March 2014

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Sage words from an old boss, stranger on a plane and coincidentally (or is it?), “Dr. Bob”. Robert Mauer, Ph.D. aka “Dr. Bob”, is a wonderful psychologist I met at a friend’s work event 25 years ago in Chicago. Meeting him changed our lives (a post for another time).

Flash forward to life in Denver where I attended a workshop on Kaizen. According to the book jacket on Amazon: “Rooted in the two thousand-year-old wisdom of the Tao Te Ching–“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”–Kaizen is the art of making great and lasting change through small, steady increments. Kaizen is the tortoise versus the hare. Kaizen is the eleven Fortune 500 companies that significantly outperformed the market through moderate, step-by-step actions. Kaizen is losing weight not by a crash diet (which more often than not crashes) but by eating one bite less at each meal–then, a month later, eating two bites less. Kaizen is starting a life-changing exercise program by standing–just standing–on a treadmill for one minute a day.”

I had totally forgotten about Kaizen, until last week when Dr. Bob and his book, One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way by Robert Maurer Ph.D were mentioned in an article.

Shazam!

It’s Spring cleaning time (metaphorically) and all week I had been thinking about how to “clean some things up.” I wanted to do some things “better.” My “betters” were born of wanting to give and receive more kindness, showing up for others AND myself, and accepting situations and people/life as it was. As Dr. Bob says, “A life long journey – made one step at a time.”

Thus, I embraced this g-d wink and took one small step toward “better” by anonymously treating my daughter’s Debate class to a frozen yogurt outing. They took several titles at their State Championship. It’s one thing to say Congratulations! – It’s another thing to show it. Then, a call led me to leave soup outside of someone’s door. Later on that day, I was walking with my friend who always illuminates this phase of life and makes me laugh (at situations and myself) — she called the day Tzdekah (Jewish word for charity) Tuesday.

Then I realized…my blog posts on MindFULL Mondays.

And so it was, with my friend’s laughter, insights, delight for my daughter and more g-d winks than I could count, that I thought of creating my own Kaizen – Day Ways – a daily practice to keep me conscious and moving toward “better”, one step at a time. I’m sharing them with the hope that you, too, may decide to create a MindFULL Day that motivates you to take one small step toward your own “better.”

MindFULL Day Ways

MindFULL Monday – I am going to get back into the habit of posting something I hope will be enjoyable every Monday.

Tzedakah Tuesday – I am going to make a small difference in one person’s life every Tuesday.

Willpower Wednesday – I am going to set a goal for myself and take one little step toward it every Wednesday.

Thoughtful Thursday – I am going to cut everyone (including myself) some slack on Thursdays.

Freeday Friday – I am going to do one thing that is fun!

Sensual Saturday (all senses) – I am going to be aware of all my senses (touch, smell, taste hearing, sight) and do one thing to feed each of them.

Soulful Sunday – I am going to read or listen to one thing that might give me a new perspective.

p.s. I happen to write this post on FreeDay Friday – a day to do something fun! Here I am having a beer and leisurely lunch with my Dad, who is visiting. I also updated this on Soulful Sunday and true to my intention, received another g-d wink via time spent with someone who always gives me loving perspective.

What MindFULL Day have you created?

Let us know!