I started waking up at 5 a.m. when I was a Marine. I committed to working out five times a week shortly thereafter. As a young professional, I vowed to read autobiographies to help broaden my business perspective. I started a gratitude journal while I was going through a divorce. I began practicing yoga during the pandemic.
These are just a few of the habits I’ve built in my life that ground me. By grounded, I mean help me plant my feet firmly on this earth so that whatever the direction the wind blows, I don’t move with it. (Or, if I move a little, I can still find my imprint and settle my feet back into place.)
There’s been a tremendous amount of swirl in the air lately:
- Challenging economic news
- The war against hybrid or remote work
- Increased uncertainty about our future
Where are your feet?
As leaders, we have a choice:
- We can get caught up in the swirl. Or, …
- We can commit to disciplines that ground us so that when the wind moves, we don’t have to.
My challenge to you is a simple question: Do you know what grounds you?
If you know the answer to this, continue digging into these behaviors and rituals that help you approach life with a measured perspective.
If this question challenges you, my ask is that you find one thing. One thing that you can commit to that will help you bring steadiness and renewal to your days. That one thing could be the very thing that you build your life’s rhythm around. Rhythm creates patterns, habits, and – ultimately – ways of living that keep you steady.
That one thing could be:
- A practice that helps you start your day
- Breaks during that day that help you reclaim your energy
- A habit you build that helps you close out your day with gratitude
Self-Leadership is the most important thing we, as leaders do. Small things lead to big things.
