I was driving my daughter to Nashville yesterday when that familiar Beatles’ song “Fixing a Hole” came on the radio: “I’m fixing a hole where the rain gets in/And stops my mind from wandering/Where it will go…”
Immediately, I started thinking about what “rain” might represent, and how such “rain” gets inside of our heads and hinders our fullest potential. There’s the endless downpour of technology-driven distractions. There’s the constant drenching of the 24/7 news cycle, mostly dripping with negativity. There’s the slow but steady trickle of any toxic relationships we might have in our personal lives or at work.
For each of us, it’s essential to find a way to fix the hole and protect ourselves from the rain. My strategy has been to get very clear on my values and the different roles I play that help me to live out those values. But this necessitates a daily commitment of rigorous practice, and the rain is always eager to pelt at my windows and stop my mind from wandering to its healthiest places.
What works for you? How do you find shelter from the rain?
Growing Your Strengths
I’m a Nashville-based writer, talent strategist, and certified executive coach. On this website, I primarily write stories featuring a diverse group of professionals whose examples of applying mindfulness, learning agility, and storytelling will help you love your career and enhance your quality of life.
These characters face familiar pain points: nonstop change, accelerating economic and technological disruption, and the collective “noise” that grows louder each day. The impact, for these professionals and for many of us, has been confusion, distraction, and stress.
Until, however, each of these individuals chooses to do something new: practicing mindfulness, learning agility, and storytelling habits, and growing them into strengths…strengths that respond to change rather than just react.
Strengths that you can develop as well.
Don’t settle for the confusion, distraction, and stress. You’re stronger than that, and capable of much more.
Choose to do something new. Today. Start with this post, check out my books, and join our learning community to receive free, exclusive content via email each month with timely guidance on applying mindfulness, learning agility, and storytelling.
