Every morning, each of us has to decide what we will do with that day. If it's a work day, then the decision is made for us. We get up, do our morning routine, get ready and are off and out the door. We slip into forward gear and propel ourselves onward with a solid purpose for the day and for our lives. We work hard at being highly effective all week, yet start longing for the weekend somewhere mid-week, as our drive starts to wane. Come on weekend! We look forward to not having to hear an alarm buzzer, or to not having to get up and shower immediately. If we don't want to get dressed all day, we don't have to. We can read whatever we want on matters we find personally interesting. We can get up and move our bodies more so than being chained to a desk and computer so much of the time. We can be outdoors all day and night if we want! This is the merry-go-round of our working lives it would seem.
Yet, when the weekend arrives, that very thing we longed for may look very different than what we had pictured in our minds eye! We have built up our hopes all week, and the reality may not always be what we thought. Don't get me wrong, many, many weekends, we could have exciting occurrences and activities that energize us. Yet too many weekends, "plan less", we will sleep in and lounge around for a time, recovering from the effects of burn out, just like a hangover, suffering from the very thing that sapped our energy in the first place. As we loll about, we get to looking around our homes. Oops! It must have been the maid's week off, because the dust is settling thick on the furniture, the bathrooms are getting grimy, the fridge is a disaster, the dishes are piling in the sink, and the weeds grew faster than a speeding bullet in the yard. We certainly have the opportunity to move our bodies, but do we? We would rather read or watch TV. The key seems to be making that first step...If you can get yourself moving even for a short time, it may turn into a productive day. Sometimes, that spark of inertia just can't seem to get lit though and the weekend is in danger of becoming long and lost. You rationalize that you can't work every solid minute. You tell yourself, something has to give and what will that be? Your household duties can always wait, and once again they do. I would love to hear the thought processes of those who maintain a spotlessly clean home at all times...maybe it IS to have a maid? I am afraid it has more to do with our self talk.
Remember, all people have time periods every month where they are not feeling 100% motivated, and to be blunt, where they actually feel like crap. That is absolutely normal. OK, but why does it have to happen on our days off? No structure to your day you say...it would seem so.
It's not only our homes we examine on those carefree weekend days, it's the state of our social and family lives. It's our relationships and spirituality. We maybe make plans to get together with others. We may talk on the phone, or go for a drive or do some shopping together. We crave human company from those who we can talk easily to and who will listen, those who make us relax, and who we can just be ourselves with. We need our interaction fix with those we love and who love or at least like and respect us in return. We feel guilty and let down with ourselves if we don't reach out. Yet, sometimes the paralysis sets in.
One thing that may contribute to this issue is trying to tap into our creative and happy-go-lucky side and having the energy or not to do so. I have read about the functions of the two sides of the brain. Steven R.Covey gives a great overview of the "Brain Dominance Theory" in his book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People".
Although, people generally use both sides of the brain, one side tends to be dominant. The left hemisphere is logical, verbal, deals with words, parts and specifics, analysis (which means to break apart), sequential thinking, and is time bound. The right hemisphere is more intuitive, creative, deals with pictures, wholes and the relationship between the parts, synthesizing (which means to put together), simultaneous and holistic thinking, and is time free.
Think about it, do you perceive the old lady or the young lady in the picture? Overall, in things you do, do you see the big picture and obscure the details, or do you see the details and forget the big picture? Neither is better than the other, both have merit and both have drawbacks. I am a big picture person and I have seen it over and over. When people say they see someone's eyes or something first, that would be the last thing I would look at. The first thing I see is anything noticeably different or odd...maybe that's a form of detail, but generally it has to be something that really hits me in the face.
Ideally, we want to learn to use both sides, but often people tend to stay in their comfort zone. Although a simplification, the world appears to be dominated by left brain functioning. Words, measurement and logic are enshrined versus creativity, intuition, and artistic aspects which tend to be a little less than. Many of us find it more difficult to tap into our right brain capacity, so we strive for creativity and intuition where we can. We paint, or write, or do crafts. All satisfying and right brain activities. What is it we are wanting to do on our weekends? On our days away from work? We are wanting to tap into our creativity, we are trying to look at the whole of our lives and put it altogether. We are navel gazing at the meaning of life. Truly a right-sided activity if ever there was one, especially after a full week of left-sided ad nauseum work.
Recently, I have watched and read articles that say the popular 'multi-tasking' concept and the idea that we can do more than one thing at a time is faulty. They say, don't kid yourself, your brain can only process a single entity at once. I wonder about that because, you really can be in a teleconference, typing on your computer, reading a cell phone text, drinking coffee, and answering a question from a co-worker at the same time, can't you? That's how the day looks for many. Yes, these do tend to be sequential happenings I suppose....purely left-brain and logical
What if we want to try to juggle some balls....now that's right brained ...something simultaneous.. I have never been able to master the art of juggling. I see juggling in many aspects of my life...I realize that is something I have a hard time with, but continually strive for. I have to map things out in table format, because above all I am exceptionally visual and I guess, logical or left-brain. I realize that driving although logical, can be like juggling at times..right brain. I think others must find this a challenge too, based on the number of accidents.
An example of how our weekends are nothing if not combinations of both brain sides is when we plan a garage sale. We have watched all year the sheer number of items that are encroaching upon our home space...zen....not much thought process here, just basic hoarding. Again, the idea is a left-brain function, as we analyze (break apart) which items we have in our treasure trove that we can offer for sale. We wonder logically if we have the time and energy to devote to this. We then use our right brain creativity as we think of how we will display those items on the table in the garage. Beauty and cleanliness is everything...and organization. A garage sale is time bound...we have to set a date and be ready by then (left brain). It's great to get the body moving as you lovingly set up, take down and say good-bye to old tires, toys, clothes, gifts you received, and basically things that work (or not) - perhaps that comes from the reptilian section of the brain ha ha..
The part that is good for us is the day we open the garage door, get the cash box and float ready, then start visiting and meeting neighbours, family, and friends. We make a few dollars and get rid of clutter...we have had our neurotransmitters activated and we experience happiness. I think the garage sale is one of the best inventions and who doesn't love them? When the place is filled with people that you are trying to attend to....it becomes a simultaneous process, a juggling act, and a right-brain activity! :-)
We seem to have developed a preference for brain-sidedness, even though we may long for something different. As you read Covey's book, you are introduced to ways to harness your thought processes and gain a little mastery over brain dominance. He talks about expanding one's perspective and by using visualization and affirmation. You attempt to capture right-brain images by writing your own personal mission statement...Writing does crystallize your thought! He even discusses family mission statements where input from every family member contributes to principles for a much greater buy-in and overall relationship.
Talking it out...writing it out....visualizing it.... helps...remember that if you remain strictly the left-sided hammer, what does everything else become?
Yet, when the weekend arrives, that very thing we longed for may look very different than what we had pictured in our minds eye! We have built up our hopes all week, and the reality may not always be what we thought. Don't get me wrong, many, many weekends, we could have exciting occurrences and activities that energize us. Yet too many weekends, "plan less", we will sleep in and lounge around for a time, recovering from the effects of burn out, just like a hangover, suffering from the very thing that sapped our energy in the first place. As we loll about, we get to looking around our homes. Oops! It must have been the maid's week off, because the dust is settling thick on the furniture, the bathrooms are getting grimy, the fridge is a disaster, the dishes are piling in the sink, and the weeds grew faster than a speeding bullet in the yard. We certainly have the opportunity to move our bodies, but do we? We would rather read or watch TV. The key seems to be making that first step...If you can get yourself moving even for a short time, it may turn into a productive day. Sometimes, that spark of inertia just can't seem to get lit though and the weekend is in danger of becoming long and lost. You rationalize that you can't work every solid minute. You tell yourself, something has to give and what will that be? Your household duties can always wait, and once again they do. I would love to hear the thought processes of those who maintain a spotlessly clean home at all times...maybe it IS to have a maid? I am afraid it has more to do with our self talk.
Remember, all people have time periods every month where they are not feeling 100% motivated, and to be blunt, where they actually feel like crap. That is absolutely normal. OK, but why does it have to happen on our days off? No structure to your day you say...it would seem so.
It's not only our homes we examine on those carefree weekend days, it's the state of our social and family lives. It's our relationships and spirituality. We maybe make plans to get together with others. We may talk on the phone, or go for a drive or do some shopping together. We crave human company from those who we can talk easily to and who will listen, those who make us relax, and who we can just be ourselves with. We need our interaction fix with those we love and who love or at least like and respect us in return. We feel guilty and let down with ourselves if we don't reach out. Yet, sometimes the paralysis sets in.
One thing that may contribute to this issue is trying to tap into our creative and happy-go-lucky side and having the energy or not to do so. I have read about the functions of the two sides of the brain. Steven R.Covey gives a great overview of the "Brain Dominance Theory" in his book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People".
Although, people generally use both sides of the brain, one side tends to be dominant. The left hemisphere is logical, verbal, deals with words, parts and specifics, analysis (which means to break apart), sequential thinking, and is time bound. The right hemisphere is more intuitive, creative, deals with pictures, wholes and the relationship between the parts, synthesizing (which means to put together), simultaneous and holistic thinking, and is time free.
Think about it, do you perceive the old lady or the young lady in the picture? Overall, in things you do, do you see the big picture and obscure the details, or do you see the details and forget the big picture? Neither is better than the other, both have merit and both have drawbacks. I am a big picture person and I have seen it over and over. When people say they see someone's eyes or something first, that would be the last thing I would look at. The first thing I see is anything noticeably different or odd...maybe that's a form of detail, but generally it has to be something that really hits me in the face.
Ideally, we want to learn to use both sides, but often people tend to stay in their comfort zone. Although a simplification, the world appears to be dominated by left brain functioning. Words, measurement and logic are enshrined versus creativity, intuition, and artistic aspects which tend to be a little less than. Many of us find it more difficult to tap into our right brain capacity, so we strive for creativity and intuition where we can. We paint, or write, or do crafts. All satisfying and right brain activities. What is it we are wanting to do on our weekends? On our days away from work? We are wanting to tap into our creativity, we are trying to look at the whole of our lives and put it altogether. We are navel gazing at the meaning of life. Truly a right-sided activity if ever there was one, especially after a full week of left-sided ad nauseum work.
Recently, I have watched and read articles that say the popular 'multi-tasking' concept and the idea that we can do more than one thing at a time is faulty. They say, don't kid yourself, your brain can only process a single entity at once. I wonder about that because, you really can be in a teleconference, typing on your computer, reading a cell phone text, drinking coffee, and answering a question from a co-worker at the same time, can't you? That's how the day looks for many. Yes, these do tend to be sequential happenings I suppose....purely left-brain and logical
What if we want to try to juggle some balls....now that's right brained ...something simultaneous.. I have never been able to master the art of juggling. I see juggling in many aspects of my life...I realize that is something I have a hard time with, but continually strive for. I have to map things out in table format, because above all I am exceptionally visual and I guess, logical or left-brain. I realize that driving although logical, can be like juggling at times..right brain. I think others must find this a challenge too, based on the number of accidents.
An example of how our weekends are nothing if not combinations of both brain sides is when we plan a garage sale. We have watched all year the sheer number of items that are encroaching upon our home space...zen....not much thought process here, just basic hoarding. Again, the idea is a left-brain function, as we analyze (break apart) which items we have in our treasure trove that we can offer for sale. We wonder logically if we have the time and energy to devote to this. We then use our right brain creativity as we think of how we will display those items on the table in the garage. Beauty and cleanliness is everything...and organization. A garage sale is time bound...we have to set a date and be ready by then (left brain). It's great to get the body moving as you lovingly set up, take down and say good-bye to old tires, toys, clothes, gifts you received, and basically things that work (or not) - perhaps that comes from the reptilian section of the brain ha ha..
The part that is good for us is the day we open the garage door, get the cash box and float ready, then start visiting and meeting neighbours, family, and friends. We make a few dollars and get rid of clutter...we have had our neurotransmitters activated and we experience happiness. I think the garage sale is one of the best inventions and who doesn't love them? When the place is filled with people that you are trying to attend to....it becomes a simultaneous process, a juggling act, and a right-brain activity! :-)
We seem to have developed a preference for brain-sidedness, even though we may long for something different. As you read Covey's book, you are introduced to ways to harness your thought processes and gain a little mastery over brain dominance. He talks about expanding one's perspective and by using visualization and affirmation. You attempt to capture right-brain images by writing your own personal mission statement...Writing does crystallize your thought! He even discusses family mission statements where input from every family member contributes to principles for a much greater buy-in and overall relationship.
Talking it out...writing it out....visualizing it.... helps...remember that if you remain strictly the left-sided hammer, what does everything else become?
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