Taking Out the Trash
The beginning of a New Year has been a traditional cue for us to view our accomplishments, reexamine our goals and make new resolutions. This process often inspires us to change course and head for new adventures and directions in life. Making resolutions for new goals is easy; however, achieving our goals requires a renewed dedication and commitment. To push ourselves to reach new levels, we need to be more focused, and our awareness of ourselves and the world around us has to increase.
One way we can achieve a greater level of focus is by applying a concept Dan Millman, author of The Peaceful Warrior, refers to as “Taking out the Trash.” In the movie, based on the novel of the same name, the character of Socrates explains that “the trash is anything that is keeping you from the only thing that matters – this moment, here, now.” Through the course of the movie Dan, the main character, learns that nothing is insignificant, and, as he trains himself to become more aware, his performance and focus improves.
Being a leader requires the pursuit of our own personal and professional excellence. We work hard to be prepared and to complete our work, and we become consumed with the details that fill our lives – the plans, the schedules, and the “to-do” lists. Managing these details often results in a loss of consciousness; we lose sight of the present in the moment. When this occurs, one may find the mind wandering in a meeting, losing focus in a conversation, and a relationship suffering. Ultimately, you forget how to think creatively and how to view situations from different perspectives. However, moving beyond our current position requires thinking in the moment, learning how to be present and being willing to view multiple perspectives to find new approaches.
When we “take out the trash” and focus our minds, the seemingly impossible becomes probable. We begin to find significance in the seemingly insignificant, and our lives become more meaningful. Whether we want to increase our daily productivity, improve the quality of our relationships or give a five minute speech with heart, body, and soul, the second we clear the clutter from our minds, the moment we get present and take focused action, we often surprise ourselves.
This year, make a commitment to “take out the trash” regularly. Whether you do it by exercising, by creating an effective time-management plan for yourself, meditating or by building more structure into your day, by “taking out the trash” we focus ourselves and our energy in the direction of our goals and we slow down enough to experience each moment. We allow ourselves to enjoy the process of achieving our goals and to relish in our ability to see the world from new perspectives. This upcoming year, live your life with the peace and joy that comes from truly living and experiencing every moment.
