As a motivational speaker, mom, wife, and business owner, I live in a noisy world. TV commercials. Whistling husband. Seven-year-old banging into walls. Traffic. Radio. Doorbell. Phones ringing. Shoot, just the voices in my head are loud enough to be heard three counties over, but today I’m sitting in a hotel room wrapped in complete and total silence. And I’m realizing how little I let the quiet in. And the quiet is important. I think the quiet is where I can hear my heart. It’s where God whispers in my ear. It’s where things become clearer. It’s where I get the answers to my challenges in life and in business. And I’m realizing that I don’t seek the quiet enough. Lying in my bed isn’t good enough. Driving my son around isn’t enough. I need to schedule time when I can just be alone, step away from distractions, and listen. What about you? When was the last time you let the quiet in?
It sounds easy, but it’s not easy to schedule quiet. If you’re like me, you want to multitask – iron the clothes during the quiet – walk on the treadmill. Get two things done at once. I think the point is that you don’t do anything else. Let nothing distract you. Shut off your worries and things that need to be done. You may think that you don’t need it – that your family needs you more than you need a break. I disagree. You are no good to your family if you are running on empty. There is no reason that you must lose yourself in the art of taking care of others. You owe this to yourself.
So, here are some simple steps to help you let the quiet in, and reconnect with yourself:
1. Set aside time. Whether it’s five minutes or fifty – schedule this quiet time like you do anything else. Put it on your calendar. In ink! And commit.
2. Find the right place. You don’t want distractions. So, don’t choose the kitchen table on a Saturday afternoon. Choose a place where you know you won’t be interrupted. Preferably kid/husband/pet/neighbor/technology free.
3. Do it alone. Coffee with a girlfriend doesn’t count. This makes it a relationship time. Quiet time is about the relationship with yourself.
4. Let the others know that you are not to be interrupted during this quiet time. Tell your kids that unless something is falling off, you are not to be disturbed.
5. Make it a habit. It takes about 21 days to establish a habit. So, be consistent with your quiet time until it is routine.
6. Treasure it. Make it important enough that you will turn away other commitments in honor of this one. Give yourself the priority you deserve.
7. Journal it. Take notes during this quiet time. Again – don’t have an agenda . Don’t use that paper to write a list or another article for work. Use the paper to be in the moment and record your thoughts. It’s a documented way to see what messages are being sent to you in your quiet time.
8. Encourage others in your family to have their quiet time. What a great pattern to set. And how cool to raise children who know how to put balance in their lives.
9. And listen. Just listen to the messages that are being delivered.
The world is loud and it is hectic. If we aren’t careful, we won’t hear the best gifts above the noise. I hope you enjoy your quiet time. I know I did.
Motivational speaker KELLY SWANSON is an award-winning storyteller, comedian, and author of "Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale". She has been described by Our State Magazine as one of North Carolina’s funniest women. She uses hilarious comedy, powerful stories, and a wacky cast of southern characters to make people laugh, remind them of their value, and show them how to stand up and stick out in their lives, businesses, and communities. Her shows have delighted audiences from coast to coast, from board rooms to cruise ships.
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