Bridging The Gap: S-H-I-F-T!
Staying in first gear will get you no where fast and damage your transmission if you do not shift to the next gear when driving a vehicle with a manual transmission. Shifting from gear to gear moves the vehicle forward, helps to slow it down, and more.
Keep this thinking in mind and consider how often you do not shift from one period to another period of the day for various reasons. You have found it hard to have a clear focus because your mind is busy and cannot fully engage with the present. As a result, you do not perform as well as you want or need to.
What do you need to do…?
S-H-I-F-T!
In school, I remember experiencing moments of release between classes. Walking in the halls and briefly seeing/chatting with my friends before entering a new class. It was a welcome break. But as I reflect more, I also remembered there were many moments when I physically changed classes, but emotionally remained in the room I just left.
I was in a new class with a new teacher and instruction but was emotionally stuck in the old class/instruction for various reasons. Things like receiving a failure on a test; no confidence to take a pop quiz, and not understanding a new instruction are a few mental dispositions that kept me emotionally in the room.
You can imagine how my day evolved. I carried a load in my mind that held my attention captive enough to where I did not know how to leave it or move forward. Therefore, confusion and chaos were thoughts firing and diminishing my focus, creativity, confidence, and so much more in the next class.
This was an unhealthy condition that kept me from consistently performing at high levels.
Fast forward-In my career.
I still had some challenges with being totally present-physically and emotionally in my next place. And suddenly, I was empowered to change.
During a few team meetings, my boss used to tell me, “When in the room, be in the room”. He said this because he saw a lack of attention and engagement from me. And instead of scorning, he coached me with these simple but profound words.
Immediately, a light bulb turned on in my head as I reflected on and processed them. I knew that I could not cheat myself anymore and or the content that he was presenting to me. They both required me to be present and engaged, so that I could take his intentions/instructions with me and perform the actions needed to get accomplished.
Furthermore, those things that happened before the meeting were second to his session. They were important but not at the expense of being disengaged at his meeting.
Guess what? It took some time and practice, but I shifted! And it worked. I got more things done as I learned to bring all of me in the room. This new journey paid off as I committed to the process.
Your Turn.
If you see yourself in the above paragraphs, do not be ashamed. You are not mentally off balance or incapable of engagement. Just accept that this is your current — temporary location and condition. Make a quality decision to shift and use the following practices to empower you:
· Be in the room when in the room
· Speak to yourself, “I am leaving all things pertaining to period A and going to period B”
· Take Notes. Focus your attention
· Ask for coaching (if the above do not work)
You have the baton in your hand to Shift. Now, win your race today!
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