Take a Step Back – and Look in
Day in and day out, we typically go about our routines.
The same tasks, jobs, things every day.
Our families, friends, careers – life. For the most part, for most people, these are fairly consistent things day in and day out.
Some weeks are busier than others and we feel like we’re constantly in a sprint. Some days its harder to see the finish line than others but without fail, at the stroke of midnight, the day is anew again.
Eventually things slow down and were back in the throws of our comfortable routines once again. Catching our breath and settling. Preparing ourselves for the next whirlwind.
Typically we get so caught up in the mundane moments and rushes in-between, that often its hard to see things any other way. We get in our routines and we become complacent.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it becomes hard to see if there might be a better way. Or a different way.
Change doesn’t have to be bad.
Taking a step back from your work, your task at hand – life. Stepping back and taking a look inwards can be hard. But it might cause a shift that can move things into a different and better direction.
When we pause and take the time to reflect, we’re taking the time to see that there could be room for improvement. Or we’re taking the time to see that perhaps things aren’t as they seem.
Sometimes when we become so close to things , its hard to see change or progress.
When you have a baby or a small child, sometimes some of the changes take the Mother the longest to see because she is with this tiny human day in and day out. Some things become harder to notice.
Give that mother a day off, or a couple hours of space, and she may return and find that her baby has grown.
Certainly not something that likely happened in the span of a few hours, but something that needed a fresh set of eyes to really notice.
The same goes for the rest of life. Home, Friends, Family, Work. Sometimes taking a breath and a step back can bring about a refresh.
When you detach yourself from a situation and look back, you’re able to see where you might be able to shift things in a different direction, or change things. Make improvements and improvisations. Try new methods.
It would be like if a sports player recorded their games or their practices. Playing those moments back gives them the opportunity to see where perhaps if they put more weight on their back foot they would have better leverage and a better result. They often do this especially with their management or coaching staff so that multiple sets of eyes provide more opportunity for potential growth.
Maybe we don’t always have multiple sets of eyes, or a ‘staff’. But if we find a partner, or a small team – we’re increasing our chance for success and for positive growth and change.
Sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference.
Maybe these small changes mean that the next sprint, we’re not working as hard. We’re working smarter and providing more opportunity to catch our breath during the race.
We still have the rush, and we still have the sprint. But having the ability to pace ourselves and keep things in check can eliminate a lot of unnecessary stress and aggravation.
Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is hit pause. Take a look inwards and reflect.
Guest Blogger Rayna Davies
Rayna Davies is a graduate and practitioner of Business Management. She has developed an expertise in blogging, covering subjects like travel, world events and security. Having grown up with a father who has developed an expertise in Physical Security and Executive Protection in the RCMP and two major corporations, she has personally observed and 
experienced many security details. These experiences have included personally meeting HM Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Jean Chretien and many celebrities. She presently assists Sentinel Security in Executive Protection workshops and guest blogging and also assists Gloprosec Preventative Services in Intelligence gathering and Business Administration. Her passions include World travel, having visited every continent.
