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Practice awareness
If my awareness is fragmented, task driven or thought entangled, then I know I am less likely to notice what's going on moment by moment inside of myself or in the world around me. I certainly end up leaning in more strongly to the troubling and negative than the wondrous.
If this sounds like you then why not, like Cynthia, actively choose to notice golden moments that gladden your heart. Pause, name them, savour them and let them sink in. Perhaps you might notice the smell of a newly polished hall floor in the school, the sight of children arriving in uniforms far too big for them as yet, or the first assembly of the new term and the sound of young voices raised in song. Done regularly the savouring of golden moments becomes a habit and can continually support our leadership renewal and sustainability. Take time
From the wonderful Buddhist Zen Master Thich Naht Hahn I learned the value of making even the most mundane of tasks meaningful. He memorably said 'when washing the dishes, wash the dishes'. He was encouraging us to avoid washing the dishes in order to get onto the next thing we want to do, but instead to wash the dishes fully alive to that experience. Perhaps practice gratitude for hot water flowing from a tap, or savour memories when washing mugs that hold a history ( Grinch Christmas mug anyone!). I'm learning that the moment I stop trying to do multiple things at once and instead fully attend to each task, however mundane, the task becomes more fulfilling and enjoyable and the moments seem to stretch out and bring a sense of ease.
What mundane task might you find golden moments in? Appreciate yourself
It's easy to think 'golden moments' arise mainly from outside of ourselves, but they also arise from within. I’m starting to practice reflecting at the end of the week where I sit and bring to mind the things I’ve have appreciated about myself in the last few days. I dont find this easy, and it’s a practice I tend to avoid but this week I’ve appreciated maintaining my boundaries and saying ‘no’ to avoid being over obligated yet again, I’ve also appreciated my growing practice of remaining silent and listening a little more carefully - that’s not easy either! I’m beginning to see that these small practices do indeed create golden moments that can illuminate insight and be revelatory. As Jon Kabat Zinn says ‘The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little, they’re everything’.
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