The Next Right Thing

Last week we discussed and did some work on Centering. One of the biggest obstacles to staying Centered is the seemingly endless lists of items which need to be accomplished in a given day. Having a lot to do--and who doesn't?-- pushes us to operate at a pace where we are likely to forget things, blow past deadlines and skirt important details. We can literally send ourselves spiralling away from Center as we forget to eat properly, give ourselves the rest we need, connect with the people we love, get the exercise which optimizes our energy. In this destructive spiral we negate our physical well being which is most primary to our emotional spiritual health. We do this is the name of "getting stuff done."

As we rush to get everything done that needs doing, we can launch ourselves into an adrenaline overload. (See last week's blog for a description). Alternately, we might become so overwhelmed we engage in coping mechanisms like procrastination or refusal to do what needs doing. Once we are on the downward spiralling path, it is very hard to stop. We might flip flop between fight-flight and couch potatoe.

Take a breath. It's not hopeless. Here, we are going to discuss some methods for managing our responsibilities in a manner that works for rather than against us. We are going to do something really radical. Are you ready?

Put yourself first. Then do the next right thing. Then the next. Then the next.

We cannot get anything done or done well if we are racing. If our adrenals are firing non-stop our life is going to feel and look like we are running around putting out fires-trying desperately to avert one crisis after another after another. In this mode, we never feel finished. We always feel breathless. We keep pushing ourselves from one thing to the next and next and next and next. We may literally keep going until we pass out at the end of the day. There is a difference between crashing out and drifting off to sleep.

Put yourself first. Then do the next right thing. Then the next. Then the next.

What is it you need right now? Stop. Take a breath. Drop your focus to your body and breath. Find Center. Even if Center seems impossible to attain right now, locate where it is. Let your breath bring you there. Come into your body. Good.

Now, ask yourself what you need. Are you hungry? Thirsty? Tired? Are you lonely? Angry? Anxious? Upset? What can you do to remedy that right now? This is "The next right thing." Do it. Until your physical needs are met, you cannot begin to meet your emotional or intellectual needs. Until the body, mind and emotions have what their minimum requirements met, you cannot begin to address your Spiritual needs. And until these hungers are sated we have no business trying to meet the demands of other people, relationships, households, career or financial goals.

In each and every moment, we begin right where we are. Here. Now. From here and now, when we are Centered in our Wholeness we can look forward to what needs accomplishing and do the next right thing. Then, the next. Then, the next.