Written by Machen MacDonald

2020 into 2021 is anybody’s guess. As business owners and as citizens, the quality of our lives is in direct proportion to our ability to handle uncertainty. We can’t control situations and circumstance we find ourselves in. However, we always have the power to choose the brightest perspective.

We have a unique opportunity to build our mental and emotional strength by frequenting the G.Y.M (Guide Your Mind) each day. Philosopher Marcus Aurelius stated, “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” In this case the G.Y.M. can also mean - Guard Your Mind. Once a thought, concept, or vision, get’s in, it can be hard to get it out. Be the ultimate guardian of what you let in.

Here’s a five-step routine to be the ultimate guardian of your mind, well being, and productivity.

Re-frame the word COVID to have a positive impact on your body, mind, and spirit.

C - Center Yourself – Find your way to be more present for greater lengths of time throughout your day. Apply the ones that resonate most for you.

• Breathe – Six deep breaths in and out with eyes closed calms the nervous system.
• Exercise – Gets the blood and oxygen flowing. Do what’s right for you at your current levels of fitness. Just move.
• Meditate/Pray – Silence the chatter. Focus.
• Read – Fill your mind with what you need.
• Affirm – Be mindful of who you are and the part of you to bring forward in each segment of your day.
• Nature – It’s bigger than all of us. Hug a tree while standing barefoot and connect with Mother Earth. There is power beyond measure in doing so. Don’t ridicule it, relinquish to it. Get out there.
• Gratitude – The quickest way to redirect our mindset is being thankful for what we do have.

O - Organize Yourself – Have a system that helps you stay on T.O.P. of your life and activities. Have something ubiquitous that can help you capture the progress and perpetuate the success of your life.

• Track your past – Journal your learnings, accomplishments, and challenges each day.
• Organize your day – Gather what you need to do what needs to get done. Block away the rest.
• Plan your future – We all need a compelling future to which we can look forward.

V - Visualize what you want – This is at the heart of guiding-your-mind. Focus on what you do want Worry is focusing on what you don’t want. Get clear on what you really want. Hold it in your heart and mind and follow your plan and the impulses that come about as a result.

I - Identify the next best actions – Time exists so we don’t have to do everything at once. Check in with your vision from above and identify what actions, habits, routines, and learnings are required to bring about the vision you hold for yourself. Organize them into your T.O.P. system.

D - Do it – Once you have identified your next best actions…do them in the time allotted.

Do these five C.O.V.I.D. steps throughout each day and get your life and business back on point.

Much in our lives has changed with great rapidity. For many, the events of late are traumatic in that what is perceived to be negative events have happened faster than one can effectively process. As Aurelius tells us, “The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.” Be the ultimate guardian of your own life and rethink what C.O.V.I.D. means to you.

Make it up, make it fun, and get it done!

#1 bestselling author Machen P. MacDonald, CPCC, CCSC is a certified life and business coach with ProBrilliance Leadership Institute in Grass Valley, CA. He helps business people gain more confidence and clarity to live their ideal life. He can be reached at [email protected] and 530-273-8000.

Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash