Recharge Technique

Courtesy of Steve Forst and the Author Noted Below:

A lot of people have been feeling “overwhelmed” lately…they have too much to do in too little time and no one to delegate to (due to downsizing within the organization.) Therefore, I am hoping that “Stillpoints” will remind you how to find space in each day to renew yourselves.

A Stillpoint is stopping quickly and doing nothing for just a moment. It is brief and meant to be used any time, all the time (every day, in fact), and many times a day. Stillpoints are essentially very short: a few seconds or a few minutes. They are designed to take advantage of the unfilled moments in life: waiting for the microwave to heat your coffee, brushing your teeth, or sitting at a stoplight. They are also to be used at moments of stress: walking into an interview, during a feeling of anger, or when you know you are going to be late for an appointment… to name a few.

A day with fifteen Stillpoints will make you much more peaceful, satisfied, and calm, no matter how much you have to do, how many people you have to attend to, or how many fires you have to put out. The advantage of Stillpoints is that they can be incorporated into your life with minimal disruption and maximum effect.

What you do during a Stillpoint is simple: you stop doing whatever you are doing, sit or stand, take a deep breath with your eyes open or closed, focus your attention inward, and remember what you need to remember. Stop, breathe, and remember. The remembering part is very flexible: it can mean recalling a belief or event that motivates you. But it can also mean remembering a thought that brings you strength or peace, a message you need to hear at that moment like, “You can do it,” or a self-encouragement like, “You are okay.” Stop, breathe, and remember.

An example of how I use Stillpoints in my work is…in the midst of a tough team facilitation process…I stop, breathe, and remember why I am there: “To help the team have insight or guidance to overcome an obstacle or to make an important change.” This Stillpoint process keeps me energized and focused on what matters most in the moment.

So, Stillpoints have a physical part (being still and breathing) and a spiritual part (remembering what your purpose is, feeling appreciation, or other words that are meaningful for you to hear.) The very essence of Stillpoints is deep, intentional breathing and a moment of quiet recollection. Try it…it can be life changingJ

Excerpt from: Stopping: How To Be Still When You Have To Keep Going by Dr. David Kuntz.