The Practice Of…..Mindful Daydreaming
We are in the midst of a lovely summer here on Chicago’s North Shore. Basking in the warm sunshine, lounging on our beautiful beaches, and reveling in an afternoon at Wrigley Field watching our beloved (and division-leading!) Cubbies! I can’t help but feel like a kid again! Oh, those long days of summer with seemingly endless time to play, read, daydream and just be. Gloriously lost in time and place.
Perhaps as adults we could allow ourselves to indulge in some grown-up daydreaming? Let me say a few things about what adult daydreaming is not. It is not about procrastinating getting important stuff done (like finishing that financial report at work or taking the car in for servicing). It is also not about escapism or creating fantasies about life in an alternate universe (like winning the lottery tonight so you don’t have to attend that stressful meeting tomorrow or landing a job as the gal who hands out towels at a luxurious seaside resort).
Grown-up daydreaming is mindful. It is undertaken with intention, focus and some guardrails to keep us, and our thoughts, from falling off the cliff. It is employed in a positive and purposeful manner in service of creating new thinking or perspectives for an important aspect of our lives. It gives us the time and space to develop new ideas, set new goals, develop new plans, or solve nagging problems. Perhaps it is just dedicated time to practice gratitude, to reflect and appreciate all that we have been given.
Make a commitment to yourself to indulge in the practice of mindful daydreaming everyday. You can start the day, end the day, or take a break in the middle of the day to daydream mindfully. Put aside devices that make noise or create a distraction of any sort. That’s pretty much every device I can think of! Set aside 15 minutes (or more, if you can); sit or lie somewhere quiet, or take a walk. Begin by asking yourself “what is my intention right now?” “What is the opportunity or problem that I would like to focus on?” Envision what you would you like to have accomplished at the end of your mindful daydreaming session. Let your mind wander, go where it takes you. If your mind starts to wander, acknowledge it, and gently return to your intention. When you have finished, consider taking a few moments to make some notes. Reflect on how your thoughts, feelings and potential actions may have shifted as a result of your mindful daydreaming. What thoughts were interesting, or what actions would you like to take? What are you grateful for?
Your Weekly Coaching Assignment:
1. How will you indulge in daily mindful daydreaming?
2. Where will your heart and mind go? What aspects of your life do you want to be better, different or new?
3. What are the new dreams, ideas, solutions, or gratitude that you have discovered? What will you do about them? What have you learned?
4. How will you feel when you are living in the better, different or new as a result of your daily practice of mindful daydreaming?
I am here to inspire and coach you to dream, do, and thrive in whatever matters most to you. I would love to hear from you! Drop me a note at amthompson@wildblueservices.com to let me know how you are indulging in mindful daydreaming, where it is leading you personally and professionally, and what you have been able to achieve. I would love to follow your progress and celebrate your success with you! Let’s create your wild blue!