1. Stay In-formed: Remain open-minded.
To be an in-formed individual means we are in a continuous process of acquiring the knowledge to form our lives. Seek new information and remain an open-minded system that dissipates the old and spent information that no longer serves your purpose and only keeps you in the mode of circular thinking, doing the same thing over and over.
2. Recognize Patterns: Implement the 5 Rs for Pattern Recognition.
What you repeatedly do can become patterns. How you think leads to behaviors. Examine your routines (habits), responses (reactions), requirements (preferences) and relationships (connections), and how these construct your frame of reference (experience). These define the details of your standard ways of thinking and draw the bigger picture of your life.
3. Mind Your P’s (Part’s) and Q’s (Questions): Design your destiny.
Remember the importance of purpose in all you do. Create a living design based on a pattern with a purpose. Return to your personal why to reaffirm what’s important to you. Hold the parts of your life answerable to the greater whole of yourself by asking the “greater” questions that keep you moving in the light direction—a right way that is true for you.
4. Remember Your ABC’s: Create Alignment, Maintain Balance, and Practice Consistency.
Our actions should be aligned with our values and principles. The “what” you do should be in alignment with the “why” you do something that guides you in establishing meaningful life goals. A balanced life is one that does not allow a part of our lives to dominate the whole of our lives. Too much quantity may affect the quality of life.
5. Promote Cooperation: Be a part of, not apart from.
The old adage “united we stand divided we fall” applies to the inner-self as well. A divided self is a broken self as we fall apart and we lose our connection to the greater whole of ourselves. Inner work requires cooperative effort for efficiency and effectiveness for the greater good, a higher level of being and doing for a more ordered, wholesome self.
6. Re-Organize: Make room for the new
Some of what we’ve gathered in our “hunt” for what we wanted, needs to go. Out with the old and in with the new. Clean out the clutter of the mind. Simplify your life by throwing out worn out ideas and useless thoughts that only take up room and no longer serve your purpose, or fit your lifestyle.
7. “Inner-gize:” Give the rush a rest.
The great Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu stated the ultimate truth is: “All action begins in rest.” When we rush we are overcome by an urgency to do more in less time with fewer resources. This is an unnatural tenet based in the commonly referred to notion of “doing more with less” leading only to burn out, stress and strain.
8. Know Pain: Pay attention to the tension.
Pain is the greatest attention-getter, whether physical or emotional, that something’s not working right. It’s one of those vital signs that shouldn’t be ignored. Here’s an acronym to recall what must be done when pain sets in: PAIN means Paying Attention Is Needed. Heed this calling and check it out.
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