Happy New Year.

What are you hoping for in 2008? As you make your resolutions, consider what personal conflicts you'd like to resolve.

Imagine yourself at the end of 2008 free of the tension that surrounds these difficult relationships and internal struggles. Start now, in this moment. Imagine it. Feel it. Believe it is possible. Then begin to move in that direction. Don't Wait.

========================================

Don't Wait. Center.

I'm in such a hurry I'm about to jump out of my skin. Of course I'm stopped at the longest red light in Portsmouth, which just turned red. Some days I feel like I'm in a perpetual contest with myself: wait... hurry up...wait...hurry up; always waiting for someone or something to get out of my way.

Yesterday morning, I noticed myself wishing the teakettle would boil sooner. Oh my gosh! But--happily--I noticed. I saw myself; I felt myself--tight, anxious, not breathing. Waiting.

Somewhere on Google I learned that Americans spend 45 to 62 minutes of every day waiting. The article said we waste that time. Is that true? I know I hate to waste time, which is probably why I generally don't enjoy waiting. So, of course, I think: hey, that's 45 to 62 minutes I could spend practicing centering.

Practicing

Practicing fulfills my need to be productive and improve. The thing is you've got to notice first. Once you notice the tension, you can choose differently. And think of all the benefits! You can practice:

• Being centered
• Being patient
• Being present
• Being. Period.
• Calming and being kind to yourself
• Influencing your stress level, your heart rate, and your blood pressure
• Choosing what you pay attention to
• Managing your inner life

If I can catch myself, I can turn the waiting into a personal health break. A ki moment.

So stop waiting ...

• For the tea kettle to boil
• In line (anywhere)
• At a red light
• At a stop sign
• At the doctor's office
• At the bank teller's window
• For the waitress
• On hold
• For voice messages
• For an elevator
• In an elevator
• For the gas tank to fill
• For that huge file to download
• For your hands to dry at a rest room dryer
• In traffic
• Right now

And center instead. For Christmas, I received The Art of Abundance, a beautiful book by Candy Paull. Some of her wonderfully evoked examples of abundance include:

Abundance is ... a lazy summer afternoon.
Abundance is ... the stars on a clear night.
Abundance is ... being early for an appointment.

My own addition is that abundance is ... never waiting. Abundance is the feeling that this moment is the most precious moment of my life. To really perceive this kind of abundance may be a long journey and perhaps one I'll never complete. But I think it's a worthy path.

Wishing you a new year in which you notice every moment.

Quote for Today

Choice of attention--to pay attention to this and ignore that--is to the inner life what choice of action is to the outer. In both cases, we are choosing, and our choices make a difference.

- Paraphrase of W.H. Auden

==========================

Portsmouth Aikido

Many of the principles reflected in Ki Moments come from Aikido, the Japanese martial art that teaches self-defense through the redirection of energy.

If you live locally, Portsmouth Aikido is an ongoing martial arts school at the Seacoast Y in Portsmouth.

Visit the Portsmouth Aikido Website

============================================

Contact Information
Judy Ringer
Power & Presence Training
76 Park Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
voice: 603.431.8560
website: www.judyringer.com

Judy Ringer is Founder of Power & Presence Training, a Portsmouth, NH company specializing in unique workshops to help you and your organization manage conflict, communicate effectively, and co-create a more positive work environment. E-mail Judy at judy@judyringer.com for a free initial meeting to discuss your training needs.

Ki (from Ai-ki-do) is Japanese for life energy. Ki Moments is a complimentary monthly "e-zine" with tips and how-to articles to help you manage the key moments in your life.