Mindful Moments: Perfecting The Pause - Chapter Six (for Beta-Readers)

ericvancewalton(80)

Published in

#life

Words

1496

Reading

7 min

Listen

Play

For those of you who weren’t aware, I made this announcement over a month ago about my new book.

In That Original Post I Explained...

Over the next few months, I’ll be rereading all of the post comments, enhancing the posts, and crafting them into the final chapters. When these chapters are complete I’ll have an open call for beta-readers on Hive to read the manuscript and offer feedback.

What Is A Beta-Reader? (from Wikipedia)

Beta Reader: a test reader of an unreleased work of literature or other writing (similar to beta testing in software), who gives feedback from the point of view of an average reader to the author. A beta reader is not a professional and can therefore provide advice and comments in the opinions of an average reader. This feedback is used by the writer to fix remaining issues with plot, pacing, and consistency. The beta reader also serves as a sounding board to see if the book has had the intended emotional impact.

The Process Of Writing Mindful Moments

This book project has been like no other one I’ve ever worked on. First, it’s taken way longer to write than a book written in the traditional way. Secondly, it’s been so much more enjoyable to let the ideas for the chapters naturally bubble up into my imagination.

I thank you in advance for your notes and feedback in the comments below. It’s been very valuable to me so far and will help to create a book which, hopefully, helps lots of people improve their lives for many years to come.

Chapter Six — How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything

As I mentioned in the prologue, when I began this book, I decided none of the subjects I would be writing about would be forced. I wanted the topics to naturally bubble up, letting the universe dictate to me the subject matter and timing. One phrase kept popping up into my consciousness, How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything. In the beginning I had no idea where I picked up this phrase or why I kept thinking about it.

After doing a little research I learned that, "How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything" is actually the title of a self-help book written by author, Cheri Huber in 1998. After some introspection, I realized why I was meant to write about it. In my younger days I was very lazy, impatient, and allowed my life to be ruled by my fears. Like a lot of others out there I almost always took the path of least resistance and then wondered why I never experienced success or substantive change in my life.

Once I fully committed myself to a lifetime of learning the craft of writing it changed everything for me. After years of rejection slips I dug in my heels and vowed to become the best writer I could possibly be. When I did this other areas of my life began to slowly change. I realized the commitment to constant improvement, pride in my craft, and patience gained from writing were spilling over into other areas of my life. Almost three decades later, I know I will never be a perfect writer but, I can guarantee that if I keep my commitment I'll be better next year than I am today.

In making the commitment to be the best you can be at something you learn volumes about yourself. In truth, writing was just the delivery system of this lesson for me. For you that delivery system might be something entirely different. It could be anything that piques your interest or fills you with positive energy: art; playing a musical instrument; learning a second language; baking bread, a hobby; or renovating a house. It can even be something as simple as properly sweeping the floor.

Reach — The past is present in all we are, a living legacy of each joy and sorrow, every struggle and victory, however small and, seemingly insignificant. The way we laugh, a certain smile, how we hold our hands or sweep the floor...we are new branches on the same tree of life and this is our time to reach for the sun.

[add illustration here]

In truth this modern age has showered us with conveniences but has robbed us of many other valuable things. One of the things that it has stolen from us is the desire to pursue perfection. By constantly being forced to value quantity or output instead of quality we’ve suffered in ways that we don’t often think about. We’ve also drastically reduced our quality of life and shortened our attention span in the process.

Multitasking is highly prized in our modern society. Every prospective employer expects you to mention it in an interview. Multitasking may increase output but at what expense? While more output may make company owners and shareholders richer it often comes at the expense of our individual inner peace. It also often has a negative effect on the quality of goods we produce, and the services we provide.

“Life is a series of moments. The quality of attention and action that we bring to each moment determines the quality of our lives.” - Dan Millman

[add illustration here]

Putting Thoughts Into Action

Pick something you’ve always wanted to be better at, it can be anything. Write your choice down in the Notes section at the end of this chapter. Make sure it’s something that fills you with joy, maybe something from your past that once made you happy.

Do a deep dive, learn everything you can about that single thing until you become as good at it as you possibly can be. It makes no difference how small of a thing it is you choose. Why?

Because the skills you acquire in the pursuit of perfection in any one thing will spill over into the other areas of your life. The feeling of satisfaction you get from realizing you’ve done your best is both contagious and addictive and it will gradually change your life for the better.

I can tell you that this practice can become as calming and fulfilling as seated meditation. As a bonus end project of this pursuit of perfect can be something that you share with your loved ones or the world. But the greatest gift of all is the lesson the practice provides you with.

Use the Notes section at the end of this chapter to chart the progress in your journey. Along the way begin to pay very close attention to the quality of your actions and attention in everything you do in other areas of your life.

“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” - Vince Lombardi

[add illustration here]

Meditation

The following simple meditation will help you to focus your full attention on a singular goal, task, or idea. It will help you to transform these things from the fragile realm of thoughts into the more tangible realm of the physical world.

Find a quiet place. Sit upright in a comfortable chair with your eyes closed and concentrate on your breath for a count of thirty.

Inhale for a count of 5 through your nose (sniff the flower). With eyes closed think of the one thing you want to become better at. Imagine yourself doing it effortlessly;
Hold the breath for a count of 5. Feel the sense of happiness, accomplishment, and satisfaction at knowing you've done your absolute best and achieved your goal;
Exhale for a count of 7 through your mouth (blow out the candle). Envision that feeling of happiness, accomplishment, and satisfaction filling the space you’re in and spreading to family and friends around you.
Repeat for as many repetitions as you like (at least 3 are best).

After you practice this very simple meditation technique for even a few minutes it’s very helpful to linger in that place of peace and calm, focusing your mind on your self worth and the unique skill set you bring to the world.

[Insert 6 blank “Notes” pages]

In Gratitude,

~ Eric Vance Walton ~

I am an American novelist, poet, traveler, and crypto-enthusiast. If you’ve enjoyed my work please sign up for my author newsletter at my website. Newsletter subscribers will receive exclusive updates and special offers and your information will never be sold or shared.

Alarm Clock Dawn, one of the first full length novels published on the blockchain, and the book that started it all for me can be found HERE. Or Click Here to read it for free on the Steemit blockchain