"It is an experiment worth trying to be alone and to be quiet for a brief period every day. Under city conditions it may be difficult to carry out, but most of us could do it if we tried." -- Robert J. McCracken
My friend Melissa sent a message to me. In the message, she pointed out a place near the downtown area of our city that I did not know about. It is located on a street that does not get much traffic or attention and is hidden from view by trees and a fire station. With an open green lawn and a nice brick pathway, it is only a few minutes walk from my office, and it is a nice place to stop during the day to relieve some stress and to think. Melissa wrote, I thought you might like to know of a quiet spot to enjoy from time to time during your busy days.
Most business, government and community leaders rarely consider the importance of building a quiet moment or two into their daily schedules. But nothing can be more effective in helping you to be creative than to stop the rapid pace of your schedule for at least a brief period each day to think and reflect. Innovation and success in both your personal life and for your team require you to do more than just aim and fire as rapidly as you can all day long. To achieve greatness in whatever you pursue, you must pause occasionally to challenge yourself and your ideas, not in the bustle of a busy office, but in a quiet environment where you can truly reflect.
Are the stress and discontent that naturally build up during your day, preventing you from performing your best? When was the last time you scheduled some quiet moments into your daily schedule? Where can you quickly slip away when you need to pause, reflect, and consider your ideas without being distracted?
This week find a quiet spot that you can go to each day in order to be alone and think. Great thoughts will not come to you while you are in a frantic, get-through-the-work-as-fast-as-I-can routine. Include some silence in your daily work schedule and allow your soul to be visited from on high so that you can truly give your most inspired and best performance.
To achieve greatness is whatever you pursue,
you must pause occasionally to challenge yourself and your ideas,
not in the bustle of a busy office, but in a quiet environment where you can truly reflect.
