Make space for the really hard stuff

# Chapter 259

Create space to think. - Masterminds

Most difficult best practice out there. I even had to expand this from my usual routines this past weekend while with a client in Florida. It took three miles. I think best when moving. So I went for a walk. After about three miles I had resolved all that could be resolved with the situation and the information that I had to work with at that point, and so then, the conversation could continue. You have to create space in your life, or systems in your life, where you can STOP and think. It seems to be the very last practice that my clients incorporate into their lives, each and every one of them.

There are a number of reasons for this. First and foremost, thinking is hard difficult work. Even after reaching 60 plus years of age I am still surprised at how much effort it takes for even a small bit of progress. Thinking is seriously the most difficult labor I have ever undertaken and that even includes learning two foreign languages and gaining my doctorate degree. So first of all its really difficult work. Second of all it has the appearance of doing nothing. I can’t believe I just wrote that sentence, but the people who need to be thinking more than most, are highly averse to the appearance of laziness or doing nothing. They need/want/ to be seen as people of action. And the third thing is the funniest/saddest of all, other people won’t allow you the time to think, even if they are the ones asking you to answer a really challenging question that requires some mental wrestling. Heck I only know a few who will be patient enough for me to answer. Thinking is hard. Create space for it!