Three weeks distance from my interview with Tama Kieves has not dampened my enthusiasm about the conversation one bit.  To the contrary, my hiatus from this blog and other creative endeavors has allowed me to focus on administrative and operational issues with my business and life, but has made the advice from Tama all that more relevant.  One suggestion that sticks is to enjoy “slowed down moments of self-connection” to hear the wisdom within yourself – a practice I’ve  neglected as I rush from meeting to meeting and task to task.  The result:  I’m pretty cranky and feel like I’m working harder, not smarter.  Also the work I’m doing doesn’t always seem aligned with my bigger purpose. Uh oh, I guess it’s time to slow down a bit!

Of course meditation is a popular and powerful means to slow down and renew.  It’s something I feel I should do but frankly I can’t settle down for more than 5 minutes.  My best moments of mental/emotional renewal come from being with my dog and my horses. What teachers they are!  Always right in the here and now.

For a friend of mine Salsa dancing is the path to renewal.  In the dance she is completely present and energized.  My husband retreats to his wood shop when he needs to connect to self.  Good thing he is “in the present moment” when using that table saw! 

An amusing (and effective) piece of advice for getting present in the current moment is to ask yourself, Where’s my butt?   Think about it…Is it in the chair? Walking down the street?  In the grocery store? About 3 and a half feet above the ground?  You can’t help but be present as you figure out where your rump is!

Curt Rosengren, a coach-blogger-passion-catalyst whom I admire, included being present as one criteria for success.  I think he’s on to something here.  Imagine how much more alive you’d feel if you were even 10% more present day to day.  By this defininition, my dog is about the most successful creature around…food for thought

More food for thought:  What is your unique way to slow down for self connection?