Can you improve your life in one minute?

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Want to make some positive gains in your life? A lot of folks would like to improve their lifestyle, but just can’t find the time to take action. If you are already living a busy lifestyle, finding the time to make a positive change CAN pose a seemingly insurmountable problem.

Still … the highest mountain is scaled only step at a time, and the biggest goal is only accomplished one step at a time. And actually -- it’s impossible to take more than one step at a time anyway.

Why not try an approach of focusing on just what you can accomplish in one minute -* just 60 seconds. That’s enough time to at least re-focus on a goal, and plan one small action to move you in your desired direction.

You can actually do quite a bit in only one minute. Here are some ways to use the power of a single minute:

Exercise for One Minute
No time to go to the gym? OK. Forget about the next 59 minutes, and just focus on the next one minute. Perhaps do a deep breathing exercise, or one minute of push-ups or sit-ups. Or invest in one of those easy-to-use $50 home gym systems, and just do a single exercise for 1 minute. After a while you may expand to two minutes ... and wow, you have just made a 200% jump.

Relax for One Minute
Just relax into your chair and suck in a slow deep breath all the way down into your belly. Then open your mouth slightly, and release your breath as slowly as you can. Repeat this for just one minute to refresh your mind with increased oxygen.

Calm Your Mind For One Minute
Your mind is a fabulous theater, and contains wonderful visions of your favorite places. Go visit one of those places for one minute. Just relax and clear your mind wherever you may be -- in a plane, waiting in a bank line, or at your desk. Now revisit your favorite place in your mental theatre for one minute. You’ll come away feeling refreshed, and a lot calmer and clearer.

Change Your Outlook for One Minute
You can even experiment going outside your normal self for a minute. Try acting the exact opposite of how you usually act for one minute. If you tend to be introverted, think like an extrovert. If you are an engineer, think like an artist. If you are a man, think like a woman.

Re-Frame a Problem for One Minute
Choose a problem, then select a different frame of reference to consider it from. Try considering the problem through the eyes of someone you admire. Does the problem look different? Try looking at it with the mind Albert Einstein or Bill Gates or Martha Stewart. Now how does the problem look?

Be Happy for One Minute
Maybe you are currently overwhelmed with problems and challenges beyond your control. Try finding something to give thanks for, and focus on being grateful. Forget any current or past tragedies or disasters, and allow yourself to be happy for one minute.

You really can achieve wonders in just one minute. And these single minutes can add up to a greatly improved quality of life. Give it a try!

0 comments: