On Being with Krista Tippett so I enthusiastically put aside what I was working on to read it.

I want to share a quote with you that spoke to me:

"In many Muslim cultures, when you want to ask them how they’re doing, you ask: in Arabic, Kayf haal-ik? or, in Persian, Haal-e shomaa chetoreh? How is your haal?

What is this haal that you inquire about? It is the transient state of one’s heart. In reality, we ask, “How is your heart doing at this very moment, at this breath?” When I ask, “How are you?” that is really what I want to know."

I've tried to be more mindful of my own haal these last few weeks. It hasn't made my to-do list any shorter or my calendar any less full, but it has helped me be more aware of the impact that being busy has on me. I've thus also been more intentional about creating space (even where it seems there is none) to connect with the people I love, to be creative, and to play. It hasn't been easy to find the space, but it's been worth it. And, it is also guiding me to be increasingly intentional about how I'm committing my time in the future.

How is your haal? If "busy" is your automatic response, how can you create more space? And if you do, what will that give you? (more room for joy, love, play, laughter, connection, creativity...?)

To learn more about walking the path of The Daring Way™ (a highly experiential methodology based on the research of Dr. Brenè Brown) with me, click here.

2 Comments

Tiffany Lynn Lepp link

11/26/2014 06:18:39 am

Kristi,

LOVE this post. LOVE the article you shared by Omid Safi.

I used to be that person that was “....so busy....”

I snapped out of it when someone I love got sick. It put things into perspective fast. But it took time and an entire attitude adjustment.

The most important shift for me was realizing that I have choices and I’ve been very intentional with those choices. I choose what I do in my free time. I choose what food I put in my mouth. I choose where to put my money. Once in a blue moon there isn’t much of a choice. But I’ve found that life I live is a direct result of the choices I’ve made. I’m no longer busy, if I choose not to be busy.

Thanks for sharing this excellent information. Can’t wait for the next one!

Kristi Nigh

12/4/2014 08:00:26 am

Hi Tiffany! I got goosebumps when I read what you said about shifting your perspective when your loved one got sick. So many times we tell ourselves that we'll make time for what's truly important "later" because something else seems pressing right now. And then sometimes life reminds us that really all we have is "right now" and the choices in this very moment. Thanks for sharing your experience and for this excellent reminder of the power of choice in our lives.

Kristi Nigh, MSW, LCSW, CPCC, PCC
Professional Coach

I help people live, work, and act from their Best Selves as much of the time as possible, so that they can feel proud of how they show up in the world.
To learn more, contact me:

(314) 881-8289
kristi@kristinigh.com

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