In each of my one on one coaching sessions, we start with a S.O.M - ‘State of Mind’ check-in.
This practice helps you Respond to life instead of just Reacting.
Being Proactive and not Reactive is a key to success in life.
The importance of this practice is for you to build a habit of checking in with yourself.
S.O.M Results in you being a pro at the Actions of:
Reframing how you talk to yourself
Responding rather than Reacting
Being able to ‘leave it at the door’
When practiced in normal situations, ie, when you wake up, when you go to the coffee shop, when you walk into work, when you walk into a family get together, when you are sitting in traffic, and so on, S.O.M becomes a Habit/Action that serves you best in times when “sh*t hits the fan.”
‘Stop Sleep Walking Through Life!’
Journal time!
Step One: Grab your journal
Step Two: Take three deep breaths
Step Three: Write down three honest adjectives or sentences that reflect your current State of Mind
Step Four: Leave it at the Door - Stop Sleep Walking Through Life
We will discuss this more in coaching sessions but for now, view this as a way to start observing what you carry with you all day mentally and emotionally.
Jot down anything that is ‘weighing’ on you that you find yourself thinking about too much… ie something you can do nothing about in the current moment.
An example would be ‘I got into an argument with my roommate. The next morning I woke up still stewing. I went to work in a complete fog like day dream state and didn’t focus much in an important meeting and left work realizing I didn’t even say hi to anyone.’
The practice here is to start noting how much time you really spend in the present moment so that you start reducing the feeling of Sleep Walking through life.
Note the issues and visualize yourself putting that issue into a bag that you leave at the door.
It doesn’t mean it goes away - it’s just outside of your grip for the duration you choose.
Noting your S.O.M regularly has a powerful impact on your ability to stay present to the purpose of your life and will help you lean more towards thoughtful Responses over Rote Reactions and will help you Reframe the way you talk to Yourself!
After you’ve written out your S.O.M, no matter what they were, take a deep conscious breath, pull the corners of your mouth to your ears and click ‘Next Lesson’