#33: Flow & Ease At Work

BE PRESENT, BREATHE AND SMILE

The sun beats down, casting a warm glow upon your face. As you swing back and forth, the world around you fades, and you're consumed by a sense of inner peace. It's a feeling that can be found anywhere, not just on a beach.

Take a deep breath. Find the bliss in each inhale. Life is not meant to be taken too seriously.

➜ Add this photo to your dashboard*

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MANTRA BREAKDOWN

The overwhelm that comes from a seemingly impossible task is uncomfortable, so we procrastinate. The confusion that comes from dealing with a new challenge must mean that something is wrong, so we doubt ourselves and deepen our frustration.

What makes work "hard" is not the work itself. Our relationship to the emotions that arise is the true source of our suffering. That discomfort is coming from our resistance inside.

What if instead of resisting when tension arises, we choose to relax? What if we believed that feeling our frustration is a true mark of progress? A sign that the brain is working hard behind the scenes to make the necessary neural connections?

Next time you're faced with a difficult task or situation, try accepting it in all of its complexity. The moment we stop avoiding the “hard” stuff is when we can start approaching all challenges with a sense of ease.

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STUFF WE LIKE

Here, a Momentum team member will share a cool thing, tool, or concept that helps them experience more fun, flow & ease throughout the workweek.

Building a "Second Brain"

"Every year, I bombard my poor brain with 4-5 things I’m obsessed with. This year, I’m into learning Japanese, digital illustration, and Buddhism.

I started reading Tiago Forte’s book, Building a Second Brain, and realized this was exactly what I needed to organize the noisy (and ambitious) part of my brain.

Tiago has created a mindful system that helps you organize and develop random bits of valuable information using one system: Your ‘Second Brain.’ This helps you free your actual brain to create more, evolve your own brilliant ideas, and simply be present... I’ve already started designing mine on Notion. If you’re interested, here’s how to choose the right note-taking app for you.🤓"

– Silvi D.

YOUR 4-STEP RITUAL FOR INFUSING MORE FLOW & EASE INTO YOUR WORKDAY

Most work is far from a cakewalk. The fires that need putting out, the pressing deadlines, the disagreements that arise within a team... Even your own mind will have mental hang-ups that might stall progress on a project or a report you’re writing.

Here's the thing though: Work doesn't have to be a breezy experience for you to feel a constant sense of flow & ease.

That higher energy is caused by something within your control: How you choose to respond to external events. Changing your response requires deeper awareness and a little bit of intentional rewiring. Here's how.

STEP ONE. Make inner peace your primary objective. 

To resist the (very human) impulse of getting swept up by everyday stressors, we need to redefine our definition of personal success. Redefine it around what you have control over: Staying grounded despite discomfort or uncertainty.

Set the intention first thing in the morning. Use a mantra like: "I can handle anything," "Relax & release any worries," and "I am always okay." You'll find that when you stay centered, you're the most equipped to perform at your best (and enjoy the process along the way!)

STEP TWO. Deepen your self-awareness with meditation.

Starting your day with a 10-minute meditation helps us settle the mental dust that work tends to kick up. Through this practice, we become increasingly aware of the "distractors" or "triggers" as they're coming up instead of after.

This allows us to press pause and make the right decision at critical points. Like the moment you want to check your email when you really mean to start writing. Or jumping to (unhelpful) conclusions after reading a stressful work email.

Catching yourself at these moments is essential in maintaining a relaxed focus, and you can’t do that without regularly practicing self-awareness.

STEP THREE. Invite this ease into your work. 

Transfer the awareness you cultivated during meditation over to your first task.

The key is to start smaller and slower than you think. Get clear on what task you're focused on, and set a timer for 15 minutes. During this time, release any expectations about what the work should look or feel like. Let yourself acknowledge any confusion, frustration, or doubt without allowing it to derail you.

STEP FOUR. Check in, and recalibrate as necessary. 

Just a couple of minutes is all we need to check in and reflect on the following: How do I feel? Am I still on task? Can I make my task more easy and specific?

STEP FIVE. Recenter repeatedly. Keeping this intention of maintaining inner peace is not like flipping a switch. We need guardrails that bring us back whenever we fall off. Take a deep breath, and relax where you feel tension. Come back to this step as many times as you need.

WHAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING

Begin your day with an intention or mantra to stay centered: Put it on your Momentum Dashboard; stick it on a Post-it on your laptop, or set it as a reminder on your phone.

Follow with a short meditation. If you’re new to the practice, start by focusing on your breath for one minute this week. This is how it all starts! 🙂

IT’S ALL GOOD (NEWS)

Here are a few stories that may spark curiosity and wonder. ✨

• 🌎 Environment: Cargo Ship Flies a Giant Kite To Save Fuel and Cut Emissions

• ❤️ Health: 10-Year Aging Study Shows This Lifestyle Seems To Slow Memory Decline in Older People

• 🦾 Technology: Terracotta Roof Tiles That Act As Invisible Solar Panels

• 🪐 Space: Meteorite Hunting in Antarctica Leads to One of the Largest Ever Found