Be Relevant NOW

I was at the bookstore today, and I noticed a huge pile of books for the graduate--advice galore on everything from "Curious George and a Banana" to "Lean In" for the college graduate to "How to be a Hepburn in a Kardashian World" to the traditional books like "Seven Habits of Highly Successful People."  I was overwhelmed looking at these titles.  It practically made me feel overwhelmed with so many opinions. Where to start?  What should I read next?  What advice have I been missing?  I am not sure I care.

I never wish to add my voice to a chorus of "do this" or "that" or "the next thing."  Funny, since I spend my time coaching people to health and wellness.  At any rate, what I would like to be is relevant to you NOW, in smaller, more manageable bits and pieces because, in truth, that's all we have to work with anyhow.  Being everything great, all the time, or recovering from any setback no matter what and coming out stronger, or just going with the flowing is too much.

Instead, we come back to one of the most basic of all life lessons.  When we were kids, our parents trained us to "pay attention."  That meant looking both ways at crosswalks, doing homework carefully, listening to teachers or elders to carrying something delicate from the car.  As we got older, our focus had to become sharper.  There were more moving parts to keep track of.  We had to get ourselves to places on time.  We had to deliver.  We had to keep track of demands and details and people on time.

All of this was preparation for what we have to do now.  In fact, we have greater expectations.  Running your own life, relationships, house, car, job, health, wellness, social time, appointments, relaxation, etc. is a lot.  Add the pressure of a problem with any of these moving parts, and we become overwhelmed.  That is precisely when the message to step back, slow down and retreat is worth listening to.  If the  universe is becoming too much to cope with, simply consider what is the next "right thing" to do or NOT do?  What is the next move to make or NOT make?  What feels relevant NOW given all the demands?

By pausing for a moment to discover what is truly relevant NOW, we can create much needed breathing room.  We can dial down the anxious tension so that we feel less overwhelmed and more in control.
We may not solve the world's problems, but the good news is--we don't have to.  We can simply "pay attention" to what matters most--at the time when it shows up.  No more and no less.  We can become more agile in dealing with our life's challenges which enables us to become happier and healthier no matter what shows up.